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Gillette Parking lots not open till 3:30PM
Posted: March 29, 2007 10:51 am
by TMHB
Today's local paper:
Margaritaville opens a little later
BY MICHAEL GELBWASSER SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
Thursday, March 29, 2007 1:30 AM EDT
Jimmy Buffett fans expecting to tailgate to his Gillette Stadium debut concerts in the morning won't be welcome in Margaritaville.
The Gillette parking lots won't open until 3:30 p.m., four hours before showtime, selectmen said Tuesday night.
Selectmen voted to license the two sold-out shows, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, and Saturday, Sept. 8.
Selectmen voted after discussing the parking issues with Police Chief Edward O'Leary, stadium official Dan Murphy and Stadium Advisory Committee Chairman George Bell II.
"I think we've gone out of our way," Selectmen Vice Chairman James Thrasher said. "The public understands we're not licensing the lots to open until 3:30 p.m."
Bell said the parking lots might need to open early because "this is a crowd that arrives really early, potentially early morning."
O'Leary said he and stadium management have discussed the new parking plans that account for the adjacent Patriot Place construction zone.
"I feel comfortable we'll be able to get all of the cars safely parked and allow Route 1 to flow freely," O'Leary said.
Murphy said the venue's parking plans include a multi-layered contingency.
Senior managers from the Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts have been paid consultants to stadium officials about parking, alcohol and other issues, Murphy said.
"They have been and continue to be helpful to us," he said.
Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band has played at the Tweeter Center, in Mansfield, repeatedly over the years, most recently in 2005. He played at Fenway Park in Boston last year.
Buffett's fans are known as Parrotheads. His signature tune is "Margaritaville," a number which inspires fans to dress in colorful, tropical outfits.
Posted: March 29, 2007 11:04 am
by TMHB
As you know, If you're an early arrival to GW. They use to try and do this too but it didn't work and we were able to enter early.
During Pats games, they'll send us away at first then line us up at the gates and eventually let us in for safety reasons on rte 1. long before scheduled gate openings.
I have an inside person with parking so I'll know more as we get close. If the parkers have to be there early, we'll know they're planning on opening early.
Posted: March 29, 2007 11:11 am
by bixxx
TMHB wrote:As you know, If you're an early arrival to GW. They use to try and do this too but it didn't work and we were able to enter early.
During Pats games, they'll send us away at first then line us up at the gates and eventually let us in for safety reasons on rte 1. long before scheduled gate openings.
I have an inside person with parking so I'll know more as we get close. If the parkers have to be there early, we'll know they're planning on opening early.
my mom works at the stadium as well she will let me know if she hears anything, Route 1 will not allowed to be shut down/backed up the Kenny chesney show is the end of july, we shall se what they do then.
Posted: March 29, 2007 11:50 am
by CaptainP
Yeah. And Alpine Valley opens at 4:00 every year, too....
Posted: March 29, 2007 12:38 pm
by TMHB
Between the bar, generators and DJ, It takes us a good hour just to set everything up.
Posted: March 30, 2007 3:28 pm
by cammac
I've see other posts of private lots in the area. Are they close by and is that an option?
It will be interesting to see how this sorts itself out. 3:30 would be a disapointment...
Re: Gillette Parking lots not open till 3:30PM
Posted: March 30, 2007 3:40 pm
by Tropic_Al
TMHB wrote:Today's local paper:
Margaritaville opens a little later
BY MICHAEL GELBWASSER SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
Thursday, March 29, 2007 1:30 AM EDT
Jimmy Buffett fans expecting to tailgate to his Gillette Stadium debut concerts in the morning won't be welcome in Margaritaville.
The Gillette parking lots won't open until 3:30 p.m., four hours before showtime, selectmen said Tuesday night.
Selectmen voted to license the two sold-out shows, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, and Saturday, Sept. 8.
Selectmen voted after discussing the parking issues with Police Chief Edward O'Leary, stadium official Dan Murphy and Stadium Advisory Committee Chairman George Bell II.
"I think we've gone out of our way," Selectmen Vice Chairman James Thrasher said. "The public understands we're not licensing the lots to open until 3:30 p.m."
Bell said the parking lots might need to open early because "this is a crowd that arrives really early, potentially early morning."
O'Leary said he and stadium management have discussed the new parking plans that account for the adjacent Patriot Place construction zone.
"I feel comfortable we'll be able to get all of the cars safely parked and allow Route 1 to flow freely," O'Leary said.
Murphy said the venue's parking plans include a multi-layered contingency.
Senior managers from the Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts have been paid consultants to stadium officials about parking, alcohol and other issues, Murphy said.
"They have been and continue to be helpful to us," he said.
Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band has played at the Tweeter Center, in Mansfield, repeatedly over the years,
most recently in 2005. He played at Fenway Park in Boston last year.
Buffett's fans are known as Parrotheads. His signature tune is "Margaritaville," a number which inspires fans to dress in colorful, tropical outfits.
They seem to be a "little" confused. 08.10 & 08.12.06 @ Great Woods, Fenway was 2004. I forsee a few problems here. Let's all get there real early so they have to open for us.
Posted: March 30, 2007 3:43 pm
by buffettbride
excuse me while i play the worlds smallest violin for all of you.
Posted: March 30, 2007 3:48 pm
by Tropic_Al
Posted: March 30, 2007 3:48 pm
by buffettbride
That's fine. Just none until 3:30 please.
Posted: March 30, 2007 5:18 pm
by Tropic_Al
Posted: March 30, 2007 5:19 pm
by SchoolGirlHeart
CaptainP wrote:Yeah. And Alpine Valley opens at 4:00 every year, too....
Selectmen in eastern Mass towns are like gods...... I wouldn't be surprised to see them hold to it.....
Posted: March 30, 2007 6:36 pm
by drunkpirate66
cammac wrote:I've see other posts of private lots in the area. Are they close by and is that an option?
It will be interesting to see how this sorts itself out. 3:30 would be a disapointment...
The private lots are private and they will open when they damn well please. I have been to numerous concerts and Patriots games at Gillette and I have never parked in the "actual" official lot. There are tons of private lots tucked in the woods and it will have sort of a Great Woods feel. Hopping from lot to lot should be fun. They will all be full by noon.
Posted: March 30, 2007 10:13 pm
by TommyBahama
The end zone hotel lot will be open early!!!...Chesney Last year opened early!!!...If there is enough traffic back-up they will ahve no choice but to open the lots!!
Posted: March 30, 2007 10:17 pm
by TommyBahama
Colorfully dressed fan rises to the occasion when Jimmy Buffett played Tweeter Center in Mansfield in 2005.
Jimmy Buffett fans expecting to tailgate to his Gillette Stadium debut concerts in the morning won't be welcome in Margaritaville.
The Gillette parking lots won't open until 3:30 p.m., four hours before showtime, selectmen said Tuesday night.
Selectmen voted to license the two sold-out shows, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, and Saturday, Sept. 8.
Selectmen voted after discussing the parking issues with Police Chief Edward O'Leary, stadium official Dan Murphy and Stadium Advisory Committee Chairman George Bell II.
"I think we've gone out of our way," Selectmen Vice Chairman James Thrasher said. "The public understands we're not licensing the lots to open until 3:30 p.m."
Bell said the parking lots might need to open early because "this is a crowd that arrives really early, potentially early morning."
O'Leary said he and stadium management have discussed the new parking plans that account for the adjacent Patriot Place construction zone.
"I feel comfortable we'll be able to get all of the cars safely parked and allow Route 1 to flow freely," O'Leary said.
Murphy said the venue's parking plans include a multi-layered contingency.
Senior managers from the Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts have been paid consultants to stadium officials about parking, alcohol and other issues, Murphy said.
"They have been and continue to be helpful to us," he said.
Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band has played at the Tweeter Center, in Mansfield, repeatedly over the years, most recently in 2005. He played at Fenway Park in Boston last year.
Buffett's fans are known as Parrotheads. His signature tune is "Margaritaville," a number which inspires fans to dress in colorful, tropical outfits.
Selectmen also licensed the New England Revolution's 2007 home schedule.
The slate includes 15 matches.
The home opener is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 14, against Toronto FC.
Comment Blog -
SM wrote on March 29, 2007 9:53 PM:"I hate to say this but I agree wiht the prior comments. Having the gates open at 3:30 is stupid and will cause huge traffic jams on Rte 1. The selectmen want their cake and eat it too. I have news for you all. The parrotheads may have a reputation, but my experience is that we're tamer, and safer than NFL fans, in general. Wake up and smell the fun! See you at noon!"
FinzUp wrote on March 29, 2007 9:34 PM:"Couldn't agree more with you, seems like they expect that they can use their policy/procedures for Patriot games and blindly apply them to the concert - they should consult the folks at Great Woods for a blueprint that has worked successfully for the past 15 years!"
Pierre A. Tedd wrote on March 29, 2007 12:59 PM:"Going out of your way means not being an idiot expecting people to change decades of traditional tailgating for this event. This is like saying "we want the circus, but not the elephants". These people are in for a rude awaking when the Parrotheads will show up to tailgate early anyway. Expect - EXPECT -total disregard for your hard-headed stupidity."
pville wrote on March 29, 2007 10:53 AM:"I hope Police Chief Edward O'Leary, has a plan for all the vehicles that will be lined up on Route 1 before noon. Just saying the gates won't open until 330 is fine, provided you can deal with the Public Safety issues that will arise. His experience @ Gillette and the experience of the Mansfield Police @ Great Woods, make these early arrivals something he should know will occur. So, when problems arise in September and they demonstate how unprepared they are, I will be curious to the their response. My expectations are low. "
Posted: April 1, 2007 12:18 am
by blackjack
drunkpirate66 wrote:cammac wrote:I've see other posts of private lots in the area. Are they close by and is that an option?
It will be interesting to see how this sorts itself out. 3:30 would be a disapointment...
The private lots are private and they will open when they damn well please. I have been to numerous concerts and Patriots games at Gillette and I have never parked in the "actual" official lot.
There are tons of private lots tucked in the woods and it will have sort of a Great Woods feel. Hopping from lot to lot should be fun. They will all be full by noon.
Does a Parrothead tailgate in the woods?
Posted: April 1, 2007 8:50 am
by aeroparrot
I heard that the town of Foxboro is going to clamp down on the tailgaiting at the private lots and only allow the tailgaiting in Gillette Stadium parking lot. The town and state police will be cracking down on all tailgaiting activities not held at the stadium parking lots.
April Fools
Posted: April 1, 2007 9:15 am
by ScarletB
aeroparrot wrote:I heard that the town of Foxboro is going to clamp down on the tailgaiting at the private lots and only allow the tailgaiting in Gillette Stadium parking lot. The town and state police will be cracking down on all tailgaiting activities not held at the stadium parking lots.
Not doubting the truth of this but let's see ...60,000 + fans vs. how many police??? Do they REALLY want to go down that road? What legal grounds are they going to use to tell people that they can't fill their own parking lots?? Sounds as though they're being really stupid about this, did they not talk to ANYONE at GW???
April Fools
Posted: April 1, 2007 10:08 am
by aeroparrot
ScarletB wrote:aeroparrot wrote:I heard that the town of Foxboro is going to clamp down on the tailgaiting at the private lots and only allow the tailgaiting in Gillette Stadium parking lot. The town and state police will be cracking down on all tailgaiting activities not held at the stadium parking lots.
Not doubting the truth of this but let's see ...60,000 + fans vs. how many police??? Do they REALLY want to go down that road? What legal grounds are they going to use to tell people that they can't fill their own parking lots?? Sounds as though they're being really stupid about this, did they not talk to ANYONE at GW???
April Fools
Um, Scarlet, did you read my disclaimer on the bottom.
Posted: April 1, 2007 10:25 am
by ragtopW
Do like the Houston crew did.. Rent a lot and have a Private party..
