Attending a Pats game, any advice gratefully recieved...

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PompeyGoat

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Howdy,

I'm flying over from (little old) England at the weekend to see my first Pats game and was hoping you guys would be willing to impart some local knowledge!! To come clean up front I am a Steelers fan but please don't hold that against me, one of the guys I'm travelling with is a Pats fan.

We're staying in Boston (the Back Bay district) and my plan was to get down to Foxboro early and watch the NFC game (plus Bruins @ Penguins) in a bar at Patriot's Place. Are the bars there happy to admit fans in opponent's colours? Would be a nightmare to get there early and then end up sitting on a curb!

We won't have a car, the Pats train seems like it only runs once and that's much later, I was thinking of maybe getting a normal train to a nearby town (Sharon or Mansfield) and getting a taxi from there? Does that sound like it's a plan that would work?

For the return trip to Boston I was planning again on going to a Patriot's Place bar, let things calm down a bit and then try and get an Uber, is it an area that Uber operates in? Failing that is there a more general Taxi rank?

Finally we'll be in town from Saturday lunchtime any bars, diners, restaurants you can recommend would be greatly appreciated.

Apologies, I know this isn't a tourist information board

Best

Pete
 
PompeyGoat said:
Howdy,

I'm flying over from (little old) England at the weekend to see my first Pats game and was hoping you guys would be willing to impart some local knowledge!! To come clean up front I am a Steelers fan but please don't hold that against me, one of the guys I'm travelling with is a Pats fan.

We're staying in Boston (the Back Bay district) and my plan was to get down to Foxboro early and watch the NFC game (plus Bruins @ Penguins) in a bar at Patriot's Place. Are the bars there happy to admit fans in opponent's colours? Would be a nightmare to get there early and then end up sitting on a curb!

We won't have a car, the Pats train seems like it only runs once and that's much later, I was thinking of maybe getting a normal train to a nearby town (Sharon or Mansfield) and getting a taxi from there? Does that sound like it's a plan that would work?

For the return trip to Boston I was planning again on going to a Patriot's Place bar, let things calm down a bit and then try and get an Uber, is it an area that Uber operates in? Failing that is there a more general Taxi rank?

Finally we'll be in town from Saturday lunchtime any bars, diners, restaurants you can recommend would be greatly appreciated.

Apologies, I know this isn't a tourist information board

Best

Pete
Click to expand...

Uber will probably be your best bet on both directions. There's a parking lot that's been designated as an Uber drop off/pick up area, although I can't tell you how it works.

The bars will welcome everyone. For them, it's about having paying customers. Most Pats fans will be friendly, although you may expect some comments. No one will get in your face about it unless you start it.

Can't help you with the Boston part of your stay. I'd suggest asking the clerk at the hotel for advice. Much depends on where you're staying. Boston is a small city and easy to walk around, but also easy to get lost.
 
Your defintely don't want to do the train. It arrives 30 min before game and departs 30 min after, so you'll have no bar time whatsoever.
I'd agree either Uber or rent a car but Uber is probably the better option as you won't have to pay 50 bucks to park and you can drink and not drive.
 
Check out either Yankee Lobster Co. or Belle Isle Seafood. Both places have some really good stuff. Can't go wrong either way.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/belle-isle-seafood-winthrop

https://www.yelp.com/biz/yankee-lobster-boston EDIT: (I got the names mixed up, but this is the place I was talking about)

As far as wearing enemy colors, you should be fine as long as you don't make a jackass out of yourself. Most Pats fans and New Englanders in general aren't thugs like some other teams' fans.

Gillette Stadium is a great place. It's out of the way out in the country from the big city and the whole complex is really cool. Everything there is worth checking out if you have the time, but make sure you check out the Patriots Pro Shop if nothing else. They have some cool stuff in there.
 
Thanks lads.

So excited, will Uber it both ways and definitely don't plan on making a t*at of myself in any bars! I do love talking football so if you see a guy with a strange accent and a Mike Mitchell jersey (yeah, you heard me!) it'll almost certainly be me, come say hi!
 
PompeyGoat said:
Thanks lads.

So excited, will Uber it both ways and definitely don't plan on making a t*at of myself in any bars! I do love talking football so if you see a guy with a strange accent and a Mike Mitchell jersey (yeah, you heard me!) it'll almost certainly be me, come say hi!
Click to expand...

If you're staying in Boston, make sure you go to the North End for amazing Italian food for dinner on Saturday. Everywhere gets crowded, so you might want to make a reservation somewhere. My personal fave is Villa Francesca for authentic old-world Italian. After that, cross the street for the best cappuccino in the world at Caffe Vittoria. The entire area is a treat. Ask anyone where Paul Revere's house if you go to the North End so you can see where he lived when he alerted the militia that the Brits were coming and we beat your asses. :)

Taking the train to Sharon works, and either taxi or Uber will get you to the stadium. Just check the train schedule because they don't run often on weekends, and I'm not sure what time the latest train out is, so you might have to Uber right into the city. Traffic will start to pile in around 2:00 for a 6:30 game, so you should head over at least by then. There will be plenty of tailgating in the lots, so walk around and find some friendly places.

Have a blast! GO PATS!!!!

Oh, yeah, and the Steelers suck. ROFL ROFL ROFL
 
Hey Pete!

Did you become a Steeler fan because their QB is nicknamed Big Ben?


:Poke:
 
PompeyGoat said:
Thanks lads.

So excited, will Uber it both ways and definitely don't plan on making a t*at of myself in any bars! I do love talking football so if you see a guy with a strange accent and a Mike Mitchell jersey (yeah, you heard me!) it'll almost certainly be me, come say hi!
Click to expand...

Have a great time and welcome to the Planet by the way.
 
PompeyGoat said:
Howdy,

I'm flying over from (little old) England at the weekend to see my first Pats game and was hoping you guys would be willing to impart some local knowledge!! To come clean up front I am a Steelers fan but please don't hold that against me, one of the guys I'm travelling with is a Pats fan.

We're staying in Boston (the Back Bay district) and my plan was to get down to Foxboro early and watch the NFC game (plus Bruins @ Penguins) in a bar at Patriot's Place. Are the bars there happy to admit fans in opponent's colours? Would be a nightmare to get there early and then end up sitting on a curb!

We won't have a car, the Pats train seems like it only runs once and that's much later, I was thinking of maybe getting a normal train to a nearby town (Sharon or Mansfield) and getting a taxi from there? Does that sound like it's a plan that would work?

For the return trip to Boston I was planning again on going to a Patriot's Place bar, let things calm down a bit and then try and get an Uber, is it an area that Uber operates in? Failing that is there a more general Taxi rank?

Finally we'll be in town from Saturday lunchtime any bars, diners, restaurants you can recommend would be greatly appreciated.

Apologies, I know this isn't a tourist information board

Best

Pete
Click to expand...
Happy travels!

Note that most (every?) bar has last call before 2AM (sometimes well before)- just in case you were thinking of some nightcaps after Ubering back into the city after the game.

If you have any desire to try some of our crazy unconventional high-alcohol flavor-bomb American ales- Bukowski's Tavern might be close enough to you to check out, although Lord Hobo in Cambridge is better (and has an awesome brunch as well).

Eastern Standard in Kenmore Sq is a large, dark, ornate seafood restaurant (nice oysters, no TVs though) that I enjoyed sitting in to employ the hair-of-the-dog hangover strategy on one of my recent visits.
 
Welcome to the Planet.

One thing I enjoy doing when I'm in the Back Bay is to take a walk over to the Prudential building and taking the elevator 52 floors up to the "Top of the Hub" restaurant for a drink.

The restaurant is decent, but I enjoy standing by the floor to ceiling windows and sipping an adult beverage while enjoying the spectacular view of the city lights and going somewhere else for dinner. 10 bucks well spent.

If you like Italian food (and who doesn't?) check out Eataly -- a new place also at the Pru. It's basically a huge italian/seafood market with a dozen different casual eateries.

If a fine steak is your thing and you don't mind parting with a lot of cash, then there are several solid options close by with the Capital Grille, Abe & Louie's or Morton's all within a short walk. You literally cannot swing a dead cat without hitting an expensive slab of juicy beef in that part of town.

However, since you are a Steelers fan you might prefer Bosstown Pizza on Newbury street for 1/10th the price.

You should have mentioned what kind of thing you're looking for so that we can provide better guidance. Are you a rich guy or a pensioner on a fixed income? Want a lobster? Mexican? Chinese?

We know that Brits don't have a chance to eat a decent meal very often, so we sincerely want to help take a little bit of the sting away from what you'll no doubt experience in Foxboro Sunday night.

:dbanana:
 
Beaglebay said:
Hey Pete!

Did you become a Steeler fan because their QB is nicknamed Big Ben?


:Poke:
Click to expand...

Ha ha, not quite, if I was going on associative names I think I’d have ended up a Pats fan!

However since you (kind of) asked I became a Steelers fan because when I first got into football I was a Penguins fan.<?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com<img src=" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
I became a Penguins fan because in the early 90s I used to like playing NHLPA hockey on the Sega Megadrive as the Pens because they had Lemieux, Jagr & Straka! I know that’s weak but hey I was about 10 years old!<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
The Pittsburgh thing stuck however and I spent my teenage – early twenties staying up through the night watching Ice Hockey.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
I finally got into football when staying with a US friend who at the time was in your navy. He held a “football” party to mark the first Sunday of the season, probably around 2009. I was expecting wild things but all the men turned up with Laptops to keep an eye on their fantasy teams!I was in the league as it happened and my auto-drafted side romped away with it. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Since then Sunday evenings between September and January are football nights, I usually have friends over and put on a spread of pulled pork, chilli dogs, burgers etc and a load of beers. <o:p></o:p>
 
PompeyGoat said:
Ha ha, not quite, if I was going on associative names I think I’d have ended up a Pats fan!

However since you (kind of) asked I became a Steelers fan because when I first got into football I was a Penguins fan.<?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com<img src=" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
I became a Penguins fan because in the early 90s I used to like playing NHLPA hockey on the Sega Megadrive as the Pens because they had Lemieux, Jagr & Straka! I know that’s weak but hey I was about 10 years old!<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
The Pittsburgh thing stuck however and I spent my teenage – early twenties staying up through the night watching Ice Hockey.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
I finally got into football when staying with a US friend who at the time was in your navy. He held a “football” party to mark the first Sunday of the season, probably around 2009. I was expecting wild things but all the men turned up with Laptops to keep an eye on their fantasy teams!I was in the league as it happened and my auto-drafted side romped away with it. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Since then Sunday evenings between September and January are football nights, I usually have friends over and put on a spread of pulled pork, chilli dogs, burgers etc and a load of beers. <o:p></o:p>
Click to expand...

Cool :Lwelcome: you wouldn't see laptops at my house.
 
Hawg73 said:
Welcome to the Planet.

One thing I enjoy doing when I'm in the Back Bay is to take a walk over to the Prudential building and taking the elevator 52 floors up to the "Top of the Hub" restaurant for a drink.

The restaurant is decent, but I enjoy standing by the floor to ceiling windows and sipping an adult beverage while enjoying the spectacular view of the city lights and going somewhere else for dinner. 10 bucks well spent.

If you like Italian food (and who doesn't?) check out Eataly -- a new place also at the Pru. It's basically a huge italian/seafood market with a dozen different casual eateries.

If a fine steak is your thing and you don't mind parting with a lot of cash, then there are several solid options close by with the Capital Grille, Abe & Louie's or Morton's all within a short walk. You literally cannot swing a dead cat without hitting an expensive slab of juicy beef in that part of town.

However, since you are a Steelers fan you might prefer Bosstown Pizza on Newbury street for 1/10th the price.

You should have mentioned what kind of thing you're looking for so that we can provide better guidance. Are you a rich guy or a pensioner on a fixed income? Want a lobster? Mexican? Chinese?

We know that Brits don't have a chance to eat a decent meal very often, so we sincerely want to help take a little bit of the sting away from what you'll no doubt experience in Foxboro Sunday night.

:dbanana:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info and the welcome, this is addressed to everyone on the thread, you have been lovely, don’t want to clog up your board responding to everyone but it is really appreciated.
<?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com<img src=" /><o:p></o:p>
Not rich (certainly not after acquiring a ticket on the secondary market!) but already assumed it’s not going to be a cheap weekend, the exchange rate is not my friend so there’s space in the budget!<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
I’m travelling with friends not the wife so probably more Man V Food than fine dining experience, but really looking for things that are native to Boston, I guess that’s more seafood over steak but I’ll let you tell me. The Prudential building sounds a great start to a night to appreciate before the mind & memory gets too cloudy!<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
I’ve been to an Eataly in New York presume they’re linked, it was great place to enjoy a glass of wine and do some people watching.<o:p></o:p>
 
Don't know where you live in England, but have you attended any of the NFL games in London?
 
Beaglebay said:
Don't know where you live in England, but have you attended any of the NFL games in London?
Click to expand...

A few, saw the Steelers lose to the Vikings (obviously) and a couple of others, Bears @ Buccs and Niners @ Jags a few years ago but none recently.
<?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com<img src=" /><o:p></o:p>
Decided that if it wasn’t the Steelers my preferred experience was watching Red Zone on the TV with Steelers on laptop. They do sell out ridiculously early though so there’s clearly a market for it!<o:p></o:p>
 
headcase said:
Built on the bones of the long gone Rat... :sulk:

SSDD
Click to expand...

I know it (and I've played many a show at the Rat myself- that whole block of Kenmore was nostalgic to me- Charlie's, Dunks, Deli Haus, Planet Records...). I felt a slight twinge of guilt, but got over it.
 
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