Boston sets Super Bowl Sunday bar entry limits and overnight street parking restrictions across key neighborhoods

City orders bar entry cutoffs and prepares traffic plan tied to postgame crowds

Boston is implementing a coordinated set of public-safety rules for Super Bowl Sunday that combines restrictions on bar entry with temporary traffic and parking controls in several high-activity areas. The measures are designed to manage crowd movement during the game and limit congestion in the hours immediately afterward.

The bar-related policy applies citywide. Under the directive, bars are not permitted to admit patrons after the start of the third quarter of the Super Bowl. People already waiting to enter at that time must be dispersed. The rules also prohibit reentry: patrons who leave a bar after that point are not allowed back inside.

Separately, the city is preparing for postgame street activity by restricting vehicle access and curbside stopping in areas that historically draw large crowds on major sports nights, including corridors near major universities and entertainment districts.

Traffic closures scheduled from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Traffic restrictions are slated to run from approximately 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. and include temporary closures along several streets near Kenmore Square and the Fenway area:

• Commonwealth Avenue (Boston University Bridge to Massachusetts Avenue)
• Brookline Avenue (Beacon Street at Kenmore Square to Pilgrim Road, with limited garage/lot access conditions)
• Boylston Street (Pilgrim Road to Westland Avenue)
• Ipswich Street (Boylston Street at Hemenway Street to Boylston Street at Park Drive)
• Lansdowne Street (Brookline Avenue to Ipswich Street)
• Van Ness Street (Ipswich Street to Kilmarnock Street)
• Yawkey Way (Boylston Street to Van Ness Street)

‘No Stopping’ temporary parking restrictions across multiple districts

In addition to roadway closures, the city will post temporary “No Stopping” restrictions for special event enforcement in multiple neighborhoods, with towing and fines possible for violations. The posted restrictions include clusters of streets in Brighton and the Kenmore Square area, as well as portions of the Faneuil Hall and North Station districts.

Among the locations listed for temporary restrictions are stretches of Beacon Street, Brighton Avenue, and Harvard Avenue in Brighton; multiple streets and curb lanes around Kenmore Square including Bay State Road, Boylston Street, Brookline Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue, and the Kenmore Square area in its entirety; and street segments in the downtown core such as Blackstone Street, Clinton Street, Congress Street, Hanover Street, State Street, and several streets near North Station including Canal Street, Causeway Street, and Merrimac Street.

Public safety messaging and enforcement posture

City officials are pairing the operational changes with public-safety messaging for fans attending bars, house parties, and public gathering areas. Police leadership has urged responsible celebration and said additional patrols are expected in neighborhoods that typically see increased party activity.

Officials emphasized that the traffic and parking plan may be modified as conditions require, citing public safety needs during the evening hours.

Residents and visitors are advised to plan for limited vehicle access near major gathering points, to watch for posted signage, and to expect active enforcement in the restricted zones as the game progresses into the night.