Julie Griffin

Luxury suite manager

After getting a tip from a friend, Julie Griffin applied to a job opening at Gillette Stadium in 2002. She didn’t get that job, but a couple days later she got called back for a position on the stadium’s suite level. Nearly a decade and a half later, she’s managing 89 suites, a task that requires three pairs of shoes: pregame sneakers, gametime heels and postgame slippers. Despite walking almost a marathon’s worth of miles each gameday, she relishes the fast pace and the challenge of making every guest’s visit memorable, whether it’s with a scoreboard message, a celebratory cake or an on-field visit. “It’s like having company to your home,” Griffin says. “You want your guests to have a great time and look forward to returning.”

7 hours till kickoff: Check for last-minute menu changes, deliver packages to suites and walk through the suites, making sure everything is in place.

5.5 hours till kickoff: Meet with suite supervisors and other staff to discuss any special instructions. Walk through each suite to check if suite attendants need assistance.

3 hours till kickoff: Suites open, and I replace my sneakers with heels! As guests arrive, I visit suites and greet suite holders and their guests, noting any unexpected VIPs.

1.5 hours till kickoff: If I know in advance there’s a special guest attending the game, I can sometimes arrange for a field visit, so the guest can watch the team warm up, take some pictures and soak up the gameday environment.

Kickoff: It’s now a full house. I try to stop by the suites once again to say hello and ensure everything is running smoothly.

Midway though 2nd quarter: Prepare for halftime field visits. I usually try to pick up the group with a few minutes left in the second quarter so they get to see some of the game on the field level. You’re not going to get closer to the action!

Postgame: I’ve typically logged 20-25 miles. It’s time to put slippers on and drive home!