From predicting wins and losses to planning epic trips, the NFL Schedule Release is one of the most exciting days of the year for football fans. For us, it’s more than just marking game days on the calendar—it’s about strategizing travel, booking hotels, and making sure we’re ready to secure the best possible experience.
Here’s how we navigate this much-anticipated day:
Pre-Release Planning: Lining Up Our Game Plan
1. Picking Our Top 3 Destination Games
As soon as the final whistle blows in January, our minds shift to next season’s matchups. We start looking at which cities and stadiums we haven’t visited yet, aiming to cross another one off our list.
Since we typically attend one game per season, we carefully prioritize our options. While we’re saving the AFC East cities for last (if possible), here’s what we’re eyeing for this year’s road trips:
2025 Away Opponents (Outside the Division):
- Baltimore
- Tennessee ✅ (Already been)
- New Orleans
- Cincinnati
- Tampa Bay
That leaves us with Tampa Bay, Cincinnati, and New Orleans as our top contenders. Here’s how we prioritize them:
- Tampa – Warm weather, great local Pats fan club, short flight.
- New Orleans – A short flight for us, great food, lots of fun.
- Cincinnati – New stadium for us.
2. Scouting the Best Hotel Locations
Once we have our top destinations in mind, we start researching hotels. A few things we consider:
- Proximity to the stadium – Some cities make it easy (Las Vegas), while others require more planning (San Francisco).
- Walkability & transit options – Do we need a rental car, or can we rely on Ubers and public transit?
- City attractions – If we’re going, we want to explore!
We keep a shortlist of ideal hotels so we’re ready to book the moment the schedule drops.
3. Checking Blackout Dates
With young kids and family commitments, we have non-negotiable blackout dates—especially around the holidays. We note these ahead of time so we can quickly eliminate games that don’t fit our schedule once the release happens.
Release Day: Christmas Morning for Football Fans
Morning: Tracking Leaks & Rumors
The day starts with leak season—and if you follow the right sources online, you can piece together most of the schedule before it’s officially announced.
Some key ways we gather intel:
- Other teams’ leaks can reveal where the Pats are slotted.
- Confirmed holiday and international games help complete the puzzle.
- Insider reports on marquee matchups can fill in gaps.
While leaks aren’t always 100% reliable, they give us a head start on booking flights and hotels before prices skyrocket.
💡 Pro Tip: When the Patriots played the Falcons at Gillette, we booked our flights before the official announcement based on strong leaks. After the official schedule dropped, flights had jumped $300 per ticket—so getting in early can save serious cash.
8:00 PM – The Big Reveal
Finally, it’s time for the official schedule release! We sit back, enjoy the team’s creative announcement video, and cross-check our hotel reservations.
If we’ve preemptively booked multiple hotels for potential game dates, we go back and cancel the ones we don’t need, locking in our preferred choice.
Final Thoughts
The NFL Schedule Release isn’t just about circling game days—it’s about strategy, preparation, and making the most of the season. Whether it’s getting ahead on travel bookings or picking the perfect city to explore, the planning process is just as fun as the games themselves.
Now, bring on Week 1—we’re ready! 🏈✈️
BASEMENT MILITIA 
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