The mad dash of Patriots fans flooding into training camp is a well established tradition at this point. And the 2016 version did not disappoint.

Thousands of fans eagerly awaited the moment when the gates to Patriots camp opened earlier on Thursday morning. At the strike of 8:30, the scramble to reach the best vantage point was officially on:

Annual Running of the Pats fans pic.twitter.com/skitdXpQZP — Michele Steele (@ESPNMichele) July 28, 2016

Various tactics were employed by veteran camp attendees (the sliding sprawl seen in the above video is a fine example). Philosophical differences exist, as some fans prefer the bleachers, while others give a nod to the grass hill:

Official sign of training camp: Patriots fans running to find seats once gates open at 8:30 a.m pic.twitter.com/4vSVw9Dn9Z — Ryan Hannable (@RyanHannable) July 28, 2016

There are few events that denote the coming of football season more than “the running of the Patriots fans.” This Vine, from last year, is indicative of the time-honored tradition: