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Boston To Patriots Fans: Win Or Lose, Be Safe

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh outlines the city's planned safety measures for the 2018 Super Bowl. (Steve Brown/WBUR)
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh outlines the city's planned safety measures for the 2018 Super Bowl. (Steve Brown/WBUR)

It's become a familiar ritual on the Friday before the Super Bowl: The mayor of Boston calls reporters to the Eagle Room in City Hall to brief them on the safety measures police and city officials will take during and after the big game.

But this year, considering the Patriots' opponent in Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis, the ritual was slightly different.

The Eagle Room within the mayor's fifth floor suite had been rebranded "The Belichick Room" — removing (at least temporarily) the mascot of the team from Philadelphia, and replacing it with the name of the Patriots' head coach.

The Eagle Room in Boston City Hall was temporarily renamed "The Belichick Room," and its carved wooden eagle was decked out in Patriots garb. (Steve Brown/WBUR)
The Eagle Room in Boston City Hall was temporarily renamed "The Belichick Room," and its carved wooden eagle was decked out in Patriots garb. (Steve Brown/WBUR)

The large carved wooden eagle, which sits in a niche at the back of the room, was hidden behind black drapes. When the drapes were pulled back, the eagle was revealed to be wearing a Patriots wool hat and scarf.

On a more serious note, Mayor Marty Walsh asked Patriots fans to behave responsibly this weekend.

"As always, safety is our number one concern, our number one priority," Walsh said.

"We'll be calling all the fans to help us out in being responsible. Whatever the outcome of the game, we're asking you to be smart, whether it's a win or a loss. We're asking you to act appropriately."

On Sunday night, the city will be taking precautions at various gathering spots around town.  Temporary parking restrictions and road closures will be put in place around Kenmore Square as of the third quarter of the game, and cars in off-street lots will not be allowed to leave until after any crowds disperse.

There will also be parking restrictions in Brighton along Harvard and Brighton Avenues, Hemenway Street in Fenway, around the TD Garden and around Quincy Market.

Boston Police will have extra officers on duty to work crowd control.

"Obviously, we want the Patriots to win, but we want, if people come out, to celebrate responsibly," said Boston Police Commissioner William Evans. "Wherever we have a lot of bars, and a lot of college areas, we'll have some parking restrictions."

Should the Patriots win, city officials will begin preparations for a victory parade — although as in past years, they declined to discuss any details of such an event until after the game is over.

"It's too early to talk about parades. We have to win the football game first," said Walsh.

"This is our city, we're Boston," he continued. "We're better than other cities. Let's make sure that we win or lose with respect. Let's make sure that we treat other people's property fair and good, the way you'd want your own property to be treated."

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Steve Brown Senior Reporter/Anchor
Steve Brown is a veteran broadcast journalist who serves as WBUR's senior State House reporter.

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