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This is a guide to the New England Patriots home stadium (Gillette Stadium). Going to a NFL game can be fun, but it is also a unique experience that you will want to plan for accordingly. There are certain policies and procedures you will want to be aware of beforehand, as well as stadium gate and parking lot locations for easy entrance.
Need Tickets or Parking Passes? – Buying from Vivid Seats allows you to avoid ticket lines at the stadium and Vivid Seats shows you your view from the seats prior to purchase. Click here to view New England Patriots tickets and parking passes available at VividSeats.com (affiliate link takes you to vividseats.com).
In this article we will discuss:
- What to bring to a Patriots Game
- New England Patriots Ticket Information
- Gillette Stadium Gate Information
- Best Place to Park at Gillette Stadium
- Does Gillette Stadium Take Cash?
- How Long are New England Patriots Games?
- Where is the Patriots Pro Shop?
What to Bring to a New England Patriots Game?
If you are going to a New England Patriots game, planning ahead is always important. Below is a list of things you might need to bring, and you will want to make sure you are complying with any security protocols the stadium has:
- Clear Stadium Bag – NFL stadiums have strict bag policies and recommend a clear stadium bag like this one available at Amazon (paid affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com)
- Parking Pass – Many stadiums recommend fans to pre-purchase parking passes if needed to help avoid the hassle and wait times associated with buying passes at the stadium. Click here to view the current prices of New England Patriots parking passes and tickets available at Vivid Seats (paid affiliate link takes you to VividSeats.com).
- Weather and Sun Protection – Gillette Stadium is an open-air stadium, which means you will need to be prepared to face the elements when you go to a New England Patriots game.
- Cashless Payment – Many stadiums are transitioning to cashless payments, so bringing a form of payment other than cash is a good idea.
- Noise-Canceling Headphones – Stadiums can get very loud, and noise-canceling headphones may be needed for toddlers.
Can You Bring a Bag Into Gillette Stadium?
As an emphasis on security has increased in recent years, NFL stadiums have adjusted their bag policies. There are strict regulations regarding the types of bags allowed inside a stadium. The NFL recommends fans to use clear stadium bags like this one available at Amazon (paid affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
Clear stadium bags help with security at the gate, and not only make the stadium safer, but also help security lines move faster. But each stadium has its own safety guidelines, and may include certain exceptions. To read more, I would advise you to visit the Gillette Stadium information guide.
Can You Bring a Blanket Into Gillette Stadium?
Yes, you can bring a blanket into Gillette Stadium (source). However, most stadiums ask that you make sure items such as a blanket are used in a manner that do not bother those sitting in seats next to you.
New England Patriots Ticket Information
Buying Patriots Tickets
Yes, you can buy Patriots tickets at the stadium, but only as long as supplies last. That said, because NFL game usually sellout, it is very difficult to buy tickets at the stadium on gameday. Buying in advance is almost always necessary.
You can buy your tickets directly from the team’s website, but once the game is sold-out, you will need to use the secondary ticket market, where you can buy Patriots tickets that are being re-sold. For these types of tickets, I like to use Vivid Seats because they show me what my view from the seats will look like prior to purchase.
- Click here to view Patriots tickets available at Vivid Seats (affiliate link takes you to VividSeats.com).
If you wish to speak to the Patriots ticket office in person, the ticket office at Gillette Stadium is located on the north side of the stadium near Enel Plaza (view). This is just across from the Pro Shop. As you approach, you can see a number of ticket booth windows.
To read more, visit our article about purchasing Patriots tickets at the stadium.
Gillette Stadium Gate Information
Gillette Stadium gates open two hours prior to kickoff for New England Patriot games (source). The Gillette Stadium Putnam Club Entrances and the Gillette Stadium Suite Entrances open three hours prior to kickoff for New England Patriot games.
There are four main gates for admission located around the exterior of the stadium. There are also several suite and club entrances. The four main gates are:
- Prime Sport Gate
- Patriot Place Gate
- Bank of America Gate
- UBid.com Gate
To learn about which options might be best for you, visit our Gillette Stadium Gate Guide.
Best Place to Park at Gillette Stadium for Patriots Games
If you will be using Gillette Stadium General Parking lots (most attendees will), then you have two options: prepaid, or pay at the stadium. If you buy prepaid general parking in advance, you get access to the stadium-side general parking lots (which are on the stadium-side of Route 1).
Buying prepaid general parking will not only reduce your walking distance to the stadium, but it also removes the hassle of buying at the stadium, and can make it simpler to pass through parking gates. This is where you can view the current price of parking passes available for Patriots games at Vivid Seats (paid affiliate link takes you to VividSeats.com).
These are the prepaid Gillette Stadium general parking lots that are stadium-side of Route 1:
- Gillette Stadium Lot 3
- Gillette Stadium Lot 14
- Gillette Stadium Lot 16
- Gillette Stadium Lot 20
If you are coming from the north traveling on Route 1, then Gillette Stadium Lot 3 will be the easiest prepaid general parking lot for you to access (it is located on the northeast side of the stadium. If you are coming from the south traveling on Route 1, Gillette Stadium Lot 14, 16, and 20 will be the easiest prepaid general parking lots for you to access.
If you choose to pay for Gillette Stadium general parking once you arrive at the stadium, you will be parking in the lots that are located northwest of Route 1 (non-stadium side).
Buying Gillette Stadium Prepaid Parking not only reduces walk distances to the stadium, it can remove hassle and make it easier for you to pass through parking entrances once you arrive at the stadium. This prepaid general parking will be the best place to parking at Gillette Stadium for most attendees.
To read more about lots and options, visit our Gillette Stadium Parking Guide.
How Long Do New England Patriots Games Last?
You can expect a New England Patriots game to last slightly over three hours on average, but it is worth noting that some games can last closer to 3.5 hours depending on pace of play. In 2021, the average length of a New England Patriots game was 3 hours and 1 minute.
In 2021, the longest New England Patriots game lasted 3 hours and 25 minutes, and the shortest New England Patriots game lasted 2 hours and 47 minutes. The main takeaway is most New England Patriots games last slightly over 3 hours, but there are exceptions both ways.
To read more, visit our article about the length of football games.
SOURCE: Pro Football Reference Gamelogs
Where is the Patriots Pro Shop?
There are several retail shops located around Gillette Stadium, but the main Patriots Pro Shop is located on the northeast corner of the stadium in Enel Plaza near the Patriots Hall of Fame.
If you are shopping for Patriots fan gear, you can also do that online. This is where you can view Patriots gear available at NFLShop.com (paid affiliate link takes you to NFLShop.com). If you want to read more about the different types of Patriot fan jerseys, visit our Patriots jersey guide.
Does Gillette Stadium Accept Cash Inside the Stadium?
Gillette Stadium does not accept cash inside the stadium. If you have only cash, there are several reverse-ATM’s located around Gillette Stadium where you can turn cash into prepaid cards to use around the stadium.
New England Patriots Contact
This website (sportsfanfocus.com) has no affiliation with Gillette Stadium, the New England Patriots, the NFL, or any of the events hosted at this facility.
Any information is provided “as is” with no guarantee of completeness, meaning much of this information is subject to change, and although we do our best to keep these guides updated, we can’t guarantee accuracy at all times. For all official information, we urge you to contact the team or Gillette Stadium staff. Contact information is below:
Need Tickets or Parking Passes? – Buying from Vivid Seats allows you to avoid ticket lines at the stadium and Vivid Seats shows you your view from the seats prior to purchase. Click here to view New England Patriots tickets and parking passes available at VividSeats.com (affiliate link takes you to vividseats.com).