Boston / 1st Patriots Game - any tips?
Sep 11th, 2012, 05:45 AM
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Boston / 1st Patriots Game - any tips?
First time traveling by car to Gillette Stadium from downtown Boston for 9/15 game. How much time to allow? Do most people tailgate? Any and all first timer tips appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Sep 11th, 2012, 10:17 AM
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In the absence of answers here, you may want to read the Patriot's forum: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-.../messageboard/
I bet they have gone over these questions. A lot of people tailgate, and I think the earlier you go, the better parking space you'll get, and traffic will be less. I would allow at least an hour for the drive, depending on when you leave, expecting delays and traffic at the end. I've heard complaints that it takes a long time to get out of the parking lots but my limited experience is that traffic going North after the game moves pretty well once you get on 95 North.
I bet they have gone over these questions. A lot of people tailgate, and I think the earlier you go, the better parking space you'll get, and traffic will be less. I would allow at least an hour for the drive, depending on when you leave, expecting delays and traffic at the end. I've heard complaints that it takes a long time to get out of the parking lots but my limited experience is that traffic going North after the game moves pretty well once you get on 95 North.
Sep 14th, 2012, 03:28 PM
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CW gives good info.
Parking lots open 4 hours before kickoff, and there will be tons of people arriving that early to tailgate. Especially for an afternoon game on what's looking to be a beautiful warm day. If you're willing to get there that early, you will not hit that much traffic. As game time approaches, traffic on Route 1 will get very heavy. My husband goes to most home games and says if you plan to get there 3 hours before kickoff, traffic won't be too bad, but much later and all bets are off.
Leaving the game, it'll probably take at least a half-hour to get out of the parking lot - more if you stay until the very end of the game and are parked in a spot not close to the exit.
Parking is $40.
If you don't tailgate, there are lots of restaurants in Patriot Place but they will be jammed.
There is a sports museum at Patriot Place, but my understanding is that it is not open on game days.
Parking lots open 4 hours before kickoff, and there will be tons of people arriving that early to tailgate. Especially for an afternoon game on what's looking to be a beautiful warm day. If you're willing to get there that early, you will not hit that much traffic. As game time approaches, traffic on Route 1 will get very heavy. My husband goes to most home games and says if you plan to get there 3 hours before kickoff, traffic won't be too bad, but much later and all bets are off.
Leaving the game, it'll probably take at least a half-hour to get out of the parking lot - more if you stay until the very end of the game and are parked in a spot not close to the exit.
Parking is $40.
If you don't tailgate, there are lots of restaurants in Patriot Place but they will be jammed.
There is a sports museum at Patriot Place, but my understanding is that it is not open on game days.
Sep 15th, 2012, 01:44 AM
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(We go to 2-4 home games/year).
Parking - they tell you where to park, so being near an exit is not your choice. Parking lots are large and there are several indistinguishable ones. Pay close attention to where you park - my friend and I could not find our car and husbands after a nite game last year.
Tailgating - you can have a perfectly nice time at the game tailgating or not - sometimes we do, sometimes not. You can not bring any food or alcohol into the stadium. There are tons of porta-potties in the parking lot if you should need to use them. Rowdiness is not extreme, and worse at the later afternoon and Sunday evening games. For the 1 PM game you will find people tailgating after the game while waiting for traffic to subside.
Traffic is weird - obviously if you get there really early there will be less, but they do strange things with switching lanes that can increase or decrease traffic unpredictably for reasons that I do not comprehend.
It is a really nice stadium, but not flashy. The tall tower on the end is a lighthouse. Enjoy the game. When the Patriots are leading by 3 touchdowns in the 3rd quarter, stay and watch the end of the game.
Parking - they tell you where to park, so being near an exit is not your choice. Parking lots are large and there are several indistinguishable ones. Pay close attention to where you park - my friend and I could not find our car and husbands after a nite game last year.
Tailgating - you can have a perfectly nice time at the game tailgating or not - sometimes we do, sometimes not. You can not bring any food or alcohol into the stadium. There are tons of porta-potties in the parking lot if you should need to use them. Rowdiness is not extreme, and worse at the later afternoon and Sunday evening games. For the 1 PM game you will find people tailgating after the game while waiting for traffic to subside.
Traffic is weird - obviously if you get there really early there will be less, but they do strange things with switching lanes that can increase or decrease traffic unpredictably for reasons that I do not comprehend.
It is a really nice stadium, but not flashy. The tall tower on the end is a lighthouse. Enjoy the game. When the Patriots are leading by 3 touchdowns in the 3rd quarter, stay and watch the end of the game.
