Gillette Stadium

{{Main|Foxboro Stadium}}

The Patriots were founded in 1960 as the Boston Patriots of the American Football League, and joined the NFL when the AFL merged into the NFL in 1970. For their first 11 seasons, the Patriots played at several venues in and around Boston, none of which were large enough or suitable enough for a professional team. Indeed, the lack of a professional-caliber stadium had stymied numerous past attempts at professional football in Boston; the Patriots are the only pro team in the area's sporting history to last more than five seasons.

From 1971 to 2001, the Patriots played their home games at Foxboro Stadium. The stadium was privately funded on an extremely small budget and featured few amenities. Its aluminum benches would freeze over during cold-weather games and it had an unorganized dirt parking lotRoberts, p.179 that turned to mud whenever it rained. It did not bring in the profits needed to keep an NFL team in New England; at just over 60,000 seats, it was one of the NFL's smallest stadiums.Foulds, p.103Roberts, p.188

In 1984, team executive Chuck Sullivan funded the Victory Tour of The Jacksons, in an attempt to earn more profit for the team. Ticket sales failed, however, and the team's debt increased even further – to a final total of US$126 million.Roberts, p.189 After two successive owners bought the team and stadium, it was clear that a new stadium had to be built for the team to stay in New England. This is when other cities in the New England area, including Boston (which was previously home to the Patriots), Hartford, and Providence became interested in building new stadiums to lure the Patriots away from Foxborough.Roberts, p.193

The first major stadium proposal from another city came in September 1993. Lowell Weicker, the Governor of Connecticut, proposed to the Connecticut General Assembly that a new stadium should be built in Hartford to attract the Patriots to move there, stating that a stadium had "potentially great benefit" if it were built. The bill passed in the State Assembly on September 27, 1993.Roberts, p.190-191

Back in Massachusetts, there was a proposal to build a "Megaplex" in Boston, which would be the site of the stadium, as well as a new Fenway Park (the home park of the Boston Red Sox) and a convention center. The proposed sites for this hybrid convention center-stadium were along Summer Street in South Boston or at the so-called Crosstown site along Melnea Cass Boulevard in Roxbury, adjacent to Boston's South End. The administration of Massachusetts Governor William Weld pushed for construction of a full "Megaplex" at the crosstown site, with then-new Boston Mayor Thomas Menino favoring construction of a new, stand-alone convention center in South Boston. Ultimately, the residents of neither of these neighborhoods wanted a stadium, and as a result, Menino backed out, fearing that it would affect his chance at re-election.Roberts, p.191-192 The Fenway Park plan was cancelled after many "Save Fenway Park!" groups popped up to save the historic ballpark.

Kraft then began a plan to build a new stadium in South Boston. In that plan, Kraft was to pay for the stadium himself, hoping to win the support of Weld and Menino. He began to sketch designs, but the project was leaked to the press in December 1996. The residents of South Boston objected to a stadium being built in that location, causing Menino and Weld to become angry at Kraft. Kraft abandoned all plans for a Boston Stadium after the affair.Roberts, p.192 In January 1997, Kraft began talks with Providence mayor Vincent Cianci to relocate the team to Providence and build a new stadium there. The proposed 68,000-seat domed stadium would have cost $250 million, and would have been paid through income taxes, public bonds, surcharges on tickets, and private funds. Residents of the neighborhood of the proposed project were extremely opposed to the project because the surrounding area would have needed massive infrastructure improvements. The proposal fell through after a few weeks.Roberts, p.194-195

During a news conference in September 1998, the team revealed plans to build a new stadium in Foxborough, keeping the team in Massachusetts. It was to be funded by the state as well as Kraft himself. This plan brought more competition from Connecticut, as a $1 billion plan to renovate an area of Hartford, including building a stadium.Roberts, p.195-197 Kraft then signed an agreement to move the team to Hartford on November 18, 1998. The proposed stadium included 68,000 seats, 60 luxury boxes, and had a projected cost of $375 million.Roberts, p.197 As before in Boston and Providence, construction of the stadium was challenged by the residents. Problems with the site were discovered, and an agreement could not be reached regarding the details of the stadium. The entire plan eventually fell through, enraging then Connecticut governor John G. Rowland, who lobbied hard for the stadium and spent weeks deliberating with Robert Kraft.Roberts, p.198-200 Rowland announced at a press conference that he was officially "a New York Jets fan, now and probably forever".{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-01-sp-32994-story.html|title=Patriots Cancel Hartford Move|agency=Wire Reports|date=May 1, 1999|access-date=June 14, 2016|newspaper=LA Times|archive-date=March 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304040636/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/may/01/sports/sp-32994|url-status=live}} In 1999, the team officially announced that it would remain in Foxborough, which led to Gillette Stadium's construction.Roberts, p.202 After the Hartford proposal fell through, Robert Kraft paid for 100% of the construction costs, a rare instance of an NFL owner privately financing the construction of a stadium.

On April 18, 2000, the team revealed plans for the new stadium in Foxborough.{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_theme=bg&p_topdoc=1&p_docnum=1&p_sort=YMD_date:D&p_product=BG&p_docid=0EADDE4966EFE9A5&p_text_direct-0=document_id=(%200EADDE4966EFE9A5%20)&&s_dlid=DL0108101912590630096&s_ecproduct=SUB-FREE&s_ecprodtype=INSTANT&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2012%2F15%2F2015%2011%3A59%20PM&s_subexpires=12%2F15%2F2015%2011%3A59%20PM&s_username=bgsub&s_accountid=AC0105112914215301918&s_upgradeable=no|title=Light is shed: Patriots Unveil New Stadium Plan, Providing a Beacon of Hope|last=Burris|first=Joe|date=April 19, 2000|newspaper=The Boston Globe|access-date=October 19, 2008|archive-date=February 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224082808/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_theme=bg&p_topdoc=1&p_docnum=1&p_sort=YMD_date:D&p_product=BG&p_docid=0EADDE4966EFE9A5&p_text_direct-0=document_id=(%200EADDE4966EFE9A5%20)&&s_dlid=DL0108101912590630096&s_ecproduct=SUB-FREE&s_ecprodtype=INSTANT&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2012%2F15%2F2015%2011%3A59%20PM&s_subexpires=12%2F15%2F2015%2011%3A59%20PM&s_username=bgsub&s_accountid=AC0105112914215301918&s_upgradeable=no|url-status=live}} It was announced as a 68,000-seat stadium at a cost of $325 million, with the entire cost privately funded. Boston is thus the only city in professional sports in which all facilities are privately owned and operated.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} The Kraft Group (owner of the NFL team the Patriots and the MLS team the Revolution) owns Gillette Stadium, the Red Sox own Fenway Park, and TD Garden is owned by Delaware North (the owner of the Bruins) (the Celtics rent the TD Garden from Delaware North).

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Concurrently announced was a new road to access the stadium from U.S. Route 1, and an additional 3,000 parking spaces to accommodate the increased number of fans.

The stadium was designed by HOK Sport (now Populous). Kraft wanted it modeled on M&T Bank Stadium which had opened in Baltimore in 1998. Kraft insisted on it having a "front door" with a Disneyland-like entrance. Populous went through 200 designs before coming up with one that Kraft liked.Comfort Zone – Boston Globe – November 19, 2001. The entrance includes a lighthouse (which was originally designed to shoot a light {{convert|2|mi|km}} high) and a bridge modeled on Boston's Longfellow Bridge.{{cite web|url=http://lighthousestars.com/2007/09/29/gillette-stadium-lighthouse/|title=lighthousestars.com|access-date=June 14, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20100810155630/http://lighthousestars.com/2007/09/29/gillette-stadium-lighthouse/|archive-date=August 10, 2010}} The lighthouse and bridge are now featured on the stadium's logo.

For the first eight years of its existence, the stadium used a video display, with a smaller LED scoreboard just beneath it, at each end of the field. The south side also had a large LED scoreboard in addition to the smaller one. In 2010, the stadium installed two new HD Daktronics video displays to replace the entire previous setup at both ends.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} At the time of their construction, the larger screen, at 41.5 feet tall and 164 feet wide (12.6 m x 50.0 m), was the second-largest video monitor in any NFL stadium; only AT&T Stadium had a larger one.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/rap_sheet/index.php/2010/05/26/patriots-announce-addition-of-really-huge-hd-video-boards-for-2010-in-gillette-stadium/|title=Patriots Announce Addition of Really Huge HD Video Boards for 2010 in Gillette Stadium|accessdate=April 7, 2023}}

Gillette Stadium ranks first among all NFL venues in stadium food safety with 0% critical violations.{{cite news|first=Mike|last=Sando|date=July 26, 2010|title=OTL: Safer to digest in NFC West|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/20130/otl-safer-to-digest-in-nfc-west|access-date=July 26, 2010|archive-date=July 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729135015/http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/20130/otl-safer-to-digest-in-nfc-west|url-status=live}} The Gillette Stadium food service, instead of being outsourced like most NFL teams, is run in-house and is led by the Patriots executive director of foods and beverage David Wheeler.{{cite news|first=Albert|last=Breer|title=Patriots Run a Clean Operation|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extra_points/2010/07/patriots_run_a.html?comments=all#readerComm|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=July 26, 2010|access-date=July 26, 2010|archive-date=July 27, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727204148/http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extra_points/2010/07/patriots_run_a.html?comments=all#readerComm|url-status=live}}

From January 18, 2021, to June 14, 2021, Gillette Stadium was used as a mass distribution site for the COVID-19 vaccine, with a total of 610,283 shots being administered.{{cite web |last1=McKinley Becker |first1=Kaitlin |title=Gillette Stadium Marks Special Vaccination Milestone |url=https://www.nbcboston.com/news/coronavirus/gillette-stadium-marks-special-vaccination-milestone/2304364/ |website=nbcboston.com |access-date=February 20, 2021 |date=February 16, 2021 |archive-date=February 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222001647/https://www.nbcboston.com/news/coronavirus/gillette-stadium-marks-special-vaccination-milestone/2304364/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=wcvb staff |title=Final shots administered at mass COVID-19 vaccination site at Gillette Stadium |url=https://www.wcvb.com/article/final-shots-to-be-administered-at-mass-covid-19-vaccination-site-at-gillette-stadium/36713030 |website=wcvb.com |access-date=August 12, 2021 |date=June 14, 2021 |archive-date=August 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812042407/https://www.wcvb.com/article/final-shots-to-be-administered-at-mass-covid-19-vaccination-site-at-gillette-stadium/36713030 |url-status=live }}

Marking the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, a memorial garden was installed outside Gillette Stadium. It has a semicircle of six flowering trees, a commemorative plaque, a mural, and tribute stones with the names of the victims.{{cite web |url=https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/kraft-family-others-dedicate-9-11-memorial-garden-outside-gillette-stadium-in-foxboro/article_b3f57ed0-d672-5122-a958-fd0bc5e12ce0.html |title=Kraft family, others dedicate 9/11 memorial garden outside Gillette Stadium in Foxboro |last=Peterson |first=Stephen |date=September 9, 2021 |website=thesunchronicle.com |publisher=The Sun Chronicle |access-date=September 10, 2021 |archive-date=September 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910155652/https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/kraft-family-others-dedicate-9-11-memorial-garden-outside-gillette-stadium-in-foxboro/article_b3f57ed0-d672-5122-a958-fd0bc5e12ce0.html |url-status=live }}

File:Gillette Stadium video board 2023 Army-Navy Game 231209-N-QE848-1226 (53393505303) (cropped).jpg

On December 10, 2021, a $225 million renovation project was announced. Construction began in January 2022 and was completed in September 2023. The renovations included a new 22,000-square-foot outdoor video board installed at the north end, the largest video board of its kind in the United States.{{Cite web |last=Reed |first=Matt |date=September 10, 2023 |title=Massive video screen, 22-story lighthouse just some of the dramatic improvements at Gillette |url=https://www.wcvb.com/article/gillette-stadium-new-video-screen-is-largest-of-any-sports-venue-in-country/45067955 |access-date=February 22, 2025 |website=WCVB |language=en}} A new lighthouse, which reaches 218 feet at the top, provides 360-degree views of the stadium, Patriot Place, Foxborough, and beyond.{{cite web |title=The Tallest Lighthouse in America is Now at Gillette Stadium |url=https://wokq.com/the-tallest-lighthouse-in-america-is-now-at-gillette-stadium/ |access-date=January 11, 2025 |date=October 2, 2023 |publisher=WOKQ |last=Sherwood |first=Logan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241221021754/https://wokq.com/the-tallest-lighthouse-in-america-is-now-at-gillette-stadium/ |archive-date=December 21, 2024}} 75,000 square feet of hospitality and function spaces were constructed to connect the East and West Putnam Clubs, the Dell Technology Suite Levels, and the upper concourse. The construction of these new spaces connected all levels 360 degrees. A new plaza and fan entrance were also built on the stadium's north end.{{cite web |last1=Fiske |first1=Angelique |title=Gillette Stadium set for major renovation |url=https://www.patriots.com/news/gillette-stadium-set-for-major-renovation |website=patriots.com |access-date=May 6, 2022 |date=December 10, 2021 |archive-date=May 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521062902/http://www.patriots.com/news/gillette-stadium-set-for-major-renovation |url-status=live }}

File:Gillette Stadium01.jpg area in 2007]]

The venue has hosted the NFL's nationally–televised primetime season-opening games in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2015, 2017, and 2019 (when the Patriots unveiled their championship banners from Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI, and LIII.) The first ever NFL game at the stadium was held on September 9, 2002, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a 30–14 Patriots victory. The stadium's first playoff game was held the next year following the 2003 regular season. Playing in the Divisional Round against the Tennessee Titans, the Patriots hosted the coldest game ({{convert|4|F-change|0}}, {{convert|−12|F-change|0}} wind chill) in New England Patriots history. The Patriots won 17–14. The stadium also played host to the 2003 AFC Championship Game, in which the Patriots defeated the Indianapolis Colts 24–14.{{cite news|url=http://www.patriots.com/history/index.cfm?ac=History |title=New England Patriots History |work=Patriots.com |access-date=August 4, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519121830/http://www.patriots.com/history/index.cfm?ac=History |archive-date=May 19, 2011 }}

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The Patriots won the first seven playoff games held at the stadium between the 2003 and 2007 seasons, including the 2007 AFC Championship Game, where they beat the San Diego Chargers to improve to 18–0 and advance to Super Bowl XLII. On January 10, 2010, the Baltimore Ravens beat the Patriots 33–14, giving the Patriots their first home loss in the playoffs in Gillette Stadium. The Patriots suffered their second consecutive home playoff loss on January 16, 2011, in a 28–21 New York Jets victory. During the 2011–12 NFL playoffs, the Patriots defeated the Denver Broncos, 45–10, and the stadium hosted its third AFC Championship, where they won against the Baltimore Ravens, 23–20. However, the New York Giants ruined the Patriots' season by beating them in the Super Bowl for the second time. The following year, they again hosted the AFC Championship game, where they lost 28–13 to the Baltimore Ravens in the final game for long-term Patriots radio announcer Gil Santos. During the Divisional Round of the 2014–15 NFL playoffs, the Patriots avenged their 2012 defeat by the Baltimore Ravens by beating them 35–31. The following week, they defeated the Indianapolis Colts 45–7 in the 2014 AFC Championship. The stadium hosted its sixth AFC Championship game during the 2016 playoffs, as the Patriots defeated

the Pittsburgh Steelers 36–17. The seventh AFC Championship hosted at Gillette Stadium came the next year, when the Patriots knocked off the Jacksonville Jaguars by a score of 24–20. In the 2018 season, Gillette Stadium hosted a Divisional Round game, as the Patriots knocked off the Los Angeles Chargers by a score of 41–28 on the way to winning Super Bowl LIII. In Tom Brady's final game as a Patriot, they were upset by the Tennessee Titans in the First Round of the 2019 playoffs with a loss of 20–13. Entering the 2023 season, the Patriots had an all-time playoff record of 19–4 at the stadium.

As part of the UMass football program's move to Division I FBS, the Minutemen played all of their home games at Gillette Stadium for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. The stadium is 95 miles away from the UMass campus in Amherst—the longest trip of any FBS member. The Minutemen's on-campus stadium, Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium, was not suitable for FBS football in its previous configuration. Its small size (17,000 seats) would have made it prohibitively difficult to meet FBS average attendance requirements, and its press box and replay facilities were well below Mid-American Conference standards. Additionally, several nonconference teams would not even consider playing games in Amherst. McGuirk Stadium was renovated to FBS standards for the 2014 season, but the Minutemen's current deal with the Kraft Group calls for the Minutemen to play four of their home games in Foxborough from 2014 to 2016 in exchange for keeping part of the revenue from ticket sales.{{cite news |url=http://www.gazettenet.com/2011/04/21/import-no-headline-0 |title=Gillette Stadium new home for UMass football beginning in 2012 |last=Vautour |first=Matt |date=April 21, 2011 |work=Daily Hampshire Gazette |access-date=September 15, 2012 |archive-date=March 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318101335/http://www.gazettenet.com/2011/04/21/import-no-headline-0 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://www.masslive.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/04/umass_football_could_play_on_c.html |title=UMass football could play on campus again, but not before 2014 |first=Ron |last=Chimells |work=The Republican |location=Springfield, Massachusetts |date=April 23, 2011 |access-date=October 20, 2011 |archive-date=May 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515140745/http://www.masslive.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/04/umass_football_could_play_on_c.html |url-status=live }} Moving forward, Gillette continued to host UMass football for games of anticipated larger attendance.

In 2023, Gillette Stadium was used as a neutral site for the Army–Navy Game.{{cite news|last=Moroney|first=John|url=https://www.nbcboston.com/news/sports/mass-gets-ready-for-army-navy-game-at-gillette-stadium/3205088/|title=Mass. gets ready for Army-Navy Game at Gillette Stadium|publisher=NBC10 Boston|date=November 29, 2023|access-date=November 12, 2024}} Navy will also play their rivalry game with Notre Dame in Foxborough in 2026.{{cite news|last=Jeyarajah|first=Shehan|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/notre-dame-vs-navy-will-head-to-gillette-stadium-in-2026-season-for-99th-edition-of-rivalry-game/|title=Notre Dame vs. Navy will head to Gillette Stadium in 2026 season for 99th edition of rivalry game|website=CBSSports.com|publisher=CBS Sports|date=November 12, 2024|access-date=November 12, 2024}}

Gillette Stadium also hosted the eighth edition of the NHL Winter Classic, between the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens, on January 1, 2016.{{cite web|url=http://bruins.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=103602|title=Bruins To Host Montreal Canadiens At Gillette Stadium For The 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic|publisher=Boston Bruins|access-date=January 26, 2015|archive-date=January 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127065344/http://bruins.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=103602|url-status=dead}}

Memorable Major League Soccer playoff victories include wins over the Chicago Fire in the 2005 and 2007 Eastern Conference Final, sending the Revs to the MLS Cup. Additionally, the venue hosted MLS Cup 2002, four games of the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, and some Copa America Centenario matches in 2016.

The crowd of 61,316 drawn to the 2002 MLS Cup Final was the largest stand-alone MLS post-season crowd on record until the 2018 MLS Cup in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/12/08/2018-mls-cup-atlanta-shatters-previous-mls-cup-attendance-record |title=2018 MLS Cup in Atlanta shatters previous MLS Cup attendance record |website=www.mlssoccer.com |access-date=January 15, 2019 |archive-date=January 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117073220/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/12/08/2018-mls-cup-atlanta-shatters-previous-mls-cup-attendance-record |url-status=live }} The stadium's soccer attendance record would once again be broken on April 27, 2024, during a regular season match between the Revolution and Inter Miami CF, who had signed Lionel Messi the year prior; 65,612 would watch the Revolution fall 1–4.[https://www.revolutionsoccer.net/news/recap-record-crowd-of-65-612-fills-gillette-stadium-but-revs-suffer-4-1-loss-to-inter-miami-cf Record crowd of 65,612 fills Gillette Stadium, but Revs suffer 4-1 loss to Inter Miami CF] on Revolutionsoccer.net

Gillette Stadium will host seven matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup: five group stage, one Round of 32, and one quarterfinal.{{cite news |last=Bushnell |first=Henry |date=February 4, 2024 |title=2026 World Cup schedule reveal: FIFA picks New York for final, Mexico for opener, West Coast for USMNT |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/world-cup-schedule-2026-final-opener-locations-205256134.html |work=Yahoo Sports |accessdate=February 4, 2024 |archive-date=February 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240205052445/https://sports.yahoo.com/world-cup-schedule-2026-final-opener-locations-205256134.html |url-status=live }} It is one of eleven US venues selected to host matches during the tournament. During the event, the stadium will be temporarily renamed to "Boston Stadium" in accordance with FIFA's policy on corporate sponsored names.{{cite web |title=The FIFA World Cup 2026™ stadiums |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/world-cup-2026-stadiums-fifa-soccer-football-mexico-usa-canada |publisher=FIFA |accessdate=March 16, 2023 |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315165558/https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/world-cup-2026-stadiums-fifa-soccer-football-mexico-usa-canada |url-status=live }}

Gillette Stadium hosted the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships in 2008, 2009, 2012, 2017, and 2018 and was the home of the Boston Cannons for the 2015 season.

On February 15, 2019, the Premier Lacrosse League announced that Boston would be the first city on the schedule for the 2019 season.{{Cite web|url=https://premierlacrosseleague.com/events/boston/|title=Boston Weekend|website=Premier Lacrosse League|language=en-US|access-date=April 18, 2020|archive-date=September 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923022344/https://premierlacrosseleague.com/events/boston/|url-status=live}} It was also announced that Gillette Stadium would be the venue to host the league on June 1 and 2. The PLL was planning on returning to Gillette for the 2020 season, but the COVID-19 pandemic put the season on pause and the league scrapped their 2020 schedule.

On June 2, 2019, Gillette will host a handful of games for the Women's Professional Lacrosse League to start their 2019 season.{{Cite web|url=https://user.sportngin.com/users/sign_in?user_return_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.prowomenslax.com%2Fgameschedule|title=SportsEngine {{!}} Sign In Step 1|website=user.sportngin.com|access-date=April 18, 2020|archive-date=September 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927104308/https://user.sportngin.com/users/sign_in?user_return_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.prowomenslax.com%2Fgameschedule|url-status=live}}

The AMA Supercross Championship has been racing at Gillette Stadium since 2016.{{Citation needed|date=January 2016}}

Monster Jam has been coming to the stadium since 2014.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}

A Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for former quarterback Tom Brady was hosted at Gillette Stadium on June 12, 2024.

On November 14, 2006, two days after a rainstorm contributed to the deterioration of the grass surface in a Patriots game against the Jets, team management decided to replace the natural grass surface with a synthetic surface, FieldTurf. Normally, NFL rules insist that such work could only be done during the off-season; however, the grass field was in such poor condition, the league agreed to waive the rule. The entire job was done during a two-week road trip, with three shifts working around the clock. The Patriots' first game on the surface was a victory over the previously 9–1 Chicago Bears on November 26. Brady and his teammates commended the much-improved surface. At the conclusion of the 2007 season, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had a career record of 31–3 on artificial turf. The team lost a preseason matchup in August 2007 to the Tennessee Titans on the new FieldTurf but otherwise won its first eleven regular-season and playoff games on the surface covering the period of November 2006 until September 2008, when the Patriots lost to the Miami Dolphins.

In February 2010, the surface was pulled and upgraded to FieldTurf "Duraspine Pro", which was expected to meet FIFA standards that the previous turf did not, preventing the team from having to place sod on top of their turf to host international soccer matches.{{cite news|title=Patriots Putting in New Field at Gillette|first=Albert|last=Breer|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extra_points/2010/02/patriots_puttin.html|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=February 22, 2010|access-date=June 14, 2010|archive-date=February 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100226133820/http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extra_points/2010/02/patriots_puttin.html|url-status=live}}

The surface was upgraded again in April 2014 to FieldTurf "Revolution" with "VersaTile" drainage system. The FieldTurf Revolution product is currently used at many venues across North America, including Lumen Field (home to the NFL's Seattle Seahawks and MLS's Seattle Sounders) and Providence Park, home of the MLS's Portland Timbers, where its installation was recently completed.{{cite web|url=http://www.patriots.com/news/article-1/Gillette-Stadium-upgrading-field-surface/947114ad-9640-4dfc-9bb5-92faca964832|title=Gillette Stadium upgrading field surface|date=March 24, 2014|access-date=June 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111070301/http://www.patriots.com/news/article-1/Gillette-Stadium-upgrading-field-surface/947114ad-9640-4dfc-9bb5-92faca964832|archive-date=January 11, 2015|url-status=dead}}

When the field is configured for American football, the Patriots have their "Flying Elvis" logo (or "Pat Patriot" if they are wearing throwback uniforms) painted on the field at dead center of the 50-yard line. Prior to the 2022 season, the Gillette Stadium logo was painted on the field. This is a gray-and-blue stylized representation of the bridge and tower at the north entrance of the stadium. This logo was redone in time for the 2023 renovation project, but is no longer present on the field.

File:Solar cell panels on roof Gillette Stadium 2010.jpg

{{Main|Patriot Place}}

In 2006, the Patriots and Kraft announced plans to build a "super regional lifestyle and entertainment center" in the area around Gillette Stadium named Patriot Place.{{cite news|title=New Role for Krafts: Developers|first=Steve|last=Bailey|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2006/01/25/new_role_for_krafts_developers/|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=January 25, 2006|access-date=July 8, 2009|archive-date=October 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023210438/http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2006/01/25/new_role_for_krafts_developers/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.patriots.com/stadium/index.cfm?ac=stadiumnewsdetail&pid=18991&pcid=42 |title=Gillette Stadium: New for 2006 |work=Patriots.com |date=April 2, 2006 |access-date=July 8, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806113147/http://www.patriots.com/stadium/index.cfm?ac=stadiumnewsdetail&pid=18991&pcid=42 |archive-date=August 6, 2007 }} The cost of the project was $350 million, more than the cost to build Gillette Stadium itself; Kraft had purchased much of the surrounding land, about {{convert|700|acre}}, when he bought Foxboro Stadium in the late 1980s.{{cite news|title=Krafts Building a $350m Patriot Place Complex, And A Legacy|first=Jenn|last=Abelson|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/05/20/krafts_building_a_350m_patriot_place_complex_and_a_legacy/|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=May 20, 2007|access-date=July 8, 2009|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065802/http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/05/20/krafts_building_a_350m_patriot_place_complex_and_a_legacy/|url-status=live}}

The first phase of the project opened in fall of 2007,{{cite web|url=http://wbztv.com/local/Bass.pro.Shops.2.605159.html |title=Bass Pro Shop Opens In Patriot Place |work=WBZ-TV |date=November 15, 2007 |access-date=July 8, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080103163749/http://wbztv.com/local/Bass.pro.Shops.2.605159.html |archive-date=January 3, 2008 }} and featured the first Bass Pro Shops in New England, as well as Circuit City (now closed), Bed Bath & Beyond, Five Guys Burgers, Christmas Tree Shops, and Staples. In December 2007, the Patriots and CBS announced plans to build a themed restaurant and nightclub, named "CBS Scene", at the site, which would also include studios for CBS-owned WBZ-TV.{{cite web|url=http://wbztv.com/sports/Patriot.Place.Foxboro.2.607023.html |title=CBS Sports Bar & Restaurant Coming To Foxboro |work=WBZ-TV |date=December 9, 2007 |access-date=July 8, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019234553/http://wbztv.com/sports/Patriot.Place.Foxboro.2.607023.html |archive-date=October 19, 2008 }} The restaurant was part of the second phase of the project, which included an open mall, a health center, a Cinema de Lux movie theater, a four-star Renaissance hotel, and "The Hall at Patriot Place". Attached to Gillette Stadium, the Hall includes a two-level interactive museum honoring the Patriots accomplishments and Super Bowl championships, plus the Patriots Pro Shop.{{cite news|title=Patriots Museum Will Have Pizzazz|first=Keith|last=Reed|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/05/20/patriots_museum_will_have_pizzazz/|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=May 20, 2007|access-date=July 8, 2009|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303201259/http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/05/20/patriots_museum_will_have_pizzazz/|url-status=live}} The first restaurants and stores in phase two began opening in July 2008, and were followed by the openings of the Hall at Patriot Place and the CBS Scene in time for the beginning of the 2008 New England Patriots season. More locations, including the health center and hotel, opened in 2009, along with additional sites in phase one.

{{wide image|Gillette Stadium1.jpg|1250px|Panorama of Gillette Stadium, taken from the south end, in 2007. Many renovations have been made since.}}

• List of American football stadiums by capacity
• List of current NFL stadiums
• Lists of stadiums

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book|title=The Rock, the Curse, and the Hub|last=Roberts|first=Randy|year=2005|publisher=Harvard University Press|location=Cambridge, Massachusetts|isbn=978-0-674-01504-3|url=https://archive.org/details/rockcurse00robe}}
• {{cite book|title=Boston's Ballparks & Arenas|last=Foulds|first=Alan E.|year=2005|publisher=University Press of New England|isbn=978-1-58465-409-4|url=https://archive.org/details/bostonsballparks00foul}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{official website}}
• [http://www.patriot-place.com/ Official Patriot Place Website]

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{{succession box

| title = Home of the
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| years = 2002 – present

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