Request info about attending Bills game in Foxboro

[n6249c]

This year is a special birthday so I’m thinking of giving myself a special birthday present: a ticket to the Bills game at Gillette.

I’d appreciate some helpful advice. And of course a ticket would be nice, or even just a lead on a good seat for a good price. Right now I expect to be traveling solo so just one seat required.

Also some local knowledge about travel, parking, amenities, etc. Maybe even advice on a place to stay. I’ve been living out of the area for a few years now, or more than a few, and the last Patriots game I attended was in ‘79 or ‘80. So I’m very unfamiliar with the area. It looks like if I tried staying nearby I’d still be five to ten miles from the stadium. Is that worth it? How long would it take to get to the stadium parking? Would I be better staying with friends in NH and coming down 495? How long does it take for the place to empty out after the game?

Any other advice or suggestions?

 

[Marko]

This year is a special birthday so I’m thinking of giving myself a special birthday present: a ticket to the Bills game at Gillette.

I’d appreciate some helpful advice. And of course a ticket would be nice, or even just a lead on a good seat for a good price. Right now I expect to be traveling solo so just one seat required.

Also some local knowledge about travel, parking, amenities, etc. Maybe even advice on a place to stay. I’ve been living out of the area for a few years now, or more than a few, and the last Patriots game I attended was in ‘79 or ‘80. So I’m very unfamiliar with the area. It looks like if I tried staying nearby I’d still be five to ten miles from the stadium. Is that worth it? How long would it take to get to the stadium parking? Would I be better staying with friends in NH and coming down 495? How long does it take for the place to empty out after the game?

Any other advice or suggestions?

There’s a hotel right in Patriot Place which is the mall at the stadium, however this is probably booked solid. There is also one called Home 2 Suites that uses its parking lot for game day parking that is walking distance away. If I were you I would look asap for any vacancies in the area as that game is looking to be the most sought after ticket so far. Obviously you could stay in Boston and take the train to the game, if wanting more than just game accessibility.

 

[Marko]

the team owned stadium lots are the closest parking but also the longest in and out, before and after the game. There are many restaurants and businesses that rent out their lots for game days that are quick in and out. If you are ok with the walk you can get out quicker by parking in a place further away.

 

[n6249c]

There’s a hotel right in Patriot Place which is the mall at the stadium, however this is probably booked solid. There is also one called Home 2 Suites that uses its parking lot for game day parking that is walking distance away. If I were you I would look asap for any vacancies in the area as that game is looking to be the most sought after ticket so far. Obviously you could stay in Boston and take the train to the game, if wanting more than just game accessibility.

Train to the game? What’s that rail service?

 

[A Defiant Goose]

Train to the game? What’s that rail service?

The MBTA I believe has trains out of South Station. We took it for our first Pats game at Foxboro which was the deflategate game. As long as you go straight for the train right when the game ends you'll be perfectly on time. I remember arriving to my seat with about 10 minutes to spare til kickoff. In the nosebleeds. I'd highly recommend that

 

[Rob0729]

I like to park in the Enterprise lot on the 495 side of the Stadium on the other side of route one. I find it an easier in and out than a lot of the stadium lots. And even if you want to go 95 home, it is easier to go to 495 from that lot and go 495 south to 95 north. I find it can save you an hour or even more after the game.

Although when we go, we usually tailgate right after the game. You aren't going anywhere fast anyway. And I found that if you tailgate for an hour after the game and leave after the traffic eases, you get home around the same time as if you try to leave the parking lot right away.

 

[n6249c]

The MBTA I believe has trains out of South Station. We took it for our first Pats game at Foxboro which was the deflategate game. As long as you go straight for the train right when the game ends you'll be perfectly on time. I remember arriving to my seat with about 10 minutes to spare til kickoff. In the nosebleeds. I'd highly recommend that

That sounds good. Around here commuter rail shuts down on weekends, glad to hear MBTA is doing it right. That’s very helpful info. THANKS!

 

[A Defiant Goose]

That sounds good. Around here commuter rail shuts down on weekends, glad to hear MBTA is doing it right. That’s very helpful info. THANKS!

No problem check here for details. Looks like ETA would be 11:25AM

Gillette Stadium | Destinations | MBTA

Official website of the MBTA -- schedules, maps, and fare information for Greater Boston's public transportation system, including subway, commuter rail, bus routes, and boat lines.

www.mbta.com

Sunday, December 26: Patriots vs. Bills at 1 PM

Schedule from Boston:

• Depart South Station: 10:35 AM
• Depart Back Bay: 10:40 AM
• Depart Dedham Corp: 10:55 AM
• Arrive Foxboro: 11:25 AM

Schedule from Providence:

• Depart Providence: 10:20 AM
• Depart Attleboro: 10:40 AM
• Depart Mansfield: 10:50 AM
• Arrive Foxboro: 11:25 AM

After the game: Trains depart Foxboro 30 minutes after the game ends
Check the Foxboro schedule for live departures times the day of the game.

 

[fourhour]

Check out the hotels in the Bellingham/Franklin/Milford area. Twenty minutes away from the stadium and plenty of food establishments to keep you nourished.

 

[gitgronked82]

That sounds good. Around here commuter rail shuts down on weekends, glad to hear MBTA is doing it right. That’s very helpful info. THANKS!

Yeah I live in the city and often take the train. Basically this means you can get a hotel anywhere in Boston and it’s easy to get to the game. You can first get wal or take public transit to back bay station or south station. Alternatively, you could stay in Providence (may be cheaper) or in Dedham (not in the city but the gameday train stops there).

 

[Rob0729]

That sounds good. Around here commuter rail shuts down on weekends, glad to hear MBTA is doing it right. That’s very helpful info. THANKS!

If you do go the MBTA route and you go to the pro shop or hang out in the parking lot after the game, just make sure you make it back before the last train. I have heard stories of people hooking up with people tailgating and missing the last train and getting stranded.

 

[n6249c]

Yeah I live in the city and often take the train. Basically this means you can get a hotel anywhere in Boston and it’s easy to get to the game. You can first get wal or take public transit to back bay station or south station. Alternatively, you could stay in Providence (may be cheaper) or in Dedham (not in the city but the gameday train stops there).

How crowded are the trains? Or do they just add cars as required?

I’m thinking the train looks very convenient, and hotels in Providence are cheaper so I’ll probably stay there if I’m not crashing with friends somewhere.

now it’s a matter of budget, and finding tickets.

 

[gitgronked82]

How crowded are the trains? Or do they just add cars as required?

I’m thinking the train looks very convenient, and hotels in Providence are cheaper so I’ll probably stay there if I’m not crashing with friends somewhere.

now it’s a matter of budget, and finding tickets.

I only take the boston trains, so hard for me to say about providence. it's a separate line. but the gameday trains from boston are extremely crowded. thing is, the trains are shockingly large. you'll get a seat but might walk legit 10 minutes to the back of the car before you find one. it's crowded but they sell a finite number of tickets- buy ahead of time the week of on the MBTA app (let me know if you have any questions on how to do this). Here is the schedule for the providence line for the Bills:
=
Yes, if you're not planning on hanging out in the city for the weekend, Providence should be cheaper and makes sense logistically.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

How crowded are the trains? Or do they just add cars as required?

I’m thinking the train looks very convenient, and hotels in Providence are cheaper so I’ll probably stay there if I’m not crashing with friends somewhere.

now it’s a matter of budget, and finding tickets.

The further along the route you board, the less likely you are to get a seat. But the trip is relatively short anyway so if you do end up needing to stand because of how crowded it is, it aint too bad

 

[Patjew]

How crowded are the trains? Or do they just add cars as required?

I’m thinking the train looks very convenient, and hotels in Providence are cheaper so I’ll probably stay there if I’m not crashing with friends somewhere.

now it’s a matter of budget, and finding tickets.

I'm biased but I think PVD is a good move. Cheaper hotels and bit closer to Gillette than Boston. Good restaurants too. The train can feel super slow but it's easy. BUT, if you want to spend A LOT time soaking in the atmosphere at the stadium before or after the game, forget the train and rent a car. Like Rob, I like to park south of the stadium on the west side of Rt 1. I park in the 24 hour fitness lot or whatever it is called now. Unlike Rob, I do not post-game tailgate. If it's a close game and everyone leaves at the same time, you'll wait up to an hour to get out. If not, it's pretty quick. I would not recommend parking in a stadium lot unless you plan on post-game tailgating for at least an hour. Those lots suck to get out of.

 

[Patjew]

I only take the boston trains, so hard for me to say about providence. it's a separate line. but the gameday trains from boston are extremely crowded. thing is, the trains are shockingly large. you'll get a seat but might walk legit 10 minutes to the back of the car before you find one. it's crowded but they sell a finite number of tickets- buy ahead of time the week of on the MBTA app (let me know if you have any questions on how to do this). Here is the schedule for the providence line for the Bills:
View attachment 38537=
Yes, if you're not planning on hanging out in the city for the weekend, Providence should be cheaper and makes sense logistically.

That's interesting. The train arrives at the stadium earlier than it used to (like 10 years ago).

 

[PatsDeb]

If you do go the MBTA route and you go to the pro shop or hang out in the parking lot after the game, just make sure you make it back before the last train. I have heard stories of people hooking up with people tailgating and missing the last train and getting stranded.

There's only one train back to Boston and it leaves 30 minutes after the game. No time to go to the pro shop or tailgating (before or after the game), unfortunately.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

I move to make this the defacto tailgate thread. Who else is going? I'm getting there nice and early for a 7AM Mass at the local church, then we're gonna be cooking brats and giving Bills fans wedgies til 12

 

[Rob0729]

There's only one train back to Boston and it leaves 30 minutes after the game. No time to go to the pro shop or tailgating (before or after the game), unfortunately.

Yeah, I don't know anything than what I have heard in the past. I just heard stories of people getting stranded.

But 30 minutes after the game is cutting it short. It can take 30 minutes to get out of the stadium from the nosebleed seats.

 

[Patjew]

Yeah, I don't know anything than what I have heard in the past. I just heard stories of people getting stranded.

But 30 minutes after the game is cutting it short. It can take 30 minutes to get out of the stadium from the nosebleed seats.

Again, it's been a long time since I've taken the train, but I never had a problem catching it to leave the game, even as a nosebleeder.

I stopped taking it after it got to the game late for the 2007 AFCCG and I missed the first series.

You can say that I can hold a grudge.