Going to the Game: Autism Awareness Day at Fenway Park Autism Awareness Day at Fenway Park!

We hope that this “Guide to the Game” will make you more comfortable about your day at the ballpark. Red Sox games are lots of fun! Keep reading to learn more about what you can expect at Fenway Park. To get to the Red Sox game, you and your family might choose to:

Drive to the stadium If you drive in the car to get to Fenway Park, there might be some traffic on the way. Lots of other Red Sox fans will be driving to the game too!

Once you get near the stadium, there are lots of places to park your car. To get to the Red Sox game, you and your family might choose to:

Take a train, also known as “The T”

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There are 2 train stops you might use to get to Fenway Park:

• Kenmore Square • Fenway Remember to be careful and “watch the gap” when you step off the train! Fenway Park Home of the Boston Red Sox!

Here’s what Fenway Park looks like from the outside. This is where you’ll be spending your fun day with friends and family on Autism Awareness Day! Time to Go Inside the Stadium!

Before you can enter Fenway Park, you will go through security. Security guards are there to keep you safe!

First, you will wait in line. This will only take a couple minutes!

Watch the person in front of you so you are ready when it’s your turn! Time to Go Inside the Stadium!

The security guard might touch you lightly on your pockets. That’s ok!

The security guard will also ask to look inside your bag. This will take a few seconds and then he will give it right back.

Then, you will walk through a metal detector. This is just like a doorway – no big deal! Time to Go Inside the Stadium!

Next, you will show your ticket to the ticket-taker.

The ticket-taker scans your ticket in a special machine. Then, you walk through the gate. Time to go inside! Before the game… Yawkey Way

Before the game begins, you can have some fun on Yawkey Way! There are lots of people, music, and food. It’s like a carnival!

You can get to Yawkey Way through Gate A or Gate D with your ticket.

You might see “Big League Brian” the stilt walker, a brass band, face painter, balloon artist and juggler. You can also see how fast you can throw a baseball! Inside Fenway Park – Before the Game

Sights:

There will be LOTS of people at Fenway Park! Everyone is there to watch the game. Make sure you stay close to your family and friends!

Lots of people will be walking around before the game. They are buying food, using the bathroom, and checking out the different parts of the stadium. You might see people of all different ages, sizes, shapes, colors, and abilities! Inside Fenway Park – Before the Game

Once you get inside, it’s time to find your seat! Your assigned seat is on your ticket. There are signs that will tell you where to go. There are ushers wearing red shirts who can help you find your seat.

You can see the field from almost anywhere in the stadium. You can walk around and check out different spots without missing the game! Inside Fenway Park – Before the Game More Sights: Lots of fans will be wearing the Red Sox colors: red and blue. People will be wearing Red Sox hats and baseball shirts or jerseys. This is to show other people that they like the Red Sox!

There is a huge screen in the outfield. This is the scoreboard. It shows information about the game, like who is at-bat. It also shows videos and replays of what is happening in the game! Inside Fenway Park – Before the Game Sounds: You’ll hear music playing through the speakers around the stadium. The crowd makes noise too. They might cheer and clap when the Red Sox make a good play.

•If it gets too loud, you can: • Cover your ears • Put on headphones • Take a walk inside, where it is quieter • Visit the quiet area Inside Fenway Park – Before the Game Smells: You will smell lots of different foods throughout the stadium. You might smell hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels, pizza, sausage, nachos, and French fries! If it smells too strong, you can go for a walk, or go back to your seat. Game Time - Play Ball! Before every baseball game, someone always sings our National Anthem. The announcer will ask everyone to stand up and remove your hats (if you are wearing one). Then the song will start. The singer will use a microphone. If it’s too loud, you can cover your ears or take a walk until it’s done. You can also sing along! Game Time - Play Ball! Right before the game starts, someone will throw out the first pitch! This might be a celebrity…or an important person…or even a kid. You can cheer them on! During the Game The announcer will announce the name and position of each player as they come up to bat. Each player will walk up to the plate while one of his favorite songs plays over the speakers. Sometimes this music is a little bit loud, but it only lasts for about 10 seconds. During the Game There will be 9 innings in the game. Each inning has 2 parts: first the visiting team gets to hit, then the Red Sox get to hit. Both teams will try to score as many runs as they can! Most fans will cheer for the Boston Red Sox! This tells the players they’re doing great, and you’re having fun!

If you want to cheer, you can yell things like, “Let’s Go Red Sox!” and “Woohoo!” You can also clap your hands. When Most Fans Cheer the Loudest Homeruns! Strikeouts!

Great Plays! Plays at the Plate! When Most Fans Cheer the Loudest

The most exciting play is when the Red Sox hit a home run! That means that a Red Sox batter hits the ball out of the park!

When this happens, everyone will stand up and clap and cheer! You can too! This lets the players know they did a great job. And don’t worry, it won’t be loud for too long. During the Game…The Quiet Zone

While you’re at the game, if it gets too loud or you need a break, you can go to the “Quiet Zone.”

The Quiet Zone is located in the Champions Club, just beyond the Big Concourse under the right field grandstand. There will be signs to tell you where to go. You can also look at the map on the next page! During the Game…The Quiet Zone

Quiet Zone During the Game You might see and hear lots of vendors. These are people who walk around Fenway Park carrying food and drinks to sell. They wear yellow shirts so you can see them easily.

You might hear them yelling – this is so you will know what they have to offer! If you want to buy something, you can stand up and wave to get their attention! Wally the Green Monster

During the game, you might see Wally the Green Monster!

Wally is the very friendly mascot of the Boston Red Sox.

He might look strange, but he is always nice!

He doesn’t talk, but he will wave his arms and give hi-fives! The 7th Inning Stretch

After the top of the 7th inning, it’s part of baseball tradition for fans to stand up and stretch their arms and legs. This is called the 7th Inning Stretch!

You will hear a song play through the speakers called “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” The words will be shown up on the video screen. Lots of people like to sing along! The 8th Inning: “Sweet Caroline”

Another tradition at Fenway Park is to sing the song “Sweet Caroline” after the top of the 8th inning.

They will play the song over the speakers. Lots of people like to sing along! Everyone especially loves the chorus… “…so good, so good, so good!”

And if you don’t know the words, don’t worry – they will be shown on the video screen! When the game is over… • When the game ends, people will clap and cheer again.

• Everyone will start walking towards the exits.

• It may get crowded and a little noisy with all the people trying to leave at once.

• If it is too busy, you can wait a little while until it is less crowded. You can sit in your Then, it is time to seat, get a snack, or use the go home! bathroom while you wait. We hope you will have a fun day at Fenway Park!