New England Patriots/Gillette Stadium/Boston
Apr 29th, 2012, 05:15 PM
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New England Patriots/Gillette Stadium/Boston
Can anyone provide me with firsthand knowledge of traveling from Boston to Foxboro (or staying in Foxboro) and attending a Patriots game? Also curious to know how hard it is to get tickets to a game, etc. My husband and I are contemplating taking our 15 year old Patriots fan from South Dakota to Boston in early October for the game against the Broncos, but we have no "connections" to get tickets to a game. I see from the Patriots website that single tickets do not even go on sale until July. Thanks in advance!
Apr 29th, 2012, 06:01 PM
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It is impossible to get tickets to a Patriots game when the single game tickets go on sale. We tried for years - even signing on at the second they went on sale. There are a tiny number of tickets available this way.
That leaves you with going to a ticket broker. Figure you are going to pay at least 1.5 times face value - maybe more - since that game will likely be popular. I have used Ace Tickets (website by same name) for many sporting events - including the SuperBowl. They are reputable and have a good selection of tickets.
Or you could try StubHub or EBay. I am not a fan of doing this, although many people have used it with great success. There is always the real risk of geting fake tickets, since many are print-at-home version. It is officially against season ticket holder rules to sell ones season tickets this way - but have never heard of the Patriots doing anything about that.
As far as getting from Boston to a game - the traffic is beyond terrible. There is a game-day train to/from South Station - have never taken it as I always worry about missing the train back and we are quite a distance from South Station anyway.
Would be a nice trip for your son - and don't want to sound so negative - just giving you info you would want prior to making a decision.
That leaves you with going to a ticket broker. Figure you are going to pay at least 1.5 times face value - maybe more - since that game will likely be popular. I have used Ace Tickets (website by same name) for many sporting events - including the SuperBowl. They are reputable and have a good selection of tickets.
Or you could try StubHub or EBay. I am not a fan of doing this, although many people have used it with great success. There is always the real risk of geting fake tickets, since many are print-at-home version. It is officially against season ticket holder rules to sell ones season tickets this way - but have never heard of the Patriots doing anything about that.
As far as getting from Boston to a game - the traffic is beyond terrible. There is a game-day train to/from South Station - have never taken it as I always worry about missing the train back and we are quite a distance from South Station anyway.
Would be a nice trip for your son - and don't want to sound so negative - just giving you info you would want prior to making a decision.
Apr 29th, 2012, 07:04 PM
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If you do manage to get tickets, don't plan on spending the night in Foxboro.
It's basically a one horse town. I was there 4 years ago for a consulting job, and the local folks told me to stay in RI, which I did.
When I was there, the highlight restaurant, 5 miles away, was a Chili's.
It's basically a one horse town. I was there 4 years ago for a consulting job, and the local folks told me to stay in RI, which I did.
When I was there, the highlight restaurant, 5 miles away, was a Chili's.
Apr 30th, 2012, 02:04 AM
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Agree with above - visiting teams usually stay at hotels in Rhode Island (I know it sounds strange, but look at a map and it makes a bit more sense). If you decide to make the trip and are not spending much time in the area beyond the game, you might look into flying into TF Green airport in Providence (actually Warwick), RI. There might be better public transit from RI to Gillette.
Apr 30th, 2012, 02:18 AM
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There is usually a train from South Station, but there won't be any details yet.
Are there tour companies that would handle the whole package -- tickets, transportation, maybe a meal on the bus? Perhaps someone here will know.
Are there tour companies that would handle the whole package -- tickets, transportation, maybe a meal on the bus? Perhaps someone here will know.
Apr 30th, 2012, 04:51 AM
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The Road Trips Sports Travel agency advertises that it can get you into any game in any city. I have used them -- not for football games, though -- and they do a great job. They usually undertake to get you a hotel+tickets+transportation to game, but they are ok with special circumstances (like if you don't need the hotel).
Another possibility is Ace Tickets, which is the Boston are ticket re-seller. Ace and Stubhub are pretty reliable about not selling fake tickets, because they verify them themselves.
Another possibility is Ace Tickets, which is the Boston are ticket re-seller. Ace and Stubhub are pretty reliable about not selling fake tickets, because they verify them themselves.
Apr 30th, 2012, 04:51 AM
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Please don't be discouraged by the comments so far. Yes, you have to do some work to get tickets, and lots of people will join you on the road to the stadium, but virtually all of the fans have fun on game day.
StubHub is a reasonably reliable method of getting tickets (much more so then eBay). An even more reliable method is to buy from an agency such as Ace Ticket. The difference between Ace and StubHub is that Ace resells tickets that they buy (usually from ticket holders who wish to sell individual game tickets), while StubHub just acts as a broker between ticket sellers and ticket buyers.
I would recommend against the train. It's inconvenient, crowded, and can be rowdy, especially on the way home. Going to the game will indeed take a full day (allow at least 2-3 hours travel in each direction). Driving isn't difficult in terms of finding the place, but it just takes a long time for the traffic to work its way out of the stadium area.
StubHub is a reasonably reliable method of getting tickets (much more so then eBay). An even more reliable method is to buy from an agency such as Ace Ticket. The difference between Ace and StubHub is that Ace resells tickets that they buy (usually from ticket holders who wish to sell individual game tickets), while StubHub just acts as a broker between ticket sellers and ticket buyers.
I would recommend against the train. It's inconvenient, crowded, and can be rowdy, especially on the way home. Going to the game will indeed take a full day (allow at least 2-3 hours travel in each direction). Driving isn't difficult in terms of finding the place, but it just takes a long time for the traffic to work its way out of the stadium area.
Apr 30th, 2012, 06:14 AM
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Apr 30th, 2012, 07:48 AM
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Yeah, rastaguy...you clearly haven't been since Bob Kraft expanded his little fiefdom. There's actually quite a bit of good dining at patriots place. 
But tickets are so impossible to get, and decent tickets even harder. Those 300 level tix are far, far away. Also, the Peyton manning -- Tom Brady showdown probably demands an even higher premium.
If you have money to splurge it would be great to sty at the hotel which overlooks the field. Then you don't have to worry about game day traffic.
But tickets are so impossible to get, and decent tickets even harder. Those 300 level tix are far, far away. Also, the Peyton manning -- Tom Brady showdown probably demands an even higher premium.
If you have money to splurge it would be great to sty at the hotel which overlooks the field. Then you don't have to worry about game day traffic.
Apr 30th, 2012, 08:55 AM
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I've used StubHub for tickets to Red Sox game In September and there were also tickets to Patriots games on the site at the time. It was very easy, and the tickets printed out on line and were very reasonable. I think you will find more available a bit closer to the game time, as people find they can't use their tickets. As I recall the Patriots tickets were not inexpensive.
Apr 30th, 2012, 09:12 AM
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Look: Fearing to use StubHub or a similar service is not logical. StubHub and Vivid Seats and Razor Gator all re-sell event tickets and all guarantee that the tickets will work. They da*n well better for those markups. Therefore, if you do purchase from them and the tickets are no good for admission, you will get a refund.
COMPARE the various sites. StubHub was the first to establish the business model and has aggressively marketed itself to consumers and teams, but Vivid Seats and Razor Gator may have better deals (I saved well over $100 on two tickets to a concert at MSG using Vivid Seats instead of StubHub - and MSG concert tickets are always overpriced because the scalpers control distribution with their "arrangements" with the box office).
Just be prepared. Patriots tickets are a limited commodity like all NFL tickets because the team plays only 8 real (not exhibition) home games all year. So you will pay a LOT. Worse, the Pats' schedule back-loads the home games so that 5 of the 8 (Bills, Colts, Texans, Niners, Dolphins) are in November and December. Although you're from South Dakota, so it may feel like Spring weather, most folks would consider it cold. And, of course, you will only be able to see the Super Bowl runner-up.
COMPARE the various sites. StubHub was the first to establish the business model and has aggressively marketed itself to consumers and teams, but Vivid Seats and Razor Gator may have better deals (I saved well over $100 on two tickets to a concert at MSG using Vivid Seats instead of StubHub - and MSG concert tickets are always overpriced because the scalpers control distribution with their "arrangements" with the box office).
Just be prepared. Patriots tickets are a limited commodity like all NFL tickets because the team plays only 8 real (not exhibition) home games all year. So you will pay a LOT. Worse, the Pats' schedule back-loads the home games so that 5 of the 8 (Bills, Colts, Texans, Niners, Dolphins) are in November and December. Although you're from South Dakota, so it may feel like Spring weather, most folks would consider it cold. And, of course, you will only be able to see the Super Bowl runner-up.
Apr 30th, 2012, 04:09 PM
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I think your plan really depends on your budget.
My husband is a season ticket holder and goes to most home games. We live 2 hours away. He leaves the house 6 hours before game time, to get to the stadium 4 hours before the game, which means he only hits a little bit of traffic close to the stadium, and he gets into his preferred parking lot as soon as it opens to tailgaters. And as crazy as that sounds, there are thousands of people doing the same thing. The parking lot is "preferred" because it is one of the first to empty at the end of the game. If you arrive later and get into one of the less-favorable lots, you may sit for an hour or more waiting to get out. Parking is about $40 a car.
He says the safest way to buy tickets is through Stubhub. Out of curiousity, I just checked the Broncos game. Tickets range from over $200 a piece in the upper sections to $500 a piece closer to the field. Our original season tickets were 2 rows from the very top of the stadium, and I thought they were pretty good. Obviously a lot more $$ will get you much better seats.
There's a hotel right at Patriot's Place. Again, I was curious and checked out that weekend - rates look like at least $500 a night.
The tailgating scene is great, if the weather is good, although most fans aren't dissuaded by the worst weather.
And if you're not up for tailgating, there are lots of food options at Patriot Place, from fancy to burgers, but everything will be very, very crowded on a game day. Just make sure you leave lots of time if you intend to eat there.
My husband is a season ticket holder and goes to most home games. We live 2 hours away. He leaves the house 6 hours before game time, to get to the stadium 4 hours before the game, which means he only hits a little bit of traffic close to the stadium, and he gets into his preferred parking lot as soon as it opens to tailgaters. And as crazy as that sounds, there are thousands of people doing the same thing. The parking lot is "preferred" because it is one of the first to empty at the end of the game. If you arrive later and get into one of the less-favorable lots, you may sit for an hour or more waiting to get out. Parking is about $40 a car.
He says the safest way to buy tickets is through Stubhub. Out of curiousity, I just checked the Broncos game. Tickets range from over $200 a piece in the upper sections to $500 a piece closer to the field. Our original season tickets were 2 rows from the very top of the stadium, and I thought they were pretty good. Obviously a lot more $$ will get you much better seats.
There's a hotel right at Patriot's Place. Again, I was curious and checked out that weekend - rates look like at least $500 a night.
The tailgating scene is great, if the weather is good, although most fans aren't dissuaded by the worst weather.
And if you're not up for tailgating, there are lots of food options at Patriot Place, from fancy to burgers, but everything will be very, very crowded on a game day. Just make sure you leave lots of time if you intend to eat there.
May 1st, 2012, 07:13 AM
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The Broncos game will have the worst markup because it will have Peyton Manning returning to Foxboro to face Tom Brady. That's the biggest QB rivalry in the NFL and it will command a premium price.
May 5th, 2012, 12:41 PM
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Wow - thanks everyone! Right now I'm patiently waiting on hearing from a friend of a friend who lives in Boston about getting tickets and we'll go from there. Obviously with no possible way to get tickets at a reasonable price, we'll probably have to forego this trip and hope they play a team closer to us in the future. I certainly appreciate all the responses!
Jun 1st, 2012, 06:23 PM
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Looks like we might be able to get tickets for the 11/11 or 11/18 game. Would love to stay at the hotel right by the stadium, but yikes - very spendy. The convenience would be great though. Any suggestions on where to stay if we don't stay at the Patriots Place? I'm going to look into flying into Rhode Island as well.
Jun 2nd, 2012, 02:29 PM
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1. Rent a car and drive east. You can't miss it.
2. The Peter Pan bus company can take you from Providence to Woods Hole, MA or to Hyannis, MA, both on the water. Probably Hyannis will have more going on in November. If you are going that far, though, you must promise to pay your respects to the magnificient part, the National Seashore, and that means renting a car for at least a day-trip further out.
3. The fastest way to get to the ocean is to drive south, not east. Newport RI is nice, if you want to go that route.
2. The Peter Pan bus company can take you from Providence to Woods Hole, MA or to Hyannis, MA, both on the water. Probably Hyannis will have more going on in November. If you are going that far, though, you must promise to pay your respects to the magnificient part, the National Seashore, and that means renting a car for at least a day-trip further out.
3. The fastest way to get to the ocean is to drive south, not east. Newport RI is nice, if you want to go that route.
