City and police officials spoke on safety precautions being put in place around Boston ahead of the Patriots-Eagles Super Bowl showdown this weekend.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Police Commissioner William Evans spoke in City Hall's Eagle Room, which the Mayor referred to as the "Belichick room," Friday around 1:30 p.m.
"We want to make sure Sunday is a great experience for everyone in the city of Boston," said the Mayor, "safety is the number one concern."
Walsh urged citizens not to drink and drive before handing off the podium to Evans to explain temporary parking restrictions and road closures that will be in effect on game day.
The commissioner also warned of a heightened police presence around the city on Sunday.
"There's going to be plenty of officers in uniform, officers undercover," Evans said. "We're going to deploy a lot more cameras so there's going to be good eyes on the crowd."
Evans stated that parking restrictions and road closures would be going into effect Sunday at the end of the third quarter.
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Kenmore Square and Beacon Street are among the areas affected, as are Bay State Road and the eastbound lanes of Commonwealth Avenue.
Hemenway Street, Harvard Avenue and Brighton Avenue will be subject to parking restrictions due to incidents in previous years' Super Bowls of jumping on cars, said the commissioner.
Areas around TD Garden, Quincy Market, North Station and Faneuil Hall will be subject to similar restrictions after the third quarter.
"Wherever we have a lot of bars and a lot of college areas, we'll have parking restrictions," said Evans.
The commissioner warned that if a car is still in a restricted space or parking lot by the end of the third quarter, the police are insisting that the vehicle remain locked in until they deem it safe to leave.
"It's not to inconvenience," said the commissioner, "it's to make sure we don't have vandalism and that nobody gets hurt."
The commissioner said that the city's licensing units will be speaking to bars and restaurants in affected areas Sunday night about overcrowding and over-serving.
While no restrictions are being placed on local businesses by the city, Evans and the police are making two requests: That, after the third quarter, bars and other businesses turn away anyone waiting in lines on the street, and that they not allow patrons who have left an establishment to return after that time.
Police previously announced they're asking college students in the area to responsibly celebrate during Super Bowl Sunday.
The commissioner stated that police and city officials have previously met with all colleges and universities in Boston to discuss expectations for students on Sunday. Mayor Walsh said that he had sent a letter to all colleges in the community asking for their cooperation.
Evans said students who cause significant trouble will have their names shared with their respective school's Dean of Students.
People celebrating the game are asked to be aware of their surroundings, to not wear headphones and to not wear dark clothing.
"This is our city," Walsh said, "we are Boston ... Let's make sure that we win or lose with respect."
