New England has created a special atmosphere down in Foxborough. The success of the Patriots has made Gillette Stadium a truly special place since its opening in 2002. There is a lot of information that can help fans improve their game day experience. This is our guide to tailgating at Gillette Stadium.
When to Show Up
Figuring out when to get to a game can be tricky. Football games are especially complicated because you can bank on a packed house. You will need to get to the stadium when the lots first open if you want to park at the stadium for Patriots games. This article has a Patriots focus but I will include some additional information along the way. Gillette stadium’s lots open up four hours before kickoff. Lots open two hours before the game for the Revolution. For any other events such as concerts, Gillette opens their lot four hours prior to the event.
| Guide: | Patriots | Revolution | Events |
| Lot Open Times | Four Hours Before Kickoff | Two Hours Before Kickoff | Four Hours Before Event |
| Lot Close Times | Two Hours Postgame | Two Hours Postgame | Two Hours Post-Event |
Can I Get a Patriots Ticket at the Stadium?
You cannot get Patriots tickets at Gillette stadium. To get tickets on game day you will have to use a ticket resale site like SeatGeek. The average price of a Patriots ticket on SeatGeek is $247 with a low of $68. Time will tell if Tom Brady’s absence will drop the Patriots ticket prices.
“All individual Patriots and Revolution game tickets are sold online through Ticketmaster or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. The Gillette Stadium Ticket Office does not conduct any sales over the phone. The Gillette Stadium Ticket Office does not sell tickets directly on the day of the general public sale.”
gillettestadium.com
Parking
The “Ultimate Guide to Tailgating at Gillette Stadium” would be incomplete if I did not include parking information. The first thing you need to know is that parking is going to be the worst part about this epic day. If you don’t show up four hours before kickoff for a Patriots game, your chances of parking at Gillette are slim. That does not mean you cannot find a spot though, Route 1 is littered with parking lots for the Patriots games. Parking is expensive for Patriots games. Stadium side parking costs $60. General parking costs $30 and parking big vehicles like buses and limos cost $150. Parking along Route 1 can cost anywhere from $20-$60.
There is one free option, the delayed exit lot. In order to lessen traffic out of the stadium, the Patriots have a parking lot for people willing to wait after the game. Fans in that lot are gated in until 75 minutes after the game ends. The reward is the free parking spot and easier ride home.
- Stadium Side – $60
- General P10/11 – $30
- Big Vehicles – $150
- Delayed Exit Lot – FREE
Patriots Place Food Options
Another massive element of a guide to tailgating at Gillette Stadium is the food. Tailgating at Gillette is made special in part by Patriots Place. A lot of people are going to be in the parking lot grilling and drinking. However, there are much more relaxed ways to have a meal at the Stadium.
Patriots Place is essentially a small town inside the confines of Gillette Stadium’s massive grounds. There are 26 restaurants located inside of Patriots Place. My favorite is the CBS Sporting Club (formerly CBS Scene Restaurant). The food is great and the restaurant has a high-end sports bar feel. They do not accept reservations on Patriots game days so fans can trickle in the day of. Many restaurants do accept reservations so you might want to have a backup plan ready to go if parking lot tailgating is not your thing.
When do the Gates Open
Once the stadium gates open, thousands of fans make their way to their seats. Club, Suite and Optum Field Lounge access opens three hours before kickoff. All other gates open two hours before kickoff. For Revolution games, gates open one hour before the game starts. Revolution season ticket holders can get in 15 minutes earlier.
Once you get inside the stadium, all you have to do is have a great time watching the game! If you liked this article check out our tailgating page!