Advice on what fans making their first visit to Gillette can expect

Thanks a ton for the help guys! Seeing as how this is my first game @ Gillette and its the home opener, not going for the full pre-game experience isnt even an option in my mind.

I think i'll look into renting a car for a day and driving out there. Theres just 2 of us going and my friend doesnt drink so it should work out fine.

Do you just pay for parking when you get there, or should you buy a pass in advance?

jsho said:

Thanks a ton for the help guys! Seeing as how this is my first game @ Gillette and its the home opener, not going for the full pre-game experience isnt even an option in my mind.

I think i'll look into renting a car for a day and driving out there. Theres just 2 of us going and my friend doesnt drink so it should work out fine.

Do you just pay for parking when you get there, or should you buy a pass in advance?

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Just pay there. Parking in Gillette is $40, cash only.

Official Website of the New England Patriots | Gillette Stadium - Parking & Directions

As mentioned earlier, also consider turning around before you get to Gillette and using a private lot so you are parked north of the stadium and already headed in the right direction as you depart.

jmt57 said:

As mentioned earlier, also consider turning around before you get to Gillette and using a private lot so you are parked north of the stadium and already headed in the right direction as you depart.

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Excellent advice on using a private lot (which sometimes are cheaper). But there is no need to turn around first, as extra outbound lanes are open after the game.

My son and I make one game a year. It is usually a weekend thing, since we come down from Maine and I don't like driving gameday we stay over night at a local hotel not too far north from the stadium, eat a "free" breakfast and head to the stadium around 9:30ish. I have found parking at the liquor store the best for me because well to put it bluntly it is friggin easy for me to head north when we leave and believe me every little thing helps . It was 50.00 there last year I'm guessing it will be the same this year. I usually ask to park up on the tar because we don't tailgate. Since we usually go around my son's birthday he gets to pick lunch before the game (being the nice mom I am)-of all the things he can choose from at the stadium we eat friggin Mcdonalds. Oh the joy can't wait for this years game.

jmt57 said:

Just pay there. Parking in Gillette is $40, cash only.

Official Website of the New England Patriots | Gillette Stadium - Parking & Directions

As mentioned earlier, also consider turning around before you get to Gillette and using a private lot so you are parked north of the stadium and already headed in the right direction as you depart.

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Great. Thanks again for the advice. Turns out theres an enterprise across the street from our hotel so that made things pretty easy. And used my corporate account so it wasn't to bad for price.

Hopefully we will get there very early, check out Patriot Place for a bit, tailgate for a bit then head in.

Doesn't look like there is a Modell's anywhere near where I'm staying so I'll try to find somewhere else. Might just have to get it at the Patriots Pro Shop at the stadium.

I usually try and park in the Rodman Ford lot because you can turn into the extra northbound lane which for some reason usually moves quicker than the regular northbound lanes. Can't remember the price, but it's probably $40-$50.

Does the Proshop sell the Nike Limited jerseys? The online store doesn't have them so I'm lead to believe they might not?

Am I better off going to a store in the city if I want to get one?

kpreh said:

My son and I make one game a year. It is usually a weekend thing, since we come down from Maine and I don't like driving gameday we stay over night at a local hotel not too far north from the stadium, eat a "free" breakfast and head to the stadium around 9:30ish. I have found parking at the liquor store the best for me because well to put it bluntly it is friggin easy for me to head north when we leave and believe me every little thing helps . It was 50.00 there last year I'm guessing it will be the same this year. I usually ask to park up on the tar because we don't tailgate. Since we usually go around my son's birthday he gets to pick lunch before the game (being the nice mom I am)-of all the things he can choose from at the stadium we eat friggin Mcdonalds. Oh the joy can't wait for this years game.

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LOL, he's going to be disappointed when you come again this year. They took both McDonalds out last year (my 10 year old complained vociferously).

Walpole Pats Fan said:

I usually try and park in the Rodman Ford lot because you can turn into the extra northbound lane which for some reason usually moves quicker than the regular northbound lanes. Can't remember the price, but it's probably $40-$50.

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The ford lot is a good lot to park in; unless I am going to a friend's tailgate south of the stadium, I usually park one lot further north (right before this one) on Rte. 1 south as they also have a state trooper to let you make a left out of the lot after the game. I believe "my lot" is Lot 51. The liquor store lot is three lots north of the Ford one. These are all relatively close to the entrance to Patriots Place at CBS Scene. I agree that the extra northbound lane (the one they make with cones that is actually on the "wrong" side of the street) is the fastest one out after the game if you can get into it.

jsho said:

Does the Proshop sell the Nike Limited jerseys? The online store doesn't have them so I'm lead to believe they might not?

Am I better off going to a store in the city if I want to get one?

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limited jerseys? Like the normal replicas?

Walpole Pats Fan said:

I usually try and park in the Rodman Ford lot because you can turn into the extra northbound lane which for some reason usually moves quicker than the regular northbound lanes. Can't remember the price, but it's probably $40-$50.

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like $40-45 i think.....the hotel right before it is $35...what a steal. Use to be $45

Going to my first Pats game. Give me the lowdown.

Hey all. I'm a lifelong Pats fan. Ever since I was old enough to care I knew my uncle played for the Pats (Mosi Tatupu) and I've been a fan ever since.

I've never gotten to go to a game though!

Well Fast forward to a few weeks from now and me and my 8 year old son are going to the Thursday night game vs. the Rats. We are, naturally, SUPER excited. We are taking a family trip and when we are coming through we are spending a couple days in Boston, and of course the game.

So anyone have any tips on how to get to and from the stadium ie: parking, or public transport, ect. (we will be staying in a hotel in a suburb of Boston). What kind of times should we arrive, and all that jazz. We don't know anything much about all that. I've only ever been to one NFL game (Cowboys game since we live in Oklahoma) and we just drove up the stadium and parked!

Any tips, advice, ect to help make our trip to Foxboro a success and a lifelong positive memory would be MUCH appreciated!

GO PATS!

Re: Going to my first Pats game. Give me the lowdown.

If you are spending a few days in Boston... take the train to the game. It leaves from South Station. Parking at satellite lots on Route 1 are $50 and the stadium lot is only a little cheaper and getting out after the game is a nightmare. The train will get you to the game about 40 minutes before the game time and leaves about 30 minutes after time expires.

If you have rental car, park it at a lot somewhere on Fan Pier sometime after 5 PM, should be relatively cheap (no more than $20). It's $17 at a few of the lots for all day if you arrive in the morning.

You can't count on an 8:30 game to end before 11:45. The train leaves at 12:15'ish and you get back to South Station by 12:45, but the subway may not be running so you will want your rental car nearby to get back to your hotel unless you are staying in that part of town.

Stadium food and beer is wicked expensive. So eat something in the city before boarding the train.

Enjoy!!!

Re: Going to my first Pats game. Give me the lowdown.

While the train might be a good option for you, it won't get there 40 minutes early. It usually arrives right about kickoff time and leaves 30 minutes after the game.

Re: Going to my first Pats game. Give me the lowdown.

Also, check out this thread:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...ng-their-first-visit-gillette-can-expect.html

Re: Going to my first Pats game. Give me the lowdown.

if you are driving..don't park in stadium lot..park in lots along rt one...easy in and out

Re: Going to my first Pats game. Give me the lowdown.

micronin127 said:

If you are spending a few days in Boston... take the train to the game. It leaves from South Station. Parking at satellite lots on Route 1 are $50 and the stadium lot is only a little cheaper and getting out after the game is a nightmare. The train will get you to the game about 40 minutes before the game time and leaves about 30 minutes after time expires.

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GOOD GOD NO!!!!! Do NOT take the damn train! This is terrible advice. The train is not reliable; take it from a 20-year season ticket holder who missed half the first quarter once from the train being late and will never take it again. PLUS: the ride back after a game is interminable -- you WILL regret it, especially after a night game.

Parking in satellite lots is NOT $50! Most are $30-$40; stadium lots are a standard $40. Parking in a private lot 1 mile north or south of the stadium is your best bet for getting out quickly after the game ends. Plan to get there two hours before kickoff and you will have a comfortable, enjoyable time.

Two Saints fans making the Sunday October 13th game at the Razor. Bringing my wife, we are in good shape and not obnoxious partyers, but would like to tailgate before and after the 4:25 pm game. We are driving a rental up from the Cape on Sunday am, I have a hotel room booked in Mansfield for Sunday night. What would be the smart game day play here?

My options would be to take a cab from the Mansfield hotel to Foxborough town to North Street and hike up Putnam Parkway and then catch a cab from the stadium back to Mansfield after the game OR just take the rental car up to the game and park South of the stadium at one of the private lots on US 1.

Any feedback will be appreciated. BTW: Longtime Sox fan, mutual HATRED of all things pinstriped originally; now for the right reasons. Bucky bleepin' Dent.

SaintsFan67 said:

Two Saints fans making the Sunday October 13th game at the Razor. Bringing my wife, we are in good shape and not obnoxious partyers, but would like to tailgate before and after the 4:25 pm game. We are driving a rental up from the Cape on Sunday am, I have a hotel room booked in Mansfield for Sunday night. What would be the smart game day play here?

My options would be to take a cab from the Mansfield hotel to Foxborough town to North Street and hike up Putnam Parkway and then catch a cab from the stadium back to Mansfield after the game OR just take the rental car up to the game and park South of the stadium at one of the private lots on US 1.

Any feedback will be appreciated. BTW: Longtime Sox fan, mutual HATRED of all things pinstriped originally; now for the right reasons. Bucky bleepin' Dent.

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One thing you may want to consider is contacting Mark Morse and joining in on his tailgate; you can find more information and his contact info in this thread: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/27/1047851-razor-s-edge-tailgate.html

Enjoy the game ... and as an NFC South fan feel free to chime in with any insight you might have on what to expect from this year's version of the Tampa Bay Bucs in one of the threads.

jmt57 said:

One thing you may want to consider is contacting Mark Morse and joining in on his tailgate; you can find more information and his contact info in this thread: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/27/1047851-razor-s-edge-tailgate.html

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I have personal experience with the Razor's Edge crew and they are a great bunch of people and do a fun (but not rowdy) tailgate. Non-azzhole visiting fans have always been treated well. You should definitely contact him.