My first Gillette/Patriot Place Experience of 2008

[BlitzFritz]

I go to four games a year - purchase tix from a season ticket holder - anyway, yesterday was my first trip to the stadium since November of last year. Holy cow, what a difference ten months makes! HATE IT! It's absolutely horrid. It's a small cement city - has a stepford wives feel to it - with a freakin' stadium in the middle of "town." Shoot, the stadium is obscured from view with the shops, musuem, high end restaurants, movie complex, entertainment venue, almost completed hotel. I'm waiting for the luxury condos.....you know that's coming next. This is Kraft's vision....a money making mall turned community development where football just seems like the afterthought. It does not feel like a real football venue anymore. Awful. Just awful.

I liked what i saw emerging from Patriots Place. its better than parking lot for god sakes. A giant TV with football on?? a real Patriots Hall of Fame building?? Victoria's Secret?? Ice Cream? I was impressed.

also maybe the krafts will find better ways to use the addlt money they make, like in fixing the traffic, better team facilities etc

 

[MiChargers]

As I was walking through the shops as I came over from P10, I had the feeling like I was walking through one of those fake streets/cities at Disney World.

Never been and this is the first Ive heard of the outlying area. To be honest, I've always thought Gillette looked pretty cool. The general layout, bridge, and how close the seats are to the field. But no tailgating? That would suck. And did I read that they scroll movies that are playing across the jumbotron?....inside the stadium during the games?? You must be kidding. I wouldnt mind seeing the place first hand, though.

 

[PatriotNMP43]

You gotta be kidding me.......

No Kraft - No Patriots, period.

No revenue - No compete (that day is fast approaching).

In our wildest dreams, we could not have found a better owner.

Thank you, the voice of reason. These people whining about traffic are the same ones who will whine when the stadium does not sell out when the team sucks again. Kraft made this a place to take your family not just a place for drunks to gather. Unreal.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Thank you, the voice of reason. These people whining about traffic are the same ones who will whine when the stadium does not sell out when the team sucks again. Kraft made this a place to take your family not just a place for drunks to gather. Unreal.

I would never complain ,but I dont go every week, I just notice traffic is worse on 495, going into the stadium.. I cant really say if its because of the retail that parking is more of a issuie.. but the 1 game i went to the traffic was heavier than normal, and just wondering if people, espically ones that come from CT or nh felt the same.

 

[Seymour93]

You gotta be kidding me.......

No Kraft - No Patriots, period.

No revenue - No compete (that day is fast approaching).

The Patriots were already the third wealthiest franchise before construction of Patriot Place even began.

 

[Patslifer]

Another gem from the creeps who thought Foxboro stadium was a great place to be. Honestly, can some of you guys just get over it? People with money, and a taste for a nice bite to eat are not the enemy. If you don't like the shops, dont go. No one is forcing you to go there. Kraft is the savior of this franchise. I have had season tickets for close to two decades, and the things they have done to Gillete are awesome. We are light years ahead of other franchises. Are we paying huge psl's? I thnk it's great that Kraft is filtering out all the trash from our great stadium.

Patriots place? Awesome
Shops to check out for a few min before or after the game ( after you have ate and drank your fill in the parking lot)? Awesome
The hall? Awesome
A hotel for people to stay that are from out of town? Awesome
Several places to grab a bite to eat after a game?Awesome


Dramtic meatballs who yearn for a cheap, low-class, hell-hole? Not so awesome. New's flash - the traffic sucks all over the state, couple that with the fact that 60 thousand people are leaving one place at one time, and viola you have traffic. The money Kraft makes from all his developments might help if there is no cap one day. Then all you people will be howling for him to spend some coin. Get a grip! The hall makes us legit, and it plants the seed for an actual history of the team. In forty years that place will be a gem.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

Never been and this is the first Ive heard of the outlying area. To be honest, I've always thought Gillette looked pretty cool. The general layout, bridge, and how close the seats are to the field. But no tailgating? That would suck. And did I read that they scroll movies that are playing across the jumbotron?....inside the stadium during the games?? You must be kidding. I wouldnt mind seeing the place first hand, though.

There's tailgating. I will agree that having to tailgate across the street kinda blows, but I could see the stadium fine, and its not that far of a walk. Also, as someone else suggested, a pedestrian bridge would be a great idea. Traffic does get held up a bit while everyone is trying to cross rt 1. Speaking of rt 1. I can't believe people are complaining about traffic delays. How many of you remember going to games before the 90's? Holy crap, you'd be in traffic for hours trying to get to 495. I prefer to tailgate after the game, and miss the traffic anyway.

 

[tuckeverlasting]

There's tailgating. I will agree that having to tailgate across the street kinda blows, but I could see the stadium fine, and its not that far of a walk. Also, as someone else suggested, a pedestrian bridge would be a great idea. Traffic does get held up a bit while everyone is trying to cross rt 1. Speaking of rt 1. I can't believe people are complaining about traffic delays. How many of you remember going to games before the 90's? Holy crap, you'd be in traffic for hours trying to get to 495. I prefer to tailgate after the game, and miss the traffic anyway.

i remember it well.

 

[kmac14]

(Most bothersome? having the movie titles and show times scrolling on the jumbotron. Are you kidding me?)

Especially Sunday as I see on the board "Why not take in a movie after the game"? Today's showings.....(and the 1st title listed)
The Women (now that was funny, and could explain why so many heading down the ramps in the 3rd qtr).
I thought they Kraft's did a nice job, to extend Patriots Place to more than just a football season type of place. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to shop at any of the stores, but compared to last year when you were herded through a series of gates to get to and from the stadium, walking around this year has been a breeze.

 

[signbabybrady]

The Patriots were already the third wealthiest franchise before construction of Patriot Place even began.

Ohh well in that case why try to make more?

 

[nepatz11]

I for one think Patriot Place is awesome. They just need to build pedestrian bridges over ROute 1 but frankly they probably needed to do that before Patriot Place anyway. It is such a simple idea and would make such a huge impact so why not do it?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

 

[signbabybrady]

I for one think Patriot Place is awesome. They just need to build pedestrian bridges over ROute 1 but frankly they probably needed to do that before Patriot Place anyway. It is such a simple idea and would make such a huge impact so why not do it?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

I believe they were in the plans when the stadium was first being built. Maybe I am wrong but if not there must be a reason they did not end up being built whether it was a cost cut back or if maybe the town didn't allow it (both seem like odd reasons maybe there is a better one).

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

I am looking forward to going to the hall ..

 

[ScottieC]

What did you feel about the traffic as well.. I went 2 weeks ago, and never was the traffic as bad as it was 2 weeks ago.. Parking is horrendous.. And the traffic coming from 495 south,to the wrentham exit.. Is horrible.

In all fairness, Sean - I don't think the Traffic is the Fault of the Patriots or Kraft - and I get that you are venting.

That's a product of Success. I can tell you that before a Falcons game you can drive all around the Georgia Dome and barely even know there is a game going on, and it's downtown with no major roads feeding the parking.

 

[nepatz11]

They could make the bridges cool with like Patriots logos on them or something

 

[ScottieC]

I go to four games a year - purchase tix from a season ticket holder - anyway, yesterday was my first trip to the stadium since November of last year. Holy cow, what a difference ten months makes! HATE IT! It's absolutely horrid. It's a small cement city - has a stepford wives feel to it - with a freakin' stadium in the middle of "town." Shoot, the stadium is obscured from view with the shops, musuem, high end restaurants, movie complex, entertainment venue, almost completed hotel. I'm waiting for the luxury condos.....you know that's coming next. This is Kraft's vision....a money making mall turned community development where football just seems like the afterthought. It does not feel like a real football venue anymore. Awful. Just awful.

My first visit of the year and I thought it was incredible.

Absolutely awesome. Mr. Kraft should be very proud of what he's done and the fans and community that Patriot Place serves should be proud to have Mr. Kraft as the Owner of the team and willing to think outside the box.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

In all fairness, Sean - I don't think the Traffic is the Fault of the Patriots or Kraft - and I get that you are venting.

That's a product of Success. I can tell you that before a Falcons game you can drive all around the Georgia Dome and barely even know there is a game going on, and it's downtown with no major roads feeding the parking.

Im not blaming the Patriots or the Krafts, I just found it wierd when the easiest part of the traffic pattern is a little harder than normal.. I enjoy my experience when I go, but that is my fault for doing it all in 1 day.. When I got off the exit at rt 1 I did not have a problem till I got to the parking lot..

 

[Seymour93]

Ohh well in that case why try to make more?

The poster implied that Patriot Place is crucial to the financial success of the franchise. It's not. We are still in third place, BTW, and we will stay there unless the Cowboys and Redskins really F' up.

 

[JAYHAWKS34]

I for one think Patriot Place is awesome. They just need to build pedestrian bridges over ROute 1 but frankly they probably needed to do that before Patriot Place anyway. It is such a simple idea and would make such a huge impact so why not do it?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

I also do not have a problem with it, one night this week I am going to head there to check it out, maybe dinner and a movie