That's the high price of mediocrity in a league with no salary cap, fossilized rules, and famously stupid and greedy owners who treat the Commissioner like their personal marionette. Back in the 70s and 80s, you got even narrower seats, lousy beer and men's rooms that featured not urinals but ceramic troughs (as I believe they also used to have in the old Tiger Stadium and Candlestick Park). After the 7th inning in a summer game, the smell could result in unconsciousness within seconds.
But the great virtue of Fenway is that it puts you so close to the field in so many seats that you feel like part of the game. In that respect, it became the very antithesis of the Enormo-dome, and its intimacy (and that of the also-ancient Wrigley Field) have led to the development in recent years of far more fan-friendly venues.
As for transportation, I was admittedly spoiled by living a mere 15 minute walk down Commonwealth Ave from the park, all those years ago. But when I moved north out of Boston, I learned to park at one of the T stops and take the Orange Line/Green Line train inbound, saving a lot of money in absurd Kenmore parking fees.
I almost forgot about the troughs.
when my step-dad took me to games in the 70’s i would hold my bladder the whole game so i didn’t have to line up next to 20 drunken men and attempt to pee in giant bathtubs.
i can’t remember if the troughs were long or circular.
The circular ones may have been those big communal sinks that the drunks also urinated in lol.