I'm making my first trip to Gillette this weekend...
 

Any tips? Stuff to avoid? Must-sees? Thanks in advance.

Re: I'm making my first trip to Gillette this weekend...
 

Bring a shovel! J/K.

If you have time, roam through Patriot Place. It is truly a great. The Hall is outstanding from what I have heard but I have not experienced it. Also, I would not necessarilly attempt that on game days. Depending on where you are coming from and if you do not mind walking, I like parking at the America's Best Value Inn it is one of the last parking lots before I-495 and I am usually on the highway within ten minutes of getting onto rte 1.

Re: I'm making my first trip to Gillette this weekend...
 

You can't avoid the traffic, so just tune the radio to the sports talk channel to get pumped into it
Give yourself plenty of time to walk around before the game. Patriot Place is Fantastic!
The Hall will be closed on game day, but so much other things to walk around & see
Patriot Place - Everyone wins! - There is something for everyone at Patriot Place
Enjoy it, relax, cause ya cant take it all in the first time. Worse than Disney Land, really! Loved it It is my favorite place to be!!!

Re: I'm making my first trip to Gillette this weekend...
 

Are you tailgating? Find someone to tailgate with. Hang out with that tailgate group for 1-2 hours after the game while traffic clears. You're going to be waiting 2+ hours to get home anyways so might as well do it while eating good food, listening to the other games, etc.

Re: I'm making my first trip to Gillette this weekend...
 

Watch the full 60 minutes, thats all that truly matters, have fun!

Re: I'm making my first trip to Gillette this weekend...
 

Yes, indeed - America's Best (formerly the End Zone Motor Inn) is a great spot for beating the traffic.

Re: I'm making my first trip to Gillette this weekend...
 

Transportation:
Route 1 is very very slow getting to the game, unsurprisingly. If you want to get to the stadium an hour before the game, plan on reaching the Route 1 exit about two hours before the game.

Parking:
If you are coming from the North (Boston side, not Providence side), park on the right side of the road (Route 1). On the way out, you can drive North up the South side of Route 1, getting out very quickly.
The stadium parking lot typically takes one hour plus just to exit, then you are stuck on the slow northbound side. If you care about getting out an hour faster, don't park in the stadium lot. If you don't like walking, park inside the stadium and save a mile's slog.

Parking has been $50 within a mile of the stadium.
If you want to save $20 and don't mind an extra 10-minute walk, the two cheapest places are the Reptile shop parking lot and the Chinese restaurant right after it. After those, the fee jumps.

Stadium:
The food isn't bad. There's decent barbecue stuff.

The team comes out to stretch on the field 45 minutes before gametime or so. You can watch them run out from right under the arch, under the lighthouse. You're 10-15 feet from all the players. That's fun for a first trip.

If your feet are in snow for four or five hours, they will get very cold. Layers, right?

During halftime, it's apparently tradition for half the crowd to go into the food area, and then just stand around. While it's easy to get up and go to the bathroom and grab another beer, it's impossible to get through the sedentary herd and back to your seat in time. I can't figure this out.

If you like beer, there are good beer stands. There are Sam Adams kiosks, Guiness, Harpoon, etc. It's not a stadium that sells only "lite" beers. Don't settle.

If you are up on the top level, you don't have to go down the ant-tube ramps. There is a central staircase right in the center that offers immediate exit.

Watching the game:
Get into the "good for another Patriot's FIRST DOWN" cheer. The announcer says the first part; the First Down bit is up to the crowd. Do your part.
It's OK to stand anytime you want. If the fans around you are sitting, it's OK to encourage them to get up and get into the game.

Enjoy!

Re: I'm making my first trip to Gillette this weekend...
 

Good footwear to me is crucial. I went to my 3rd game this November and wore my hiking boots and had no problems at all. Maybe it's just me, but my feet get cold fast. Also, say hello to those sitting around you, it can make for a fun experience!

Re: I'm making my first trip to Gillette this weekend...
 

I'm going this Sunday. Can't wait, it's gonna be a lot of fun, though i don't have nearly as good seats as you. :snob:

I went to the Miami game last year, while they were in the middle of construction of Patriot Place. It's going to be cool to see how it turned out!

Re: I'm making my first trip to Gillette this weekend...
 

Go to the new Hall Of Fame. It's very cool.