Every year, RMHS football plays Stoneham for their Thanksgiving game. This year, the game will be held at Fenway Park on Tuesday, November 26th at 7:30.
Tickets are $20 for students and community members and are sold online at the Red Sox website.
The ticket will allow entry into both high school football games being played that day, the 5:30 game (Nantucket vs Martha’s Vineyard) and the 7:30 game ( Reading vs Stoneham). Because of the previous game, RMHS’s game could possibly start later than 7:30 if the first game runs late.
First time at Fenway
According to MLB.com, Fenway Park originally hosted high school football games from 1912-1935, and only returned and started again in 2015. Only four football teams are selected each year and this is the first year RMHS has been selected.
Mr. Zaya, RMHS athletic director, said “Reading was selected by the Boston Red Sox, who put on the events with Fenway. They, each year, try to pick two schools they think represent the values of the Red Sox and that will get a good crowd at games.”
Many students have expressed their excitement for the game. Sophomore Lilly Spencer thinks, “Everyone’s gonna be so happy about how big the stadium is.”
Freshman RMHS student Vicky Reposa says, “I’m excited because Reading is probably gonna win, because they’re really good.”
Transportation to the Game
Despite the excitement for the venue, travel into downtown Boston during rush hour on a Tuesday might be a challenge. Typically, to get into Boston people either take a train or a car and when people take a car they have to worry about paying for parking and traffic.
To make it easier, students had hoped the school would provide a bus. But Mr. Zaya also mentioned that they need enough kids to commit to going on the bus there and back. They didn’t have that so they aren’t going to spend the money on the buses. Zaya said, “We haven’t heard a great want for that.”
To figure out what some students are doing to get to the game we asked Freshman Vicky Reposa and she said, “I’m gonna have my mom drive me in her car.” That way she won’t have to worry about the traffic and can just enjoy the fun time.
Ticket Cost
Another difference between this game and other games is that, usually when RMHS has football games they only charge $5 for students to get in, but since it is at Fenway, it is much more expensive.
Athletic director Mr. Zaya explained, “Going up to $20 is because by agreeing to play at Fenway Park, there are expenses that Fenway incurs for the event.”
Unlike a game at the Reading Memorial High School stadium, it is a large expense to play at Fenway Park. Unfortunately, most of the money doesn’t go toward the school. Mr. Zaya explained, “The majority of the money does go to Fenway.”
However, students said they find this expense of $20 to be worth it because this experience is one you don’t want to miss. Sophomore Lilly Spencer said, “Because of how big the stadium is, I feel like it’s a good amount.”
Players’ and Coaches’ Anticipation for the Game
Even with the minor inconveniences of transportation and ticket prices, the players and coaches hope there is a good turnout for the game.
The players and coaches harp a lot on the size of the stadium and how that will affect their play. One of the RMHS senior football captains, Jeremiah Sanford said, “I think the thing that makes me the most nervous about playing at Fenway is being surrounded by a lot of people, a lot more than normal in a really big stadium.”
Mr. Blanchard, one of the RMHS football coaches said, “When you play at Fenway, for example, you have to be on the same sideline. So that’s something that’s very non-traditional.” But, he adds, “The game plan and all that stuff that doesn’t really change based on where we play.”
The football team seems very confident about this game. Senior Jeremiah Sanford also said, “I think it’ll be less challenging [than the usual Stoneham game] because we are a much stronger team.”
Even though it is a big game, it is important that they cherish every moment of this amazing opportunity, and Coach Blanchard agreed. He thinks that “This particular group is having success. So we’re just going to try to kind of take it all in when we get there and enjoy it.”
