Army-Navy Takes Over New England: What To Know Ahead Of This Weekend

FOXBOROUGH, MA — New England is set to welcome a college football legacy game to the region for the first time.

This year marks the first time the Army-Navy game has been played in New England, and Navy will serve as the home team.

This year marks the 124th playing of the game as the Black Knights face the Midshipmen for the coveted Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. The timing isn't without a local tie-in, as the game will be hosted in the Boston area in conjunction with the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party and the 225th anniversary of the USS Constitution’s maiden voyage.

Ahead of the game, Gillette Stadium and the Boston area will host a variety of events honoring the occasion. Here's what to know.

'College GameDay'

For a chunk of college football fans, Saturday mornings start by flipping the television to ESPN and listening to Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso and the gang wax poetic on the set of "College GameDay".

For football fans in New England, they'll have a rare chance to make the trip to the scene of the production this winter.

ESPN's Week 15 show at the Army-Navy game will be live from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, marking the first time the home of the New England Patriots hosts "America’s Game."

"GameDay", however, will be featuring Army-Navy for the ninth time, having previously traveled to game sites in East Rutherford, N.J., West Point, N.Y., Baltimore and Philadelphia.

Events Around Massachusetts

Army-Navy Game Fan Fest and Patriots Thursday Night Football Watch Party

The Army-Navy Game Fan Fest, featuring demonstrations, activations and more will officially open on Thursday evening. Fans are also invited to a viewing party as the New England Patriots take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football. This event is free and open to the general public at Patriot Place starting at 5 p.m.

Night two of the Fan Fest starts on Friday at 5 p.m., and Saturday's version begins at 11 a.m.

Patriot Games

Cadets and Midshipmen will square off in the first event of the Patriot Games. The Patriot Games are a two-day competition between a select group of Army West Point Cadets and Naval Academy Midshipmen, consisting of various physical and mental challenges leading up to the game’s kick-off on Saturday afternoon.

The first event takes place at 8 a.m. at 174 Liberty St., in Concord, with a second event set for 9:30 a.m. at 139 Tremont St., in Boston.

A pull-up competition is set for noon at Faneuil Hall, with a debate to follow at 1:30 p.m. A relay race will start shortly after at 1:45 p.m. at the Charlestown Navy Yard.

Parade from Boston Common to Faneuil Hall

The Army and Navy Patriot Games teams will parade through the Boston city streets from Boston Common to Faneuil Hall in advance of the third competition, followed immediately by a pep rally at Faneuil Hall.

WWE Tribute to the Troops

WWE will host its 21st annual Tribute to the Troops at Providence’s Amica Mutual Pavilion at 7 p.m., welcoming Midshipmen and Cadets to enjoy the show the night before the 2023 Army-Navy Game at Gillette Stadium.

MBTA Trains To Foxborough

The MBTA Commuter Rail and Keolis are providing round-trip, special event train service from both Boston and Providence.

Tickets for the special event trains from Boston are sold out, but a limited number of tickets for the Providence special event trains are on sale now exclusively via the mTicket app.

The first inbound Boston train will depart 30 minutes following the conclusion of the game. Each subsequent train will depart in alternating 30-minute intervals.

Boston Train 1

• Depart South Station: 8:10 a.m.
• Depart Back Bay: 8:15 a.m.
• Depart Dedham Corporate Center: 8:35 a.m.

Boston Train 2

• Depart South Station: 10:10 a.m.
• Depart Back Bay: 10:15 a.m.
• Depart Dedham Corporate Center: 10:35 a.m.

Boston Train 3

• Depart South Station: 11:30 a.m.
• Depart Back Bay: 11:35 a.m.
• Depart Dedham Corporate Center: 11:55 a.m.

Providence Train 1

• Depart T.F. Green: 8 a.m.
• Depart Providence Station: 8:20 a.m.
• Depart Pawtucket/Central Falls: 8:26 a.m.
• Depart Attleboro: 8:40 a.m.
• Depart Mansfield: 8:50 a.m.
• Arrive at Foxboro Station: 9:40 a.m.

Providence Train 2

• Depart T.F. Green: 10:25 a.m.
• Depart Providence Station: 10:45 a.m.
• Depart Pawtucket/Central Falls: 10:51 a.m.
• Depart Attleboro: 11:05 a.m.
• Depart Mansfield: 11:15 a.m.
• Arrive at Foxboro Station: 12:00 p.m.