Thousands Of Fans Give Patriots A Super Bowl Send-Off Outside Gillette Stadium
FOXBORO (CBS) -- Thousands of New England Patriots fans came to Gillette Stadium Monday morning to send off the AFC Champions to Super Bowl LI in style.
More: Tom Brady At Patriots Sendoff Rally: 'Put All The Crap In A Drawer'
The rally started around 9 a.m. outside The Hall at Patriot Place, but many fans showed up hours earlier to cheer on the team in person one last time before they headed to Houston to face the Atlanta Falcons.
Our office for the day: #SuperBowl send-off #Patriots @cbsboston pic.twitter.com/KybAMWeT9p
— Nick Giovanni (@NickGNews) January 30, 2017
Dozens braved the frigid temperatures before sunrise to get prime viewing spots. WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe asked one fan, Kate from Danvers, what got her out of bed on a Monday morning to come stand out in the cold for hours.
"A passionate love for the New England Patriots!" she said.
Fans turn out @GilletteStadium to stand in cold 3 hours before send off rally for @Patriots, as they head to #Houston for #Super Bowl. #wbz pic.twitter.com/2fVuiPZVI4
— Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) January 30, 2017
Many came with home-made signs, reading things like "One more," "Belichick for president," and "In Tom we trust."
"I'm telling you, with my age, everything counts," one woman told WBZ-TV's Paul Burton. "But this is the best!"
Thirteen-year-old Kayla skipped school to attend the rally.
"Everybody, from far, from near, everybody from all around, no matter what race, no matter what gender, we all come together for the Patriots because that's our team! Let's go Pats!" she said.
Speakers included team owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick, and team captain Matthew Slater, and, of course, Tom Brady.
"Now it's starting to feel like the #SuperBowl" -Tom Brady. He told #Patriots Nation to hydrate/ get some rest for Sunday @cbsboston pic.twitter.com/zdbmXTIYWc
— Nick Giovanni (@NickGNews) January 30, 2017
Brady told fans to rest up, hydrate and put all distractions away in the week leading up to the big game.
Fans are gathered @GilletteStadium for huge @Patriots send off rally as they head to #Houston for #SuperBowl #wbz #wbznews pic.twitter.com/E19HjoxW8Z
— Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) January 30, 2017
Kraft called Brady a player that changed the game.
"You are the greatest fans in the world," Kraft told the crowd. "And now you have the privilege of rooting for the greatest players that anyone could ever have on any team, and rooting for the GOAT, Tom Brady!"
The rally ended with the team boarding buses to Logan Airport for their flight to Houston. They're expected to arrive there around 3 p.m. local time.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports