San Diego trip report

[Crowpointer]

What a friggin trip !!!! The only bummmer was the Jet Blue flight to Long Beach which was supposed to be a nonstop was going against a 120 mph headwind so we had to refuel in Denver and since it was snowing we had to de-ice the plane twice . The six hour trip became 9 hours(ouch) We met Socal Bong and his lovely wife (thanks for the muffin) at the designated time Sunday morning to make the short drive to the stadium. The highlight was when some Charger fans mooned us with Go Chargers written on their cheeks. We formed up a line of cars to drive together. The error occurred when So Cal took the right on red into the traffic. (you should have waited for the green light) We never saw him again. We were following a car (who we thought knew where the caravan was going) but he went into the wrong gate and about 9 cars followed him since we had no idea where to go. It turns out the meeting spot was supposed to be on the other side of the stadium but there was no way to drive around. We decided to set up our own line of Pats fans and it actually worked out better for me since Plaza 54 was right next to us. Tailgating was a Blast. Good natured ribbing although as we got closer to kickoff it became a little more intense. The Charger fans thought (as you can guess) that this game was nearly a formality along the way to the Super Bowl. Walking in I narrowly escaped some clown puking on me from behind. The attendents still let him in. Stadium is old but good sightlines and plenty of room. A little blind spot in back of endzone where we were sitting because the wall is pretty high and close to the field. Fans near us were extremely condident. The guys in front of us refused to shake my good luck handshake before the game. They had a girl with them that was so drunk she was passed out from the 2nd quarter on. I even reported to security so she could be taken home but they did nothing. Typical "Brady sucks !!" chants ringing down during the game. The stadium at points was deafening. Easliy as loud as Invesco during last years Playoff game. We stood the whole game which was great since my stomach was in knots (as I'm sure everyone here's was )and I needed to stand. Bathroom situation sucked until I found a line of Port a Potties (just like old Foxboro stadium LOL) I don't know if it came across on TV but the fans thought that were going to get another chance at FG when they call unsportsman like penalty on us at end. They were all jumping around me(sorry Charger fans) At the end it did get very ugly. I saw at least 6 drag out brawls on the way to the car. Some of the Pats fans brought in on themselves by giving **** to the Charger fans but some were in the wrong place at the wrong time. There were some exremely drunk angry Charger fans after the game. I saw one guy that was arrested being escorted with a hood over his head. the only thing I could think is that guy was so out of control they were worried about biting. We stayed about an hour and a half until some of the Pats fans in our group almost got into fight amongst ourselves so I called it a night at that point. I've been to a lot of Patriot games (snow bowl, Super Bowls ect) and this one ranks very high on the list.

 

[BelichickFan]

Dude, paragraphs are your friend.

I'm not surprised it was loud, I've been to SD games before, they're not as quiet as people make them out to be. Glad it was loud, though, as it'll be loud in Indy this week - the noise shouldn't bother us too much.

 

[shmessy]

Sounds like California isn't a "Dry State"!

Thanks for the report, sounds like it was, ummm, a great time!

 

[patsox23]

Thanks for the GREAT report!

 

[hallfamebrady]

San Diego is a great city. The Charger fans are not so great

 

[cblesz]

Yup...I have been to San Diego to see a Pats game...and have gone on and on about how disgusting, vile pigs their fans are...especially the women!! Certainly doesn't surprise me. Glad you got out safely.

 

[Seymour93]

I saw at least 6 drag out brawls on the way to the car. Some of the Pats fans brought in on themselves by giving **** to the Charger fans but some were in the wrong place at the wrong time. There were some exremely drunk angry Charger fans after the game. I saw one guy that was arrested being escorted with a hood over his head. the only thing I could think is that guy was so out of control they were worried about biting. We stayed about an hour and a half until some of the Pats fans in our group almost got into fight amongst ourselves so I called it a night at that point. I've been to a lot of Patriot games (snow bowl, Super Bowls ect) and this one ranks very high on the list.

Fights breaking out left and right, then at the end Pats fans almost start fighting amongst themselves.... that's football!

 

[miDeuce]

My own day went like this:
Drove down to SD from on Saturday night, stayed with a friend who lives on top of the hill that overlooks the stadium about a half mile away. Drove his car down to the parking lot at 8am, we were greeted by a fan waving a Pats fan which was nice to see. We walked back up to my friends house and began pregaming (Bloody Mary's followed by beers). We were joined by 5 other Pats fans and walked back down to the parking lot at about 10:45.

By the time we got back down there it was pretty packed. Some taunting from the Charger fans but for the most part they would just boo us and we continued walking. Best part was running into the various Pats fans and making instant new friends. We tailgated until about 12:30. Met some civil Charger fans and had some good pregame discussion. For the walk into the stadium I plugged in my head phones and began getting psyched. Couldn't believe my seats were really as good as I had hoped, about 12 rows in back of the Pats bench. (Will try to post some pics once I get them loaded up). Another pleasant surprise was that I was surrounded by other Pats fans on all sides.

The game was obviously amazing. For some reason I was pretty confidant the whole time. The fans in our section did our part cheering for the D when they stopped the second to last Charger possesion before Gosts FG. Seymour and Spann were both egging us on which was pretty cool.

After the game alot of the Pats fans in the stadium congregated in our section to celebrate. We stayed there for about a half hour which was probably smart to let the Charger fans cool down. Got some great pictures of some pats fans holding up a discarded charger fan sign that read CBS Can't Beat San Diego. Walked out of the stadium, stopped on a bridge that overlooked the Pats already getting on the busses. Saw O'Callaghan and Izzo.

Walked thru the parking lot by myself back to where we had been tailgating. Kept my head down and no one said anything to me. The parking lot was already clearing out. Didn't see any fights or any drunken jerks looking for fights, I gues celebrating in the stadium extra long was smart. Finished the day off with a little more celebration in the parking lot. What a day it was. I was exhausted yesterday from the emotional stress of the whole thing. We were all chanting Let's Go To Indy at the end.

 

[Kdo5]

Nice reports, was there a lot of Chargers fans crying after the game? I saw a few quick shots of girls at the game bawling. That is CLASSIC!

 

[miDeuce]

Nice reports, was there a lot of Chargers fans crying after the game? I saw a few quick shots of girls at the game bawling. That is CLASSIC!

Yeah there was one little kid, probably about 12 who was crying and creaming at us at the end of the game. Sorry, buddy, learn to root for a good team....

 

[NovaScotiaPatsFan]

Dude, paragraphs are your friend.

Ask and yee shall recieve.

What a friggin trip !!!! The only bummmer was the Jet Blue flight to Long Beach which was supposed to be a nonstop was going against a 120 mph headwind so we had to refuel in Denver and since it was snowing we had to de-ice the plane twice . The six hour trip became 9 hours(ouch)

We met Socal Bong and his lovely wife (thanks for the muffin) at the designated time Sunday morning to make the short drive to the stadium. The highlight was when some Charger fans mooned us with Go Chargers written on their cheeks. We formed up a line of cars to drive together. The error occurred when So Cal took the right on red into the traffic. (you should have waited for the green light) We never saw him again. We were following a car (who we thought knew where the caravan was going) but he went into the wrong gate and about 9 cars followed him since we had no idea where to go. It turns out the meeting spot was supposed to be on the other side of the stadium but there was no way to drive around. We decided to set up our own line of Pats fans and it actually worked out better for me since Plaza 54 was right next to us. Tailgating was a Blast. Good natured ribbing although as we got closer to kickoff it became a little more intense. The Charger fans thought (as you can guess) that this game was nearly a formality along the way to the Super Bowl.

Walking in I narrowly escaped some clown puking on me from behind. The attendents still let him in. Stadium is old but good sightlines and plenty of room. A little blind spot in back of endzone where we were sitting because the wall is pretty high and close to the field. Fans near us were extremely condident. The guys in front of us refused to shake my good luck handshake before the game. They had a girl with them that was so drunk she was passed out from the 2nd quarter on. I even reported to security so she could be taken home but they did nothing. Typical "Brady sucks !!" chants ringing down during the game. The stadium at points was deafening. Easliy as loud as Invesco during last years Playoff game. We stood the whole game which was great since my stomach was in knots (as I'm sure everyone here's was )and I needed to stand. Bathroom situation sucked until I found a line of Port a Potties (just like old Foxboro stadium LOL) I don't know if it came across on TV but the fans thought that were going to get another chance at FG when they call unsportsman like penalty on us at end. They were all jumping around me(sorry Charger fans)

At the end it did get very ugly. I saw at least 6 drag out brawls on the way to the car. Some of the Pats fans brought in on themselves by giving **** to the Charger fans but some were in the wrong place at the wrong time. There were some exremely drunk angry Charger fans after the game. I saw one guy that was arrested being escorted with a hood over his head. the only thing I could think is that guy was so out of control they were worried about biting. [ADDITION BY NOVA, IT WAS SADDAM] We stayed about an hour and a half until some of the Pats fans in our group almost got into fight amongst ourselves so I called it a night at that point. I've been to a lot of Patriot games (snow bowl, Super Bowls ect) and this one ranks very high on the list.

 

[Jacky Roberts]

Yeah there was one little kid, probably about 12 who was crying and creaming at us at the end of the game. Sorry, buddy, learn to root for a good team....

Poor little brat.

 

[italian pat patriot]

many thanks for the reports

i always love to read the feedbacks on the road trips