It starts as soon as you park your car. Cups full of beer smacking against one another by fueled up fans. People dressed fully in their teams gear. In uncomfortably cold weather there’s men with shirtless painted bodies looking like they could be their teams mascot. From families with kids, couples, and friends there to have a good time and watch their team play. As I move through the horde of tailgaters grilling food and drinking beers, shots and who knows what else, it is basically a party of people having fun before the game with pre-game rituals. A lot of the fans are only there to tailgate. Then after the chaos I have a half mile walk with official team gear vendors every few hundred feet untill you come up to the stadium.
Jumbo trons greet you, displaying highlights and on the field action under the bright stadium lights. Multiple concession stands with lines full of consumers trying to sober up or just grab a quick bite to eat, as well as buying a new jersey or souvenir of their team.
Screaming fans cheering as loud they can while making their way into the building and the noise they project grows more as they enter the security checkpoints leading to the stands. As soon as you enter fried doughs, pulled pork sandwiches and tacos, as well as a variety of other fried and greasy foods and beverages are sold at stands throught each floor inside the stadium.
In a place where as long as you’re rooting for the same team, strangers can become the best of friends as they celebrate each big play or touchdown scored. All races of people from white, black, tan, etc., celebrating with one another only caring about how their team performs. With the exception of some trash talking, die-hard fans instigating and agitating fans of the opposing team, all in the love and the tradition of the game. And a very few drunk and obnoxious slurs getting covered by ” im sorry he’s drunk ” from non intoxicated spouses saving their man from getting into a physical altercation.
On the field cheerleaders chant and dance the day away. The players are on the field warming up running pre-game drills, while others are dancing out of tunnel by the Patriots lighthouse on their way to the field. Coaches are huddled together discussing the game’s strategies. Five Super Bowl banners as well as a dozen AFC Championship banners are proudly displayed. Referee’s waiting around while on field maintenance makes sure the field is safe of obstructions. Waterboys filling gatorade bottles and coolers. Medical staff tapping hands and strapping knee braces on players in need of them. Everyone on the field getting done what needs to get done before the game begins.
The game starts with a coin toss to decide on who will receive the ball on the kickoff and who will recieve it to start the 2nd half of the game ( 3rd quarter ). With 11 players on offense and 11 on defense taking the field. The New England Patriots at home against the Green Bay Packers. The Patriots score 1st with a 8 yard touchdown rushing touchdown by their back uo running back James White. Packers immediately follow up on the next possesion with a field goal ( 3 points ) cutting the Pats lead 7-3. But the Patriots like their crowd would not take their foot off the pedal and every quarter they would outscore and out play Aaron Rodgers ( quarterback of the Green Bay Packers ) and the Packers leading to a victory by the score off 31-17 lead by Tom Brady, who threw for 294 yards and a touchdown.
Throughout the game individual vendors walked up and down each row offering beverages and refreshments at an expense much higher when compared to its market value. Single beers costing as much as a six pack bought at a typical liquor store. Slices of pizza sold for the price of a small pizza. Non stop consumers buying out every vendor that walks by. With this being my 2nd game I have attended, the culture and actions of the fans are practically indentical both times.
The Patriots win and the fans are joyous over the victory, with some celebrating with far to much alcohol as they stumble around slurring chants. As a fan of an opposing team and neither the Patriot’s or the Packer’s, it was more fun then my previous experience because I didn’t care who won the game and was just there to have a good time. Unlike the time I watched my team play the Patriots and having my nerves sputter the whole game knowing my team was most likely going to lose, which they did. Also the fans here in what I observed are a lot more friendly then Red Sox fans. For example, the last Red Sox game I went to I watched my team the White Sox beat the Red Sox. As i was leaving the game in full White Sox gear I had people squirt ketchup on my pants as I walked by to the point it almost started a brawl. When I seen the Titans play the Patriots, the Titans obtained an early lead and played a good game, but the whole time other Patriots fans was talking to me, trying to buy me drinks, telling me they respect my team and more. And I seen the same happening to Packers fans at the game as well. While both teams are from New England ( Red Sox, Patriots ) I have enjoyed going to Gillete stadium a lot from what I have experienced.