Help From Bostonians - First Trip for MNF

[Mike the Brit]

Why the train takes an hour and a half to cover about 15 miles at most and gets there far too late to have a chance to tailgate/go to Patriot Place/watch warm-ups is one of the mysteries of the MBTA that only a proper Bostonian could answer. But it does get you there from central Boston and the atmosphere on it, I've found, is cheerful and friendly.

I don't know who said that bags can be taken in to the stadium but are searched -- that wasn't my experience two years ago (had to leave a backpack in a tent by the entrance). Rugs and so on carried by hand are fine. Your plans for dealing with the cold make sense to me -- the stadium is built so that it's like being on an open hillside in the rain or snow.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

As someone who's planning to bring his kids from NY to Foxboro next season (if there is a next season) to see Brady and Belichick and the crew in person, I'll add my two cents.

If you're going to all the trouble to travel to the Boston area for the game, why take transportation that will get you to the game "just in time" for the kickoff and then take you away from the scene immediately after?

Why not at least rent a car, leave your hotel way early to beat the traffic, enjoy Patriot Place and the Pat's HOF, get to the stadium for warm-ups when you can watch the players hanging out, soak up the atmosphere and the game and just fully expect that you won't get back to your hotel until the wee hours of the morning? Sleep in the next morning and make the whole event "an occasion" rather than just another business trip?

 

[Number 2]

Thank you everyone for your help I really appreciate it. Not having been to the area at all made it a little tedious to find the right transportation to get there.

I actually had a hotel in Foxborough but I switched it to Boston, we are staying in the area until Wednesday to get more of the New England experience.

I didn't rent a car. I was told by many people you have to pay to park every where and there was plenty of public transportation.

I DIDN'T EVEN THINK OF HAND WARMERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whew that is going to make a huge difference. I will try the taping them to my shirt for my back and see how that helps.

 

[102 Pat]

The train is very hit or miss. I've attended three games and have used the train the first two times.

Game one ("Drop Kick Game") I had enough time to take a quick trip thru the Pro-Shop, make it to my seat (section 100's) and have enough time to look around in awe.

Game two (Jets, 2006) my girlfriend (now wife) and I had to run to our seats (section 300's) to make it in time for the introductions.


Game three (Jets 2008) we drove and it wasn't too bad getting there, we paid for parking at a motel that was a 5 minute walk away from the stadium. Leaving was another story and it was bumper to bumper traffic. It didn't help that it was a OT game so everybody was leaving at once.

Enjoy the game, I still get chills thinking about my first time there. It was such a surreal experience to actually be there. :rocker:

 

[RayClay]

Thank you everyone for your help I really appreciate it. Not having been to the area at all made it a little tedious to find the right transportation to get there.

I actually had a hotel in Foxborough but I switched it to Boston, we are staying in the area until Wednesday to get more of the New England experience.

I didn't rent a car. I was told by many people you have to pay to park every where and there was plenty of public transportation.

I DIDN'T EVEN THINK OF HAND WARMERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whew that is going to make a huge difference. I will try the taping them to my shirt for my back and see how that helps.

Rent a car and stay in Foxboro. Arrange to drop the car in Boston, or near a commuter rail or subway (ask the rental companies). In Boston, you're better off without a car. As has been said, Foxboro is a suburb, and not a close one.

 

[Tunescribe]

I don't know who said that bags can be taken in to the stadium but are searched -- that wasn't my experience two years ago (had to leave a backpack in a tent by the entrance).

Backpacks obviously are another matter. People bring bags with them from the pro shop all the time, they just need to get searched before admitting.

 

[mdoats]

I actually had a hotel in Foxborough but I switched it to Boston, we are staying in the area until Wednesday to get more of the New England experience.

Why not stay in Foxboro Monday night and stay in Boston Tuesday night? Best of both.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Backpacks obviously are another matter. People bring bags with them from the pro shop all the time, they just need to get searched before admitting.

Ah, got it!

 

[Tunescribe]

I actually had a hotel in Foxborough but I switched it to Boston, we are staying in the area until Wednesday to get more of the New England experience

You'd be much better off lodging in Foxboro and driving to the other sites. Going into Boston, you can park at a T station (Alewife, etc.) and take public transportation pretty much anywhere in/around the city.

I didn't rent a car. I was told by many people you have to pay to park every where and there was plenty of public transportation.

But if your main objective is the game, you're better off with a car (see above).

 

[Tucker]

In '07 I stayed at the old end zone inn (1/2 mile from the stadium iirc) didnt rent a car so using the MBTA website I found a route to go from South Station to Walpole or North Attleboro (dont remember which). From there called a cab and it was maybe a 10 minute ride to the motel and cost about 20 bucks. After the game I waited around in the bar of the motel for a bit for traffic to die down and did the same thing to get back.

However being a MNF game, I dont know how late the train runs. You may want to buy an return ticket for the stadium train beforehand just in case

thats the only advise I can give as far as out of towners attending games.


OH YEAH boots...wear boots...I didnt...bad call by me lol

 

[Triumph]

MBTA > Riding the T > Patriots

 

[Triumph]

Number 2. its none of my business, but I think youre better off renting a car and getting to Gillete a few hours early to experience Patriots Place, Pro Shop, etc. Maybe some tailgating if some of these nice folks offer an invite. I wont be there, otherwise you could tailgate with me.

As you can see from my link, the T does not leave room for error getting you there at 7:40 for an 8:30 game. Close shave. You still have to get to your seat and would miss warmups.

You may as well get the full experience since you never know if youll be this way again.

Not to mention the T leaves 30 minutes after the game. You might be walking back to Boston.

 

[PittPatriot]

I booked a room at the Courtyard on Tremont St in Boston and am having trouble finding out the proper subway routes to get to Gillette on game day.
I know the train makes a special trip on game day but I want to be there and watch warm ups.

My friend, there is no "Bronco Shuttle" in MA...for Foxborough, you just to plan your day/life around a 3hr game as you try and avoid bumper to bumper traffic trying to reach and later exit the most difficult Sunday destination in America.

For those who do not know, The Bronco Shuttle is a $4 shuttle that takes you round trip to Invesco/Mile High.

 

[trickmark79]

i cant make my own forum yet but me and my brother are coming up from nova scotia, canada for our first nfl game for the pats against the colts and want to get in on the tailgaiting but have no idea what to do, we will not have a vehicle so would like some advice or an invite to someones tailgate party! thanks

 

[jmt57]

i cant make my own forum yet but me and my brother are coming up from nova scotia, canada for our first nfl game for the pats against the colts and want to get in on the tailgaiting but have no idea what to do, we will not have a vehicle so would like some advice or an invite to someones tailgate party! thanks

I assume that you are taking the train to get to the stadium then?

From what others have said on this and some other similar threads, if you take the train you are not going to have any time to tailgate unfortunately.

If you are indeed able to get there early enough to tailgate, I would suggest simply bringing something you can share, walk around and introduce yourself, and somebody will be happy to let you join in with their pre-game festivities.

Enjoy the game!

 

[Mark Morse]

Message me and I'll set you up with our tailgating crew, Razors Edge Tailgate Fangroup. We were featured in last Monday's Game Day magazine as the fangroup of the game. We are set up in Lot 51 paralel to Rte 1 near the Billboard.

Any PatsFans.com members are welcome to stop by and say hello if they are at a game.

 

[trickmark79]

Message me and I'll set you up with our tailgating crew, Razors Edge Tailgate Fangroup. We were featured in last Monday's Game Day magazine as the fangroup of the game. We are set up in Lot 51 paralel to Rte 1 near the Billboard.

Any PatsFans.com members are welcome to stop by and say hello if they are at a game.

Thanks for the info we will probably see you there! We are getting real excited

 

[Fendez]

Hellooowww fellow Patriots fanatics!!!!
Me and my hubby just recently celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary and as a present to ourselves we bought tickets to the colts game (before knowing manning would not be playing or that the game would be changed to 1pm) but none of that matters because we have been HUUUUUUGE Pats fans FOREVER and this will be our first NFL game ever!!!! We are sooo excited to finally go to the Gillette stadium and see Brady, Belichick, Woodhead, Hernandez, Gronkowski, Ochocinco and the whole gang in person!!! Not that they will be able to see us lol!!!
We are originally from Mexico but have been living in Ottawa, Canada for the past year and a half!!! We will be taking the 8 hr drive to Boston on Friday and will be changing hotels early Sunday morning to the Marriott courtyard in Foxborough and then cabbing to the stadium for some serious tailgating action before the game...
We have never been tailgating before and hope to have an amazing time!!! Sooo if anyone is organizing a party that we could join please let us know!! As good Mexicans well bring a bottle of tequila and an amazing party mood!!! And of course some Jagger as well lol!!!
See you soon!!!!! GO PATS GO!!! Let’s break some NFL Records this weekend!!!

 

[jmt57]

Hellooowww fellow Patriots fanatics!!!!

Me and my hubby just recently celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary and as a present to ourselves we bought tickets to the colts game (before knowing manning would not be playing or that the game would be changed to 1pm) but none of that matters because we have been HUUUUUUGE Pats fans FOREVER and this will be our first NFL game ever!!!! We are sooo excited to finally go to the Gillette stadium and see Brady, Belichick, Woodhead, Hernandez, Gronkowski, Ochocinco and the whole gang in person!!! Not that they will be able to see us lol!!!

We are originally from Mexico but have been living in Ottawa, Canada for the past year and a half!!! We will be taking the 8 hr drive to Boston on Friday and will be changing hotels early Sunday morning to the Marriott courtyard in Foxborough and then cabbing to the stadium for some serious tailgating action before the game...

We have never been tailgating before and hope to have an amazing time!!! Sooo if anyone is organizing a party that we could join please let us know!! As good Mexicans well bring a bottle of tequila and an amazing party mood!!! And of course some Jagger as well lol!!!

See you soon!!!!! GO PATS GO!!! Let’s break some NFL Records this weekend!!!

Enjoy the game!

I would suggest stopping by Lot 51 - see the comment by Mark three comments above.

 

[romanp]

Re: Help From Bostonians - First Trip from NZ

I'm just going to come right out and ask.... is there anyone that can help me get to the game on the 1st? I fly in to Boston from New Zealand on the 29th and purchased a ticket to the game before realizing it was so difficult to get to the game! I was going to purchase a train ticket online but they can only be purchased in person and am worried they will be sold out!

Anyway if anyone can assist me I'd really appreciate it. I am happy to contribute to any costs etc.

I'm staying in central Boston.

Hopefully someone can help.