Travel/Tickets: USA versus Brazil in East Rutherford, NJ (8/10/2010)

No ********ing way.

 

Looks like NJT is running from Penn Station NYC to the Meadowlands. A quick hit to their website yields results showing trains leaving almost every half hour. Trip takes about 30-45 minutes to the stadium from Penn.

http://www.njtransit.com/hp/hp_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=HomePageTo

Rail working penn to secaucus, secaucus to meadowlands (no busses).

There's a couple dive bars near Penn on 8th ave between west 31st and west 30th (Tempest comes to mind). My buddies and I will probably set up shop there and then take the train over to the Stadium.

Anyone know if there's gonna be food/drink/game setup outside the stadium like at the Gold Cup Final last year? (apart from the usual tailgating)

 

Looks like $10.50.

 

Not sure exactly when is starts. I went to their website: http://www.njtransit.com/hp/hp_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=HomePageTo

and in the upper left hand corner put in a search for:

Travel from: New York Penn
Travel to: Meadowlands (stadium events)
Depart at: 08/10/2010 at 05:00 PM
Using: Rail

and got a list of train times. Check it out.

 

Per ussoccer.com: http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-N...ing-the-US-MNT-Match-vs-Brazil-on-Aug-10.aspx

• Do plan to arrive early. Parking lots open at 3 p.m. and the gates open at 6:30 p.m.
• DO pay attention to the message boards en route to the stadium.
• DO plan to carpool. Fewer cars on the road in will make everyone’s journey faster, especially as parking lots fill up.
• DO NOT rely on GPS devices as routes may be adjusted and diverted to accommodate traffic congestion.
• DO take public transportation. NJ Transit train service will run to and from the stadium from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Getting to the Stadium
As a result of continuing improvements to the Meadowlands Sports Complex and surrounding roadways, traffic patterns and access to certain lots will be affected during this match. Please allow extra time for travel and parking.

Heavy traffic and congestion can be expected along the New Jersey Turnpike and Route 3. The heaviest traffic can be expected between 5-8 p.m. and at 10-11 p.m. following the match.

Guests are encouraged to use public transportation provided by the New Jersey Transit via bus or train which link through the Secaucus Junction. Please visit www.njtransit.com for stations and schedules using “Meadowlands Sports Complex” as the final destination.

For guests traveling on I-95, follow the western spur to exit 16W (Sports Complex).

For guests traveling south on the Garden State Parkway, exit Route 17 (exit 163) to Paterson Plank Road.

For guests traveling north on the Garden State Parkways, exit Route 3 (exit 153A) to the Sports Complex.

For guests traveling from the Lincoln or Holland tunnels, follow I-495 to Route 3 West.

 

Not that I know of. From past experience and what I see on the web you have no choice but to change trains at Secaucus.

It's relatively painless though. They did the same thing for the Gold Cup Final and I found it to be much quicker and better organized than the bus system out of Port Authority.

Make sure you buy the right tickets and there are a bunch of NJT people helping out telling you which way to go. Trains are pretty quick to board, leave station, and roll up the next one too.

 

Yes. It can be a little confusing the first time cause of all the options.

The first time I used that machine I had 20 people behind me running late and screaming at me while I was trying to figure the whole thing out.

Stand next to someone else in line who's going to the game and ask them for help if you need...and of course there are always NJT authorities to help as well. Trust me there will be hundreds of other people trying to figure it out as well. There may even be a serpate machine that only sells meadowlands round trip tickets and has a private attendant. They did that for the Gold Cup final if I recall.

Point being: It won't be a problem to use the train. Trust.

 

Either the USSF is run by a bunch of idiots or the meadowlands are a bunch of pricks...or both...I vote both.