What to Know
- The New England Patriots' championship celebration was held Tuesday in downtown Boston.
- Patriots players and executives cruised down Boylston, Tremont and Cambridge streets in style on duck boats.
- Huge delays were reported on the MBTA and the commuter rail due to the large crowds heading into and then out of the city.
An estimated 1.5 million fans jammed downtown Boston on Tuesday for a parade celebrating the New England Patriots' sixth Super Bowl title, clamoring for more with cheers of "We want seven!" and "Next year, right here!"
A party atmosphere enveloped the city as fans clad in team garb packed sidewalks and stood on tiptoe for a glimpse of quarterback Tom Brady, coach Bill Belichick and the rest of the team. Red, white and blue confetti rained down.
It's a familiar feeling in Boston. The parade came just four months after the city feted the Red Sox for their fourth World Series championship in 15 years.
"Getting to see Tom Brady again is always a special day, but the Patriots are amazing. Six-time champs," fan Lauren Mills said, adding that she still hasn't had her fill. Her message to Brady: "Go for No. 7. He still has how many fingers left? You know, four more rings to go."
Fresh from Sunday's 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 53 in Atlanta, team members and their families took a 2-mile wing through the city aboard Boston's iconic World War II-era amphibious "duck boats."
Brady held his pigtailed daughter, Vivian, and they waved and grinned at the crowd as players and team owner Robert Kraft took turns holding aloft the Lombardi Trophy. Belichick and his partner, Linda Holliday, beamed, and the storied coach doffed his cap.
Star tight end Rob Gronkowski, who has talked about retiring after this latest NFL title, whooped it up with his brothers and father.
At least one brave Rams fan, wearing one of that team's blue and yellow jerseys, hung out along the parade route.
Officials expected more than 1 million attendees, and early trains and subways were jammed, overwhelming the Boston area's transit system with what officials said was record ridership. The weather was unseasonably warm, with temperatures above 50 degrees and dazzling sunshine.
Security was tight, and Mayor Marty Walsh warned fans not to throw anything. Errant beer cans slightly damaged the Red Sox World Series trophy last year.
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Unlike in past years, no post-parade rally with speeches was planned. Officials didn't elaborate on why.
Stephen Chhom, of Lynn, Massachusetts, was along the parade route overlooking the Statehouse with his friend Ricky Sok and Sok's 6-year-old son, Raiyu.
The trio has been to all six Patriots victory parades.
"What made this year special were all the other fans doubting us," Chhom said, wearing a Julian Edelman jersey. "The record speaks for itself. Tom Brady and the rest of the team prove themselves every single time."
Several road closures were in effect for Tuesday's parade, along with parking restrictions on many city streets. Officials urged attendees to take public transportation to and from the celebration. Click here for full details on street closures and parking restrictions.
Delays were reported on several different MBTA lines on Tuesday due to the high volume of people heading into the city for the parade.
Commuter rail operator Keolis reported trains were seeing high capacity levels due to the number of parade-goers, causing delays of up to an hour in some cases.
The company said they expect this to be the highest ridership day ever, notably higher than for previous parades. Additional cars have been added, but increased capacity and potential delays are expected Tuesday afternoon as paradegoers make their way home.
