New York is ready for baseball. Indeed, at long last, Opening Day is nearly upon us. Yet, in an almost cruel twist of fate, Yankees fans must endure an additional week after the official Opening Day on March 31 before they can head uptown for the season’s first home game on April 7.
In the meantime, the Bombers will be kicking off the regular season on the road with back-to-back series in Houston and Toronto — two cities with plenty to offer visiting fans. Then after a brief return home, the Yankees hit the road again, stopping first in sunny St. Petersburg, Fla., to square off against the Tampa Bay Rays, and then into rival territory for a series against the Red Sox in Boston’s Fenway Park. Here’s how to follow them on the road in comfort and style.
Yankees vs. Astros, Houston, April 1-3: Jeter fans can look forward to a fun-filled Opening Day celebration with the Astros, courtesy of nearby Lucky’s Pub. Located in the heart of downtown Houston, just a short walk from Minute Maid Park, Lucky’s opening-day tailgating event is huge: a massive baseball block party with live music, pitching machines, batting cages and dunk tanks. If you don’t have tickets to the game, catch it on the bar’s 21-foot HD screen (Houston’s largest) and enjoy a vast drink menu with over 250 beers.
Guests can book the Baseball Package at the historic boutique Sam Houston Hotel located less than half a mile from Minute Maid Park. At $269 per night, the package offers deluxe king-bed accommodations after a day at the park that includes pre-game food and drink and a bucket of beer with your choice of appetizer upon your arrival. The baseball package is available to out of town guests who plan to spend opening week with the Astros at a rate of $269 per night. Following opening day rates, regular season rates are $229/night.
Yankees vs. Blue Jays, Toronto, April 4-6: New Yorkers traveling for the series against the Blue Jays have the chance to watch the game right from their hotel room. Because the Renaissance Toronto Downtown Hotel is the world’s only hotel located inside a major league sports arena, the city-center Rogers Centre (from $239-$369/night) The 11-floor hotel is made up of 313 rooms and 35 suites, and a combined 70 of which include a window view that overlooks the stadium.
For fans preferring views closer to the mound, the hotel offers room packages that include game tickets. The Blue Jay’s Package (from $344) offers a one-night stay in a Deluxe Room along with two tickets to the day’s game. (These package rates are no longer available opening week, so be sure to book in advance for when the Yankees return to Toronto on June 23rd.)
Yankees vs. Rays, Tampa Bay, April 17-20: After two weeks at home, the Yankees head down to St. Pete for a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. The setting with be Tropicana Field, which now houses the Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame. Opened in 1994, the museum relocated to Tropicana Field in 2006 and is only open on game days — from two hours prior to the opening pitch until the end of the sixth inning. On view are the Rays’ own David Price 2012 Cy Young Award, the MLB’s Triple Crown winners and 2013 Inductees.
When it comes to hotels close to Tropicana Field, the historic 18-room Birchwood Hotel keeps baseball fans close to all the action. Yankee fans have particularly welcome at Birchwood, says owner Chuck Prather. “The hotel was always full whenever the Yankees came to town. This will be our first year since re-opening last August that we have a full season of baseball to look forward to.” Additionally, the hotel’s rooftop lounge, The Canopy, serves as the only rooftop destination in the area where fans are encouraged to celebrate after a Rays (or Yankees) win.
Yankees vs. Red Sox, Boston, April 22-24: Red Sox fan or not, Boston is a true baseball utopia. For a drink before or after, there are any number of bars around Fenway Park filled with Sox fans. Bleacher Bar is located directly underneath the bleachers of Fenway’s center field — which means prime views of the field throughout game time. The Baseball Tavern features a rooftop deck that overlooks Fenway all season long. The beer aficionado will revel at Boston Beer Works, conveniently located across the street from Gate A into Fenway.
Overlooking Fenway and serving as the cornerstone of Boston’s Kenmore Square is the Hotel Commonwealth ($359-$499/night). Regarded as “the perfect touch” for a Red Sox getaway weekend, the Hotel offers a number of rooms with a direct view of Fenway across the street. The Hotel Commonwealth is also convenient to Boston’s Back Bay and many other cultural and historical attractions.