Gilette/Patriot Place advice?

bagwell1

New Member
Jul 31, 2006
442
Jacksonville
Greetings.

My wife (huge Jag fan,Jags are secondary to Pats for me) and I live in Jax (moved from NE in 2000)and are considering trying to stay at Patriot Place and getting tickets to the game. It looks like it would be a no brainer to stay at a Patriot Place hotel if available. Has anyone done this and have any advice?

For seats, any recommendations on sections to target for good viewing at a "reasonable" price? $ isn't really a concern but would prefer not to spend it if we do not have to. We are club seat holders at Everbank but just for the seat view...we could care less about club access. Looks like 131/132 would be optimal non club but we don't need the best. She will be in Jags attire but I would be Pats to try to ease any abuse :)

We will probably total up the damage and decide by tomorrow if we can work out the schedule. Thanks for any info.
 

rslm

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
326
Cincinnati, OH
Tough to get a room at or near Patriot Place. Surprisingly there were rooms available at the Renaissance for Saturday and Sunday night. Unfortunately 500 for Saturday and 1000 for Sunday and you'd have to pre-pay. Try staying in Boston for the weekend and take the train to the stadium. The cheapest tickets are around 400 each right now. Good seats could be prohibitively expensive.

I've traveled from Cincinnati for several years in a row and have paid anywhere from 220 to 400 for "cheap seats". No matter what it's a helluva good time so good luck!
 

deythur

New Member
If you are a rewards member for the big hotel chains, I recommend you keep checking. I would even give them a call and not rely on the websites. I was able to get a room at the Hilton for 40,000 points last year for the AFCCG. It was booked for months in advance but one day a room opened up. Maybe Steeler fans had rooms and now cancelled them. Lord knows the team was planning on being there next week.
 

Lose Remerswaal

Experiencing Furry Panic
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Not only are there 2 hotels at Patriot Place, there are a few others within walking (2 miles) distance, including a Best Western Plus, and a few more sketchy options (I mean, I've parked at the Gaard, but I'm not sure I'd stay there). Google tells me it's under $150/night next weekend
 

tonyandpals

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 18, 2004
7,856
Burlington
If $ is really not a factor then the club seats at Gillette are a great view, but expect to pay at least $1500 each at this point. If you sit in the 100 level be prepared to stand the entire game. If you're shooting for 131/132 expect to pay at least $1000 each. I like to be higher than row 15 in the lower level on the sidelines, and even higher if in the corner. First 8-10 rows of the 300 level are great. First 7 rows make up the lower 300s, then there is a main aisle and they start up again at 8.

If you have club access in JAX then I'd call your rep to see if they can help you with access to this game. Putnam Club members have that luxury I believe when the team is on the road (might be based on what they spend).
 

NortheasternPJ

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 16, 2004
19,272
If $ is really not a factor then the club seats at Gillette are a great view, but expect to pay at least $1500 each at this point. If you sit in the 100 level be prepared to stand the entire game. If you're shooting for 131/132 expect to pay at least $1000 each. I like to be higher than row 15 in the lower level on the sidelines, and even higher if in the corner. First 8-10 rows of the 300 level are great. First 7 rows make up the lower 300s, then there is a main aisle and they start up again at 8.

If you have club access in JAX then I'd call your rep to see if they can help you with access to this game. Putnam Club members have that luxury I believe when the team is on the road (might be based on what they spend).
I agree with 100% of what you wrote. I find the lower half of the 100's not great. We had a split of season tickets at the 48 yard line, row 6 behind the visitors bench. They were cool, but they're very hard to actually see anything going on from since you're too low. I'd prefer to be in the 200's which sounds odd. The upper 100's are great. We're in the 200's which I really like. You're high enough up (plus 60% of the cost of the 100's). The only disadvantage is that your'e in the corners, but that doesn't bother me one bit. Our old tickets (before the destroyed them to the bars or standing room area in the 300's) were the last row of the 1st section (Row 7) and those were good seats and cheap.

Personally I wouldn't pay the premium to sit in the 100's, especially for this game. I'd shoot for 200's if you can find something reasonable.
 

bagwell1

New Member
Jul 31, 2006
442
Jacksonville
Thanks for all of the info. EverBank is the same for us in regard to the club seats where we think the lowest, most expensive section is too low and has a worse view so we save some money by getting the next level up which we think is perfect.

I don't think we are going to be able to work a trip around our schedule which will piss me off. Even the weather is looking nice for us Floridians. We should have planned better but have to admit we really didn't think this match up was going to happen.Epic fail.
 

Number45forever

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 16, 2003
1,970
Vermont
IMO, upper row seats in the 100 level are amazing. You do stand for most of the game if you're in the lower bowl though, definitely good to know that going in.

Last year for the Saturday night playoff game, we stayed in a hotel about 12 miles away and it was only like $150 for the room. Some giant chain Marriot or Hilton, I forget which. It was a really easy drive to the hotel afterwards, we just camped out and did some postgame tailgating for about 90 minutes and then drove right there.
 
Mar 1, 2009
557
Airbnb and vrbo might be a good option. I went to the afccg last year and stayed at a college student's pad for around $60/night for the whole place to myself. There were lots of available options at the last minute.
 

8slim

has trust issues
SoSH Member
Nov 6, 2001
24,829
Unreal America
In terms of hotels, there are several 3-5 miles from the stadium on the border of Foxboro and Mansfield that are infinitely nicer than most that populate Route 1. There’s a Quality Inn and a very nice Holiday Inn (used to be a Sheraton) plus a couple others. I bet they have shuttles but I imagine it’s a $15 Uber or Lyft ride to the stadium from there as well.

*edit* Just looked at the Holiday Inn out of curiosity... King rooms for Sat & Sun night at $185/night. Steal.
 

TheoShmeo

Skrub's sympathy case
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
12,890
Boston, NY
Couple of things:

- Right now the low end on Stub Hub is around $425 apiece with fees. I echo the sentiments about the 200 level seats (right now in the $525 range with fees at the low end). Particularly in the sections on or two off the Club seats, they are elevated enough for a nice perspective and cheaper than the 100s, which can get too low if you sit anywhere from the 10th row and down. The 200s are basically corner or end zone seats, and I usually try to get them in one of the four sections that are adjacent to the Club.

- My view is that the Club is not at all worth it. If it was going to be bitter cold, maybe. But half time is short and this year we have the early game, so going in early to watch the NFC game is not an option.

- Last year prices on Stub Hub for the AFCCG went up toward the end of the week. By game time they were through the roof.

- Go to Hotels.com (or a similar site) and find a hotel within 3-5 miles from Foxboro. I've stayed at the Red Roof Inn, the Holiday Inn, and other like hotels. Usually pay $175 or so. Staying at Patriot Place is both way too expensive and impossible now (undoubtedly sold out).

- If you have a rental car, park at least a mile from the Stadium. If you park too close, you end up in a lot of out traffic on both ends, and it's worse going out. My spot is America's Best Value Hotel but there are other lots in the same area (Rodman) that are just as good.

- Get to the lot early. No later than 1 PM. Traffic gets nasty as the game draws nearer and you want to be walking up to the Stadium by no later than 2 PM because of security and the late arrivals.

I travel to games from NJ and usually go up the night before. If you want to ask questions via PM, feel free.
 

alydar

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 19, 2006
921
Jamaica Plain
Since knowledgeable attendees are posting, I'll ask a related question...

For after the game, what's the best way to ensure being able to watch all of the Vikings - Eagles game? I'm going to Gillette with a friend of mine who is a die-hard Vikings fan (we basically split my season tickets). Will CBS scene or similar be an option post-game, or way too crowded? No available reservations, of course (no matter how far out I've looked, I've never seen reservations available at CBS scene on a game day)