For the Red Sox superfan, there’s no better place to spend a night than in the Hotel Commonwealth’s legendary Red Sox suite, located right across from Fenway Park.
The city of Boston is well-stocked with hotel options. But for serious fans of the old-town team, there may be no more fun or appropriate place to stay than in the Fenway Park suite at the Hotel Commonwealth.
The Fenway Park suite at the Hotel Commonwealth features a 12-foot high replica of the stadium’s famed Green Monster. Photo Credit : Courtesy of The Hotel Commonwealth
Let’s start with the location. Are there hotels near Fenway Park? Of course. Do some Fenway Park hotels even offer views of the stadium? You bet. But none of the Fenway Park hotels offer the same kind of Red Sox experience as the Hotel Commonwealth.
Seemingly situated within distance of a Jackie Bradley Jr. outfield throw, the suite is framed by the backside of Fenway Park and its famed Green Monster. You see it through the window of the seating area, or more dramatically, from the room’s balcony, which comes adorned with a few retired Fenway park seats. Grab a drink, take a seat, and admire the view.
The living room view of Fenway Park from the Hotel Commonwealth. Photo Credit : Courtesy of The Hotel Commonwealth
Then there’s what’s inside the room. The clues that this is a different kind of hotel room experience hit you almost as soon as you walk through the door. There’s the replica Green Monster in the sitting room, the player-signed coffee table in front of the couch, the little bags of authentic Fenway pitching mound dirt on the pillows, and the Red Sox artifacts that are, well, everywhere.
Now, you don’t have to be an extreme Red Sox fan to appreciate the details, but if you are, you may very well spend a few hours touring the room. Just what will you find? Team pennants from key years (hello, 1967), original World Series ticket stubs, signed baseballs (yep, that is a Ted Williams autograph), signed gloves (thank you, Fred Lynn), signed bases (“Mike Lowell, 2007 World Series MVP”), and vintage baseball cards that go beyond the Red Sox universe (don’t miss the ’33 Babe Ruth or the ’57 Jackie Robinson). On and on it goes. It’s a museum. It’s a place to reminisce. It’s a place to kick up your feet and read about that wonderful ’04 team.
Treasured baseball artifacts, like these cards and signed baseballs, give this suite a feel all its own. Photo Credit : Courtesy of The Hotel Commonwealth
There are books and DVDs to consume. On a wall in the living room, there is a large pictorial homage to Carlton Fisk and his famous home run in the ’75 World Series. The coffee table also features a collection of signatures collected from players over the years.
You see, it’s not just Red Sox fans who are drawn to this Hotel Commonwealth suite, former players make a point of staying here as well. It’s Roger Clemens’ go-to Boston hotel room when he’s visiting the city, and other greats — like Wade Boggs, Dwight Evans, and Fisk — have also set their bags here. Maybe you will, too. After all, it’s finally baseball season again.
Team pennants adorn the suite’s walls. Photo Credit : Courtesy of The Hotel CommonwealthBags of original Fenway Park dirt are served up at turn-down. Photo Credit : Courtesy of The Hotel CommonwealthGuests can take in views of the old park from the suite’s balcony while seated in original Fenway seats. Photo Credit : Courtesy of The Hotel CommonwealthThe suite’s coffee table features a number of player autographs. Photo Credit : Courtesy of The Hotel CommonwealthCarlton Fisk was so enamored with this homage to his famous 1975 home run he asked to sign it. Photo Credit : Courtesy of The Hotel Commonwealth
There are many great hotels near Fenway Park, but the Hotel Commonwealth’s Fenway Park suite truly knocks it out of the park. Do you know any superfans who would want to stay here?
Hotel Commonwealth. 500 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA. 617-933-5000; hotelcommonwealth.com
Ian Aldrich is the Senior Features Editor at Yankee magazine, where he has worked for more for nearly two decades. As the magazine’s staff feature writer, he writes stories that delve deep into issues facing communities throughout New England. In 2019 he received gold in the reporting category at the annual City-Regional Magazine conference for his story on New England’s opioid crisis. Ian’s work has been recognized by both the Best American Sports and Best American Travel Writing anthologies. He lives with his family in Dublin, New Hampshire.
