Providence feels New England pride ahead of Army-Navy game

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Fans are getting excited for the first Army-Navy game ever played in New England this weekend.

Hundreds of Naval Academy midshipmen will arrive at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence on Friday ahead of the big game.

Providence is holding events marking 124 years of the Army-Navy rivalry.

A special Friday night smackdown WWE Tribute to the Troops will be held at the Amica Mutual Pavilion.

The midshipmen and Army cadets are expected to attend.

A partial WaterFire lighting will illuminate Waterplace Park starting at 5:30 p.m. The fires will burn until 9 p.m.

Thousands of people are staying in Providence and heading up to Foxborough on Saturday. There will be an increase in police presence for extra security across the area.

Alana O’Hare with GoProvidence told ABC 6 News that hotels are over 80% capacity for this weekend — a massive spike versus if there wasn’t a game or event at Gillette Stadium.

The Kraft Group tried to host the Army-Navy game six years ago, but Gillette wasn’t selected because it was too far of a trip for hundreds of midshipmen coming from Annapolis, Maryland.

The Convention Center offered up their space this time, and the bid was secured, in time for just the third time America’s Game will be played outside the Mid-Atlantic.

With the massive influx of people in Providence, fans should be prepared for additional traffic when heading out to the city’s events before the game as well as heading up to the stadium.

Fans must use Interstate 95, Interstate 495, or Route 140 to access Route 1 and Gillette Stadium. Traffic restrictions will be in place on local roads near the stadium before and after the game.

Amtrak will run trains from 8 a.m. Saturday to Foxboro Station, adjacent to Gillette and Patriot Place.

ABC 6 put together a guide on what to know ahead of the game, including traffic advisories.