r/Patriots • u/jigglybuns311 • 9h ago

Casual First timer - need some advice, please

Hey all! My spouse and I are coming up for the Packers game (or going to NOLA for Browns/Saints but that's a different story) and wondering if y'all could help point me in the right direction on a few things.

This is kind of a last minute decision and we took the week off of work. Logistically, New Orleans is easier but we'd just be going for the city and throwing in the game. BUT I'm a huge Pats fan, always have been and had to cancel my trip a few years ago to see the Bills/Pats game due to a terrible injury and surgery. Probably was for the best because it was the game with like 65mph winds and sub-zero temps. This Alabama girl would have died. Lol

Anywho, our preferred option is coming up Nov. 7 and staying that week. Going north WOULD be for the game and then planning things to do with the rest of our time. My main questions are:

-Is it easier to fly into and stay in Providence or Boston? If Providence, is there enough stuff "to do" for a week?

-Is it worth renting a car and driving or is public transportation okay to use? We have none in Alabama so I am naive here.

-Would you recommend arriving X amount of hours early for tailgating or whatever else there may be to do?

-What about leaving? I've seen the one train that leaves for Providence about 30 minutes after the game is over. If we don't take that and waited around, how much on average is an Uber back?

-Any sections in the stadium you prefer over others? Any insight you have on where the wind is bad, can't see the scoreboard, etc.? Things of that nature?

I am doing my research and have been gathering information. I would just love to have everything together herr so I can reference back. We are looking to make a decision and book flights tomorrow, or at least by Tuesday. ANY and all advice is much appreciated. Thank you!!

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u/Darrone 9h ago

Providence is way easier and closer. The game train is fine but won't allow for pregame tailgating. Uber is damn near impossible after the game and kinda pricy pregame. Renting a car is easiest if you want to tailgate. Park in P10 for optimal tailgating.

Having sat literally everywhere in this stadium - there aren't any "bad" seats, everything has a decent sight line. If you want to watch plays as they develop lower 8 rows of the 300s between the 30s is best value. If you want to be close to the action and better crowd vibes lower bowl around the goal line / 20s is really good. Obviously unlimited budget is club seats or 100s 50 yard line. I wrote a first time game guide a while ago, it's somewhere in my post history if you want to look for it.

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u/jigglybuns311 9h ago

Awesome, thank you. I figured the Uber would be pricey but didn't know if that calmed down say an hour after the game. Thank you for the parking tip if we do decide to drive. I appreciate that about the stadium. I'm kind of blind so sitting too far up isn't ideal but would be fine with the lower rows of the 300s. I am a bit rowdy 🫣 so good crowd vibes are a plus! No unlimited budget but we are flexible if we found a good deal. I'll definitely take a look at your post history!

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u/mannypolo 9h ago

Strictly from a driving standpoint. Heading south to Providence is a lot easier than heading north into Boston after the game. With that being said. There’s much much more to do in Boston. In my opinion I don’t think it’s worth renting a car. Boston is extremely walkable and to get to the stadium, you can take the train to either Gillette right from south station or take it to Walpole (town over) and grab an uber to the stadium. If you go the renting the car route, I would highly recommend tailgating after the game for another hour or two to let the traffic die down and then drive back. There isnt a bad seat in Gillette so you will be good with whatever you pick. But fair warning, if you get tickets in the 300 section you will have to walk up the ramps at the stadium. After a couple of drinks they suck but they really aren’t terrible. I’m local to the Gillette area so feel free to message me for more info!

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u/jigglybuns311 8h ago

Perfect, thank you. This is helpful. We have the option too of renting a car but taking the T just for the game, or just not renting one altogether. That's such a foreign concept to me though. We have literally zero public transportation here. Thanks for the tips about the stadium. Our college stadium is fucking massive but the ramps do get old. 😅 I agree about the drinks. I'm like "bring on the ramps, I've got this" after a few. Lol. I much appreciate the invite to message you!

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u/LiveFromNewYork95 9h ago edited 9h ago

Providence is so close to Boston that if you're coming for the week then you don't really need to choose one over the other. You can easily stay in Providence and take the T into Boston for the day. TF Green in Rhode Island is a much smaller airport, a little bit easier to get in and out of. But it's more of ride into the city and will definitely have less flight options. I went to school in Providence so I like it a lot but it can be short on things to do outside of a day or two (unless you're looking for strip clubs), if you stay in Providence I would recommend going into Boston for the day and coming back to Providence to have dinner in a restaurant that hasn't become a tourist trap or overrun by Seaport trust fund babies.

If you can get a train ticket, I would recommend that. But I'm an anti-car rental person lol. I feel like every time I travel it seems like such a smart move because of the freedom but every time I rent a car it feels like there's a new hidden fee that drives the price sky high. But if you do rent a car it's a pretty easy drive, a straight shot down route 95 (there will be gridlock traffic for a very long time but it's not a confusing ride)

Tailgating will be hard if you take the train depending on supplies. But also remember, outside of Patriots Place which is the outdoor mall the stadium sits on (which is mostly restaurants and pretty niche stores) Gillette Stadium is in the middle of a pretty residential town. So outside of tailgate hopping there won't be many places to go if you can't get a spot at a restaurant or make friends with tailgaters.

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u/jigglybuns311 9h ago

Thank you! I was definitely thinking we could hit up both cities, just didn't know which one would be the better "hub". Providence prices look better, but we are fine with either. We might rent a car just to have the flexibility to adventure but use the T or an Uber for the game. I would be super interested in making some tailgate buddies. We're a fun time! Probably couldn't offer much more than our presence and maybe some cash for some beers (if we don't drive) but we'd be super down for that!

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u/RImom123 8h ago

Flying into providence is so much easier. You will need a car rental though.

Check out the patriots hall of fame while you’re here (better on a non game day). It’s great to walk through and you can go up to the lighthouse too.

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u/jigglybuns311 8h ago

Ok, cool. Thank you. We definitely want to check that out but going on an off day sounds much better.

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u/GuessWhosBack6 6h ago

Ive gone out to a game the last 5 years im not a local but i always stay in downtown boston and the Patriots gameday train is your best friend to stadium its $20 roundtrip per person. I think u can probably get your tickets already on the Mticket app. About leaving I had a horror story i went to the Sunday night game a few years ago vs dolphins and said screw it lets take a Uber back game finished at like 1130pm i didnt make it back to my hotel till past 4 just kept walking and walking for and uber and they all cancelled not surprisingly due to traffic. than again that probably had to do with it being a sunday night game tho lmao. Im also making it out that game and tried to get tickets for pats Hall of fame, but it says closed that day. Probably has to do with Gronk being put in the pats hall of fame the day before and another super bowl team being recognized at halftime like last week good game to go out to

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u/MaturoGambino 5h ago

Just be warned that coming from the Deep South to Boston in early November could mean that you freeze your ass off. You’ll see locals in shirts and hoodies drinking iced Dunkin’s. But you’re not used to the cold that can happen at that time of year around here. Make sure to check the weather just before you leave. It could be anywhere from 20-80 that time of year.

And stay in Boston. I get that you’re coming for the game. But Boston is great. And you won’t need a rental. Take the T around town. And take the Patriots train on game day. People are going to live your accent. Have fun.

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u/jigglybuns311 5h ago

Thanks for this! I'm a weather nerd so I'll definitely keep an eye on things. Crazy, Alabama is kind of the same. It was 90 yesterday and 40 tonight. Obviously not to the extreme New England is, but we're used to being prepared.

Appreciate that! I don't have your typical southern accent but I'm sure I'll still stick out like a sore thumb. 😅