Senior operations manager
Like everyone else who heads to Gillette Stadium for a Patriots game, Tim Sullivan is praying for 70 degrees and sunny. But it’s not just personal comfort that’s behind his weather wish. He manages more than 300 acres of parking lots outside Gillette, so icy roads or heavy rain can make coordinating parking for thousands of cars even more difficult. Sullivan is at the stadium rain or shine at 7 am on gamedays—and 5 am for a 1 pm game—and while he sometimes hops in a helicopter to better monitor the parking operation, it’s when he’s on the ground with the fans that he feels like he’s really in the action: “Many of them have the same routine every game and park in the same location, so you get to know them and talk with them every game.”
8 hours till kickoff: Brief supervisors on the day’s activities and review the VIP guest list.
6 hours till kickoff: Check in flaggers and cashiers.
5.5 hours till kickoff: Respond to employee no-shows, redeploying cashiers and supervisors to spots that need coverage.
5 hours till kickoff: Make sure all lots are set to be opened, staff is in place, credit card machines are working properly and everything is ready to go.
4 hours till kickoff: All parking lots are now open. During the next 4 hours, I drive around on my golf cart, responding to any issues that may arise, monitoring the lot capacities and working with state police to make sure all vehicles in the queue can park.
Kickoff: The goal is to have all cars parked prior to kickoff. We wait for all the tailgaters to make their way into the stadium before we take a break and watch the game.
Start of 4th quarter: Get the staff ready to direct cars to the exit.
Postgame: Make sure lots are exiting properly so everyone can get home safe.
2 hours after the game: Catch up with supervisors; get their feedback on the staff and any occurrences at the game.
Team Players
Gillette's off-the-field MVPs share their gameday routines.
By Matt Martinelli | Photos courtesy of the New England Patriots / Eric J. Adler | Sept. 2, 2016
Tim Sullivan
Senior operations manager
Like everyone else who heads to Gillette Stadium for a Patriots game, Tim Sullivan is praying for 70 degrees and sunny. But it’s not just personal comfort that’s behind his weather wish. He manages more than 300 acres of parking lots outside Gillette, so icy roads or heavy rain can make coordinating parking for thousands of cars even more difficult. Sullivan is at the stadium rain or shine at 7 am on gamedays—and 5 am for a 1 pm game—and while he sometimes hops in a helicopter to better monitor the parking operation, it’s when he’s on the ground with the fans that he feels like he’s really in the action: “Many of them have the same routine every game and park in the same location, so you get to know them and talk with them every game.”
8 hours till kickoff: Brief supervisors on the day’s activities and review the VIP guest list.
6 hours till kickoff: Check in flaggers and cashiers.
5.5 hours till kickoff: Respond to employee no-shows, redeploying cashiers and supervisors to spots that need coverage.
5 hours till kickoff: Make sure all lots are set to be opened, staff is in place, credit card machines are working properly and everything is ready to go.
4 hours till kickoff: All parking lots are now open. During the next 4 hours, I drive around on my golf cart, responding to any issues that may arise, monitoring the lot capacities and working with state police to make sure all vehicles in the queue can park.
Kickoff: The goal is to have all cars parked prior to kickoff. We wait for all the tailgaters to make their way into the stadium before we take a break and watch the game.
Start of 4th quarter: Get the staff ready to direct cars to the exit.
Postgame: Make sure lots are exiting properly so everyone can get home safe.
2 hours after the game: Catch up with supervisors; get their feedback on the staff and any occurrences at the game.
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