Jonathan Andrews was not about to miss his shot at the Patriots quarterback. The 39-year-old showed up at 4 a.m. and still only managed to snag second place in a line that kept growing all afternoon outside MB Spirits, the liquor store next to the Market Basket in Chelsea where Drake Maye greeted fans this week.
Andrews was second in what the Boston Globe described as a lengthy queue that snaked around the side of the store as word spread that the Patriots signal-caller was coming to town. The first 200 people through the door walked away with an autographed poster of Maye, a nice consolation prize for anyone who didn't make it close enough to shake his hand. Hundreds of fans lined up for hours for the chance, according to Boston.com.
The event wasn't just a fan-appreciation stop. Maye's appearance was on behalf of Connecticut-based Athletic Brewing, the non-alcoholic beer company that made him an athlete-owner in September, the same report from the Globe notes. He now holds an undisclosed equity stake in the company alongside Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who joined in the same deal. A company release from PR Newswire confirmed the multi-year partnership was announced September 9, with both quarterbacks slated to appear in dedicated marketing campaigns for the brand.
Fans Decked Out in Patriots Gear Turn Out in Force
Plenty of attendees came dressed for the occasion, showing up in No. 10 jerseys, Patriots gear, Maye-themed pajama pants, and at least one split jersey blending the Patriots with his college colors at North Carolina, per the Globe's account. Despite the size of the crowd, Maye stuck around for about an hour and 15 minutes before heading home, the outlet reported.
According to WHDH, some fans waited more than 12 hours for the Tuesday afternoon meet-and-greet, with several beginning to line up in the middle of the night. Fan Joey Gregory told the station he had been standing in line since 1 a.m., expecting a large crowd well before the event even started. Jonathan Andrews, who arrived at 4 a.m. and landed second in line, described himself to WHDH as a devoted Drake Maye and Patriots fan who shows up to support his quarterback and his team.
A Familiar Scene for the Maye Family
This wasn't the first time a member of the Maye family had turned a Market Basket parking lot into a scene. The Globe noted that Maye drew a similar-sized, overflowing crowd to what his sister, Ann Michael Maye, has pulled in at past appearances. More than 1,500 people RSVP'd yes to meet the social media personality ahead of her North Andover Market Basket stop, according to Boston.com, and she ultimately stayed an extra 30 minutes trying to accommodate the turnout — though some attendees still didn't make it inside before the event wrapped.
That wasn't even her first rodeo in North Andover. Back in October 2025, roughly 1,000 people lined up outside that same Market Basket location to meet her, with a mother and daughter duo first in line, as the Eagle-Tribune reported at the time.
Community Voices Weigh In
For some in attendance, the appeal went beyond football. Dennis Daniel told WHDH that fans had been there all day and loved every minute of it, describing the scene as a reflection of New England's spirit and culture. Kelly Wright, also speaking to WHDH, said Drake Maye and Ann Michael matter to the community, to the Patriots organization, and to their foundation.
Even Pops, described by WHDH as Dave Portnoy's former foster dog, made an appearance, walking the line of waiting fans as they held their spots for a glimpse of the Patriots quarterback.
