My night in Foxboro

[RedskinsFan72]

This was my first trip to Gillette Stadium. Ive always wanted to see a Pats game there, but no games had come up that made me want to pay the $ and spend the time. Until of course, my team, the Redskins were coming around. Though it was only a pre-season game, I was excited to see my team in a stadium Ive never been to.

I should have known. I am in Massachusetts afterall, and when does anything in MA ever get done right?

Now I have been to other stadiums: Superdome (pre-Katrina obviously) , Giants Stadium twice and Ralph Wilson.

Never have a I seen such a cluster-f***.

Traffic is expected and that's OK. But the reason behind some of the traffic was mystifying. They had 3 lanes dropping into 2 for construction. A major road that gets log jammed already and they decided to wait until late Summer->Fall to do construction. Then again knowing this state, its probably been under construction for 4-5 years.

That was the first traffic jam we had to deal with.

It clears briefly until we start getting near the stadium. There is a spark of intelligence here when they expand the street from 2 lanes to 3. Which seemed to make sense. But then we find out that the parking lot exit on the right (the lot Gillette stadium directions tell you to go to) is full and the only one open is on the left. Which means people now need to cross 2 lanes of bumper-bumper traffic to get into the left lane.

In the meantime we're passing businesses offering parking for $25,$30,$35 the $40. Screw that. The Gillette Stadium website says parking is $35 and its right there, no walking 2 miles. Well, wrong.

The 1 lot that is open, which is a little further away than the one the directions told us to go to is magically $40 to park, according to an improptu cardboard sign they put up. So they fill up the close parking, make us park further away and pay MORE to do it.

If I had know they were going to pull that crap, I could have saved $10 and walked the lousy mile.

But OK, we're finally parked. We follow the rest of the cattle along the path, under the bridge and across the street. We come up to the gates and WTF!!

There's seperate entrances for males and females. Some for people with bags and some without. So amongst the throng of people, me and my girlfriend had to split up in order to get in, then find each other on the other side ---- Behind the red line please! - . We found each other, so far so good.

We make it to our seats just before kickoff. Nice nosebleeders. You can see everything, but barely able to make out players numbers. No complaint here, its what i could afford, so its what I got. The Stadium itself is nice, looks good. Though I dont like that different levels have different food/drink options, but they make it a pain to go from 1 to the other.

I will give it to the Pats fans. They were pretty good. No one was overly obnoxious. I had brought an extra shirt with the expectation of having beer "spilled" on me. But it was not needed. Even when the game was going at its worst, the biggest razz I got was a 10 year old saying "hey guy, the Redskins suck".

Most of the adult fans were saying things like "So when is Portis coming back?" or "Having him out is really hurting you guys".

So even though the game didnt go well, at all, in any way shape or form, I had a very good experience with the Pats fans.

Of course I waited until the 2nd half clock was 00:00 and Campbell's last hail mary pass dropped incomplete, to leave. Most people had emptied out. But still locked in traffic. We get to our car and noticed that not a single car in our lot has managed to move. So we dont bother, locked the doors, reclined the seats and took a nap.

I awoke an hour later to a State Cop yelling over his PA to go home. I wipe the sleepy junk out of my eyes and headed out. There was some traffic but the bulk was gone and we made good time.

We stopped at the first Dunkin on the Mass Pike, as did most everyone else. Ran into a couple more Pats fans, who were almost apologetic and trying to reassure me with "Its only preaseason".

So there you have it. My night in Foxboro. The loss was bad enough. But what really got me was the absolute scumbag way they were ripping us for parking and the complete inability to handle the traffic they undoubtly have ever home game. It added frustration upon frustration. Hell, NJ handles Giants stadium better than that. If that doesnt say something, what does?

Of course Ive never been to FedEx and Ive heard some pretty nightmarish things about parking and pedestrian traffic there. So maybe my experience isnt so out of the ordinary. But out of the 4 stadiums Ive been to for NFL games, this was by far the worse operation ive seen.

Thanks for reading, you must have been severely bored. :logo:

[Monte51Coleman]

Thanks for reading, you must have been severely bored.

Guilty as charged!

I only have one question...how was the traffic?

[skinthemboys]

Thanks for reading, you must have been severely bored. :logo:

:laugh: :laugh: Hey, at least the fans were O.K.

[RyansRangers]

This was my first trip to Gillette Stadium. Ive always wanted to see a Pats game there, but no games had come up that made me want to pay the $ and spend the time. Until of course, my team, the Redskins were coming around. Though it was only a pre-season game, I was excited to see my team in a stadium Ive never been to.

I should have known. I am in Massachusetts afterall, and when does anything in MA ever get done right?

Now I have been to other stadiums: Superdome (pre-Katrina obviously) , Giants Stadium twice and Ralph Wilson.

Never have a I seen such a cluster-f***.

Traffic is expected and that's OK. But the reason behind some of the traffic was mystifying. They had 3 lanes dropping into 2 for construction. A major road that gets log jammed already and they decided to wait until late Summer->Fall to do construction. Then again knowing this state, its probably been under construction for 4-5 years.

That was the first traffic jam we had to deal with.

It clears briefly until we start getting near the stadium. There is a spark of intelligence here when they expand the street from 2 lanes to 3. Which seemed to make sense. But then we find out that the parking lot exit on the right (the lot Gillette stadium directions tell you to go to) is full and the only one open is on the left. Which means people now need to cross 2 lanes of bumper-bumper traffic to get into the left lane.

In the meantime we're passing businesses offering parking for $25,$30,$35 the $40. Screw that. The Gillette Stadium website says parking is $35 and its right there, no walking 2 miles. Well, wrong.

The 1 lot that is open, which is a little further away than the one the directions told us to go to is magically $40 to park, according to an improptu cardboard sign they put up. So they fill up the close parking, make us park further away and pay MORE to do it.

If I had know they were going to pull that crap, I could have saved $10 and walked the lousy mile.

But OK, we're finally parked. We follow the rest of the cattle along the path, under the bridge and across the street. We come up to the gates and WTF!!

There's seperate entrances for males and females. Some for people with bags and some without. So amongst the throng of people, me and my girlfriend had to split up in order to get in, then find each other on the other side ---- Behind the red line please! - . We found each other, so far so good.

We make it to our seats just before kickoff. Nice nosebleeders. You can see everything, but barely able to make out players numbers. No complaint here, its what i could afford, so its what I got. The Stadium itself is nice, looks good. Though I dont like that different levels have different food/drink options, but they make it a pain to go from 1 to the other.

I will give it to the Pats fans. They were pretty good. No one was overly obnoxious. I had brought an extra shirt with the expectation of having beer "spilled" on me. But it was not needed. Even when the game was going at its worst, the biggest razz I got was a 10 year old saying "hey guy, the Redskins suck".

Most of the adult fans were saying things like "So when is Portis coming back?" or "Having him out is really hurting you guys".

So even though the game didnt go well, at all, in any way shape or form, I had a very good experience with the Pats fans.

Of course I waited until the 2nd half clock was 00:00 and Campbell's last hail mary pass dropped incomplete, to leave. Most people had emptied out. But still locked in traffic. We get to our car and noticed that not a single car in our lot has managed to move. So we dont bother, locked the doors, reclined the seats and took a nap.

I awoke an hour later to a State Cop yelling over his PA to go home. I wipe the sleepy junk out of my eyes and headed out. There was some traffic but the bulk was gone and we made good time.

We stopped at the first Dunkin on the Mass Pike, as did most everyone else. Ran into a couple more Pats fans, who were almost apologetic and trying to reassure me with "Its only preaseason".

So there you have it. My night in Foxboro. The loss was bad enough. But what really got me was the absolute scumbag way they were ripping us for parking and the complete inability to handle the traffic they undoubtly have ever home game. It added frustration upon frustration. Hell, NJ handles Giants stadium better than that. If that doesnt say something, what does?

Of course Ive never been to FedEx and Ive heard some pretty nightmarish things about parking and pedestrian traffic there. So maybe my experience isnt so out of the ordinary. But out of the 4 stadiums Ive been to for NFL games, this was by far the worse operation ive seen.

Thanks for reading, you must have been severely bored. :logo:

Bro I hear ya.. Traffic was a beast. I arrived with 3 mins left in the 1st quarter I missed so much of the 1st quarter because I was stuck in traffice for over 1 hour on a 2 mile road. They ahve the worst parking and entrances ever.. $35 to park which was stupid for the back lot dirt woods parking I was in..

Fans were good I have to say.. Stadium is not that loud though it is small but nice..

[Redskins75]

Good post. The fans at Panther games ragged me the entire time I was there. I have been to Fed-Ex and traffic was a breeze because I caught the subway to the station closest to the stadium and took a shuttle bus :laugh:

Of course, after the game, me and the wife had to drive back to Charlotte, NC and I was gridlocked for 2 hours before I could get onto I-95.

[iheartskins]

I may have snapped a picture of you. Check the ES Pic threads.

[RyansRangers]

I may have snapped a picture of you. Check the ES Pic threads.

Iheart I saw you at the game.. I was in row 1 on the 10 yard line with the BurgandyDarrel Green Jersey on. Tried to get your attention.. Ah well

[RedskinsFan72]

I may have snapped a picture of you. Check the ES Pic threads.

Went thru the pics (nice job BTW, next time more cheerleaderrs though) and we werent in there. But thats ok.

The telephoto lens you would have needed to see where we were wouldve required 3 full grown men to support it.

[iheartskins]

Iheart I saw you at the game.. I was in row 1 on the 10 yard line with the BurgandyDarrel Green Jersey on. Tried to get your attention.. Ah well

I went up to several people that I thought were you all of which were like "Extremeskins? Is that a porn site." So I tried too. Sorry about that. Next time!

[Guest BIGJoeSalave'a]

... ...Of course Ive never been to FedEx and Ive heard some pretty nightmarish things about parking and pedestrian traffic there. So maybe my experience isnt so out of the ordinary. But out of the 4 stadiums Ive been to for NFL games, this was by far the worse operation ive seen.

Thanks for reading, you must have been severely bored. :logo:

:thumbsup: Nice read.

[dks1240]

Traffic was great for us. Then again, we are cheap and parked in the 20 dollar lot a good mile away from the stadium. Good exercise

[nickfox45]

agreed!

traffic did indeed suck, looked like they didnt have nearly enough parking, and that stadium holds under 70 thousand people.

didnt really like the stadium though. I hate the giant opening that just lets the wind right in, its like they welcome the cold up here! these people are insane! :doh:

didn't have any trouble getting out because we stayed after it was over(please see the Jason Campbell = Classy Guy thread in The Stadium)

not bad, but its no FedEx! :notworthy

[matty dread]

I lived in MA for a few years and traffic in the entire state sucks. Add to the fact MA drivers are some of the worst on earth and it's a nightmare any time you venture out. Foxboro has always been a mess around the stadium.

[RedskinsFan72]

agreed!

I hate the giant opening that just lets the wind right in, its like they welcome the cold up here! these people are insane! :doh:

HA! Yeah. My GF was kinda chilly to begin with, Before the game my brother in-law offered to give her a Patriots coat he's never worn (regifter), but she turned it down. I was fine until the 4th quarter when the wind started to pick up. Of course I was only in a T-shirt since it is August after all.

Its OK though, it was actually good football weather. I didnt mind so much.

I would definitely bundle up for an Nov-Jan games though.

I lived in MA for a few years and traffic in the entire state sucks. Add to the fact MA drivers are some of the worst on earth and it's a nightmare any time you venture out. Foxboro has always been a mess around the stadium.

Ive lived in MA my whole life and even though I knew how bad of drivers we generally are, I never quite realized until I became an EMT and started driving an ambulance around. I dont think Ive even sworn so much in my life (and that says something).

I have seen comparable suckiness though: Connecticut, New Jersey and New Yorkers are as bad or worse. Maybe its a New England/TriState area thing.

[jimster]

Bro I hear ya.. Traffic was a beast. I arrived with 3 mins left in the 1st quarter I missed so much of the 1st quarter because I was stuck in traffice for over 1 hour on a 2 mile road. They ahve the worst parking and entrances ever.. $35 to park which was stupid for the back lot dirt woods parking I was in..

.

wait, I thought we were the only stadium that charged to park. :laugh:

[Kosher Ham]

I have been to plenty of games at Foxboro, in case you havent noticed the Pats play the Redskins nearly every pre-season.

Rt. 1 is always bad on game day. I have experienced stupid fans in the stands. I have experienced the one beer at a time rule (2 for a day game) with no beer guy, so I have to stand in a ten minute line, and both of us had to leave our seats for one beer each.

If you go during the regular season fans are a little more obnoxious. During pre-season they dont get as riled up.

I always used to park at the stadium. I am never in a mood to walk 2 miles to save 10 bucks. I blow ten bucks when I wake up every day. So I would go early and stay late and the people that tailgated were always very cool. I guess the obnoxious ones had to park 2 miles away. Sometimes I would go the opposite direction from most of traffic or for those that dont know there is a sorta back road there that runs parallel with Rt. 1.

[DeathFromAbove]

There was a very sexy Skins fan right in front of me in Section 129 with her husband and son...Every time she leaned forward we could see her "coin slot" and Skins panties...Unfortunately the one sided game was a bore for an impartial observer like myself.

[darrell1106]

I can attest that the traffic was horrible along w/ the game. It was painful to see MB sacked liked a rag doll regardless of what the coaches were trying to do. A sack in the 1st quarter had him getting up really slow:(

Regardless, the stadium is very nice and the fans weren't bad as I was wearing my ST jersey!

[LadderCrew17]

Last Saturday was my first visit to Gillette Stadium, but I've been to the old Foxboro Stadium many times to see the Patriots play the Redskins. The last 3 times I've gone I used the MBTA's Patriots train (the Providence line; they also run a train from Boston via the Franklin line). Trains make limited stops along the way. Park at the station closest to you and ride in the rest of the way. It gets to the stadium an hour prior to kickoff. They say it leaves 30 minutes after the game, but it seemed like they waited a little longer. Or was it the final score that made it feel like that?

The Foxboro traffic is terrible. They don't have many wide roads like Landover. Route 1 is the only major road near the stadium. It may be worse than FedEx, though I've never driven to the Redskins' stadium on a game day, thanks to the shuttle buses from Landover. The only traffic I run into is on the Beltway after the 95 merge, and that's only if I'm running behind schedule.