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Gillette Stadium Or Fenway Park, Who Has The Better 2024 Concert Lineup?

Author Jeff Gorra

This week, major artists announced summer stadium tours that will bring them to Boston’s biggest stages. Let’s play a fun hypothetical game where you are offered a season pass to attend every 2024 Gillette Stadium concert or Fenway Park concert. Whichever you pick is free. However, you can only pick one.

In order to make the right choice, there are many factors that are worth considering. Yes, it all starts with the lineup, but Gillette and Fenway also offer very different concert experiences. Let’s pin each of the criteria buckets against each other.

The Shows Announced So Far

Certainly over the next four or five months, new shows at each venue will be announced. Two weeks into November, Gillette has five show dates locked in, and Fenway has seven. They both start towards the end of June. Kicking things off at the home of the Patriots in 2024 will be Zach Bryan, Metallica, and Kenny Chesney. There are important things to note here. Bryan has two dates, June 26 and returning on July 17. The June show features Jason Isbell. Then Metallica thrashes into Foxboro on August 2nd and August 4th. They will be performing two different sets. Night one has Pantera in support. Night two has Five Finger Death Punch. Lastly, country star Kenny Chesney returns to Gillette on a Friday night in August (23rd). Chesney at Gillette is always a larger-than-life experience. Furthermore, Zac Brown Band is joining him so really, this is two shows in one.

As far Fenway Park, Hootie and the Blowfish throw the opening summer concert pitch on June 21. Local favorite Noah Kahan is on July 17 and 18. Kane Brown returns on July 20. The Foo Fighters are the following night. blink-182 will be there on July 23. Finally, we have Green Day with Smashing Pumpkins making the Green Monster shake on August 7.

The X Factors

Of course, you lean towards the lineup you prefer, but there are other elements to consider. Gillette offers the opportunity to have your car, drive at your own leisure, and maybe even tailgate. On the flipside, the parking lot can be torture to get out of. Fenway does not have great parking options. The garages are also very expensive. But seeing the interior of that ballpark lit up on a nice summer night with great music playing is magical.

Though our scenario here has you only picking one team, here is something else for you and your wallet to consider. So far, each Gillette Stadium concert booked so far is on a different night than the Gillette and Fenway Park concerts. Therefore, you can realistically attend every single one.

4 Great Places To Find Sicilian Pizza In Massachusetts

I’m a guy who moved from New Jersey to Boston; growing up, Sicilian pizza was pretty easily available. I incorrectly assumed that all Americans enjoyed this kind of pizza selection. However, when I moved to Boston, I realized that it’s much harder to find that delicacy here. But there are also a few unique places that are cooking up Sicilian pizza in Massachusetts.

As an expert on Sicilian, I will tell you that it has to be prepared properly in order for it to be worth the calories. Here, I will detail three establishments where you can find great Sicilian pizza in Massachusetts. Sure, you may have to travel a bit, but these places are worth your time.

What Is Sicilian Pizza?

Before we cut into this delicious style of pie, let’s define our terms. Traditional Sicilian pizza is cut into square or rectangular-shaped slices. The crust is thicker and crunchy. Though this pizza is obviously heavier, it still can be topped with your favorite pizza add-ons. A sprinkle of oregano is a subtle but often important finishing.

Though strip pizza in Rhode Island is similar, one significant difference with Sicilian is that it is not baked on a focaccia style dough. In fact, Palermo Pizza NJ defines what distinguishes Sicilian Pizza and what makes it different from regular pizza. “The dough rises differently with this kind of crust because more oil is used in the recipe as opposed to a regular pizza crust recipe,” they said, when describing how this is made in a rectangular pan.

In Massachusetts, the three locations that are serving up great Sicilian Pizza are quite different from each other, but have this menu item in common. One of them happens to be a favorite of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

  • Pinocchio's Pizza - Cambridge

    Tucked into a quaint New England, Harvard Square street, Pinocchio’s is where you need to go if you want Sicilian pizza of all varieties. It’s also where you will see Mark Zuckerberg’s photo all over the wall. This was the go-to spot for Zuck while he was attending Harvard. In fact, it’s a place he still makes sure to stop into when in town. As for the pizza, there are 20 different toppings you can find atop the hot Sicilian pies. These pies come in a 9-slice or 15-slice size option. The 15-slice pie comes in two boxes and can feed up to nine people. During the school months, Pinocchio’s stays open until 2 am on weekends.

  • Galleria Umberto - Boston

    At 289 Hanover Street in the North End of Boston, Umberto’s can be easy to miss. However, once you recognize their old-school sign, you know you are in for a treat. They are old-school: it is a cash-only establishment where the large trays of piping hot Sicilian pies are continuously served. Typically, it’s cheese only, but you will not be disappointed as no other flavor is needed. The single line usually reaches the door, but it moves quickly. It also gives you time to decide which arancini (their famous rice ball) you’d like to add to your order.

     

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  • Leone's - Somerville

    Leone’s Pizza and Sub has been family-owned and operated since 1954. They are located right on Broadway and open seven days per week, from 8 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. Their Sicilian pizza is the standard menu option here. It is available by the slice, in a half tray or full tray. The whole tray also comes in two boxes (16 slice) and costs $40. Their Sicilian pies also come in a tomato basil option and a spinach and garlic. Leone’s sub menu contains over 30 options. This includes a fried meatball sub.

    Authentic New York style Sicilian pizza in pan

    Stock Photo/Getty Images

  • Pino's Pizza - Brighton

    Right in the heart of Cleveland Circle, Pino’s is a fan-favorite of Boston College students. Though the crust is a perfect combination of pillow and crunch, the secret here is actually in the sauce. Pino’s describes it as “delicious, garlicky tomato sauce with in-house seasoning, cooked on a pan.” $20 gets you nine Sicilian slices at Pino’s. If you want to add variety to your order, they also have alfredo pies, white pies, and buffalo chicken. Like Pinocchio’s, Pino’s stays open until the early morning hours on the weekend to help accommodate the college crowd.

    A square Sicilian slice of pizza with basil on top. White background.

    Stock Photo/Getty Images

Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.

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