Leave Bags at Home for Patriots' Games

Leave your bags at home if you are attending the first New England Patriots' preseason home game tonight, Aug. 16, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The National Football League has a new bags policy, and it will be used all season long.

Approved over the summer by the NFL Committee on Stadium Security, the new policy states that only the following bags will be allowed into the stadium:

• Bags that are clear (see through) plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12.”
• One-gallon clear (see through) plastic freezer bag or similar.
• Small clutch bags, not to exceed 7” x 4” x 2” (approximately the size of a hand), with or without a handle or strap, may be carried into the stadium along with one of the clear bag options.

Items that can be carried by hand or in pockets, such as binoculars, cameras, phones and blankets are allowed in the stadium. A separate entrance will be set up for fans carrying bags containing medically necessary items.

Purses larger than a clutch bag, coolers, briefcases, backpacks, diaper bags, fanny packs, cinch bags, seat cushions, luggage, computer bags and camera bags are prohibited from the stadium.

Due to the change, the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Rail (MBCR) is urging all fans utilizing the MBTA Commuter Rail “Football Trains” for Patriots’ home games to leave all bags and backpacks at home.

Those with bags and items that are not in compliance with the new policy are likely out of luck. Fans with prohibited items will not be allowed access to the stadium plaza, gates, or queue lines.

There will be no storage available at Gillette Stadium for items that do not meet NFL requirements and no personal items may be left on trains during the game. In addition, there is no storage available at commuter rail stations.

The pickup schedule for the preseason game against the Buccaneers is as follows: