Getting To/From Gillette Stadium Question

[PatriotsFan86]

Going to be heading to Gillette Stadium for the first time in September (Chargers game) and was wondering about getting to and from the stadium. We will be staying at a hotel in Braintree that weekend due to another function we are attending so staying closer to the stadium is not really an option. We were thinking about taking a cab to and from the game and were wondering what the experts here would think of that strategy. Someone had mentioned to me about the T taking us to the game, however from what I can tell it seems to arrive pretty close to game time and leave soon after. Being from out of town (Nova Scotia) we would like to walk around and see the sights before the game.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[BradfordPatsFan]

Not sure about taking a cab to Gillette. It probably wouldn't be a big deal getting there as they could just drop you along rte 1 but coming out would be an issue. I've never seen cabs at a Pats game. The traffic along rte 1 makes it rather difficult for cabs to have a waiting spot. With parking lots all around the stadium, I don't see how cabs could get closer to the stadium.

 

[Pats726]

Trains leave from Boston (south station) and from Providence at 10:50...for a 1 PM game.... that MAY be the best option...on that night..they would leave probably around 6 PM...to go to the stadium....I would HOPE the hotel was near the subway RED LINE..so you could go into Boston...the way back will be where it MAY be hard..trains leave 30 min after the game..so that would leave about 11:45....and by teh time u get into Boston..a Red Line train may be waiting to take u to Braintree. I would check with teh MBTA to be sure of that.... I think that MAY be the best way..Cabs??? you can get there fine...might cost $20-30 or even more..but there are NO cab stands at Gillette...maybe rent a limo?? THAT might be the cheapest way...and I am sure many do that..
I would look into that as there are many limo companies in the area..other than the train OR renting a car... the limo MAY be the best option.

 

[Vern]

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

The main advice I would give is to understand that there is no "good way" to get to Gilette. This is going to be an all day affair. SD is a night game, so that technically means an all afternoon and night affair. Also it will be be even longer than normal as SD is a top draw game for the year. The sooner you get over trying to shave off a half hour here or there, or try to "beat traffic" in even the smallest way, the happier the whole thing will be for you.

Get to the stadium around 5:30pm if you want time to do anything before the game. Here is a typical break down from a season ticket holder:

- From the time you hit Rt 1, plan on 45 minutes to be "parked."
- Plan 30 minutes to get from your car into your seat (this is the most variable thing to predict as it depends on the game, the current terrorist threat level and the speed of the pat downs, and the entrance you take and where your seats actually are, mine are up in the 300 level).
- Add in time for sightseeing
- Add in time for tailgating/eating before the game

For a big night game, don't plan on getting home till at least 2 or 2:30am. Depending on where you park, you could easily sit in the lot for a hour after the game. This is the thing I see most frustrating people - waiting in their cars trying to get out. Eventually the exit rotation comes around and they let cars out, but I have vastly enjoyed my times there by just not even trying. (This is also why you'll not benefit by leaving the game early.) Now, we relax, pull out a couple chairs and our desert and have a post game mini-tailgate every time and it's awesome.

If luck breaks your way, and you find a good lot to park (or be dropped off and picked-up in) or any number of other factors, you'll possibly beat these times. There are lots of shortcuts and alternate lots and various things people do to get in and out faster, but these change all the time (we used to save a bunch of time parking in P-9 but the new construction last year ruined that). Now I don't even try. I suggest you mentally throw away your watch and just roll with it for the best time ever.

P.S. Never seen cabs there. Not sure the Train leaves you time for sight-seeing. I'd suggest renting a car, or checking into a limo/livery service.

 

[signbabybrady]

Going to be heading to Gillette Stadium for the first time in September (Chargers game) and was wondering about getting to and from the stadium. We will be staying at a hotel in Braintree that weekend due to another function we are attending so staying closer to the stadium is not really an option. We were thinking about taking a cab to and from the game and were wondering what the experts here would think of that strategy. Someone had mentioned to me about the T taking us to the game, however from what I can tell it seems to arrive pretty close to game time and leave soon after. Being from out of town (Nova Scotia) we would like to walk around and see the sights before the game.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

The sights should be nice in sept. construction and suburbs. but come on down the football is always great.

 

[DarrylS]

I'd figure a way to hitch a ride there early, sure if you post someone can help you out, on the way back take the train.. late night at Gillette can get pretty rowdy.. there is nothing easy about watching the NFL... guess that is part of the experience, if you were to poll 1,000 regulars there are about 900 variations of how to do it. Getting there early is a great idea as there is nothing like the pregame electricity of the NFL.

 

[patman52]

Rent a car for a day and pay the parking, it will be cheaper than a cab and I dont even know how you would get one back to the hotel.

if you go by train you would have to take the red line in to South station and then the train to Foxboro. While this may be cheaper you lose tailgating.

 

[satz]

I would not park or drive around.How flexiable are you with brain tree?.
Best option is to take the train down and back from south station or 128.

Best action if you are in braintree.If you take the redline to south station you will spend more than 40 minutes to south station and heading north to go south.

Drive to Rte 128 station - 20 minutes from braintree.[covered parking ]
Catch the train to foxboro game train.20 minutes ride to the stadium.


Worse case if you get a cab to 128 in the night it will cost you cheap.
I would take a cab as you will not be moving and just sitting in traffic or hours and pay an arm and leg.

 

[danny88]

Going to be heading to Gillette Stadium for the first time in September (Chargers game) and was wondering about getting to and from the stadium. We will be staying at a hotel in Braintree that weekend due to another function we are attending so staying closer to the stadium is not really an option. We were thinking about taking a cab to and from the game and were wondering what the experts here would think of that strategy. Someone had mentioned to me about the T taking us to the game, however from what I can tell it seems to arrive pretty close to game time and leave soon after. Being from out of town (Nova Scotia) we would like to walk around and see the sights before the game.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Where are you staying? TheSheraton? If so you are not close enough to any trains. You could take a bus tot he train, but that is a pain.

A cab would not work. There is far to much traffic after the game. It would be cheapest and most effective to rent a car and drive to foxboro. It is not that far from Braintree.

 

[Patjew]

Cab it there as early as you want to check out the facilities, then take the train back. They don't check tix on the train ride after the game, so that would be a freebie.

 

[Pats726]

If you take the train..it will be late..amd how does one get back to Braintree?? remember the train leaves 30 min AFTER the game....11;45???(Given that the hotel is NOT near the Red Line..) I would say rent a car OR a limo..limos are the best...a bit more expensive..but that may be the best way home.

 

[PatriotsFan86]

Thanks for the responses everyone. We had looked into taking a limo/towncar to the game, however I called a few companies and they all seemed to be in the $300-$400 range as far as cost which is more than we had wanted to pay. If anyone knows of any good companies that would be cheaper than this, please let me know. We are staying at the Hampton Inn in Braintree, which has a free shuttle to the red line Braintree train station. We are now thinking of taking a cab to the game and taking the train back. When I look at the train schedule from the official website it mentions about stopping at Dedham Corp. on the way to the game which from what I can tell is not terribly far from Braintree. Does the train stop here on the way back from the game, and if so if we were to get off the train there and call a cab back to the hotel would this be a good way of doing things?

Thanks again for any advice!

 

[Pats726]

Thanks for the responses everyone. We had looked into taking a limo/towncar to the game, however I called a few companies and they all seemed to be in the $300-$400 range as far as cost which is more than we had wanted to pay. If anyone knows of any good companies that would be cheaper than this, please let me know. We are staying at the Hampton Inn in Braintree, which has a free shuttle to the red line Braintree train station. We are now thinking of taking a cab to the game and taking the train back. When I look at the train schedule from the official website it mentions about stopping at Dedham Corp. on the way to the game which from what I can tell is not terribly far from Braintree. Does the train stop here on the way back from the game, and if so if we were to get off the train there and call a cab back to the hotel would this be a good way of doing things? Thanks again for any advice!

I am sure it stops at Dedham on the way back, but I do not know of the availability of cabs at that station especially at what might be close to midnight or after. Would make sense if you talked to a cab company and prearranged a meeting there post game. Without a car it's really not all that easy.

 

[tailgater]

A friend had to take a cab to the game last year. It was from the bus station in Foxboro to a point at least 1 1/2 miles away from the stadium, all for $25. He said the cab would not pick up after the game.

A car is really the only viable option if you want to tailgate or spend time prior to the game.

You could look around and try to hook up with others from the Braintree area. This is a great place to start.

 

[fgssand]

Thanks for the responses everyone. We had looked into taking a limo/towncar to the game, however I called a few companies and they all seemed to be in the $300-$400 range as far as cost which is more than we had wanted to pay. If anyone knows of any good companies that would be cheaper than this, please let me know. We are staying at the Hampton Inn in Braintree, which has a free shuttle to the red line Braintree train station. We are now thinking of taking a cab to the game and taking the train back. When I look at the train schedule from the official website it mentions about stopping at Dedham Corp. on the way to the game which from what I can tell is not terribly far from Braintree. Does the train stop here on the way back from the game, and if so if we were to get off the train there and call a cab back to the hotel would this be a good way of doing things?

Thanks again for any advice!

Rent a car and leave it at the Dedham Corp station the day of the game. That way it will be there when you take the train back.

It will be easier to either take the train both ways from there - or, since you want to get there early in order to tailgate with 60,000 friends and see the sights of Gillette Stadium, to take a cab from the station to Gillette mid day as opposed to trying to find one at midnight.

The cost of one way cab from Dedham Corp to Foxboro and the rental for a day will be far less than the limo and assures you of getting back to the hotel at night.