Gillette Stadium facts for kids
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Gillette Stadium in 2007
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 Gillette Stadium
Location in Massachusetts
Gillette Stadium
Location in the United States
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| Former names | CMGI Field (May 11 – August 4, 2002) |
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| Address | 1 Patriot Place |
| Location | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| Coordinates | 42°05′28″N 71°15′50″W / 42.091°N 71.264°W |
| Public transit |  Franklin Line Providence/Stoughton Line at Foxboro (regular service for Franklin/Foxboro Line, game days only for Providence Line) |
| Owner | Kraft Group |
| Operator | Kraft Group |
| Executive suites | 82 |
| Capacity | American football: 64,628 (2023–present) 65,878 (2015–2023) 68,756 (2002–2014) Soccer: 20,000 (expandable) |
| Record attendance | 71,723 (concert; Ed Sheeran, July 1, 2023) |
| Field size | American football: 120 yd × 53 1/3 yd Soccer: 116 yd × 75 yd |
| Surface | FieldTurf (2006–present) Grass (2002–2006) |
| Scoreboard | Daktronics |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | March 24, 2000 |
| Opened | May 11, 2002 |
| Renovated | 2023 |
| Construction cost | $325 million ($529 million in 2022 ) |
| Architect | HOK Sport (now Populous) |
| Project manager | Barton Malow |
| Structural engineer | Bliss and Nyitray, Inc. |
| Services engineer | Vanderweil Engineers |
| General contractor | Skanska |
| Tenants | |
| New England Patriots (NFL) (2002–present) New England Revolution (MLS) (2002–present) Boston Legacy FC (NWSL) (2026) Massachusetts Minutemen (NCAA) (2012–2016, 2018) Boston Cannons (MLL/PLL) (2015–2020, 2024–present) New England Revolution II (MLSNP) (2020–present) |
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Gillette Stadium is a large sports venue in Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA. It's about 22 miles (35 km) southwest of Downtown Boston. This stadium is the home field for two major sports teams: the New England Patriots (an NFL football team) and the New England Revolution (a MLS soccer team).
The stadium opened in 2002, taking the place of the older Foxboro Stadium. It can hold 64,628 fans, including special club seats and luxury suites. For a short time, it was also called CMGI Field. However, Gillette bought the naming rights, and the stadium has kept that name ever since.
Gillette Stadium is owned and run by the Kraft Sports Group, which also owns the Patriots and Revolution teams. It's a very popular place, with the Patriots selling out every home game since the stadium opened. The stadium is also getting ready to host several matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. During that tournament, it will be known as "Boston Stadium" because of FIFA's rules about stadium names.
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Stadium History
From Old to New: Foxboro Stadium
Before Gillette Stadium, the New England Patriots played at Foxboro Stadium from 1971 to 2001. This old stadium was built with a very small budget. It didn't have many comforts for fans. For example, its aluminum benches would get freezing cold during winter games. The parking lot was just dirt and turned into mud when it rained.
The old stadium was also one of the smallest in the NFL, with just over 60,000 seats. It wasn't making enough money to keep a professional football team in New England. Because of these problems, everyone knew a new stadium was needed for the team to stay in the area.
Building a New Home: Gillette Stadium Design
After looking at many different places, the team decided to build a new stadium in Foxborough. The owner, Robert Kraft, paid for the entire $325 million cost himself. This is quite rare for an NFL stadium!
The new stadium was designed by a company called HOK Sport (now Populous). Robert Kraft wanted it to have a special "front door" entrance, like a theme park. The designers created a unique entrance with a lighthouse and a bridge. These features are now even part of the stadium's official logo.
Over the years, the stadium has been updated. In 2010, it got two huge HD video screens, which were some of the biggest in the NFL at the time.
2023 Stadium Upgrades
In 2021, a big renovation project was announced for Gillette Stadium. This $225 million upgrade finished in September 2023. It brought many exciting changes:
- A massive 22,000-square-foot outdoor video board was added at the north end. It's the largest of its kind in the United States.
- A new lighthouse was built, reaching 218 feet high. It offers amazing 360-degree views of the stadium and the surrounding area.
- New spaces were created to connect different parts of the stadium. This means fans can now walk all the way around on every level.
- A new plaza and entrance for fans were also built at the north end.
Exciting Events at Gillette Stadium
Gillette Stadium hosts many different kinds of events, from thrilling football games to huge concerts.
NFL Football Games
The New England Patriots play all their home games here. The stadium has seen many important NFL moments, including:
- The very first NFL game at Gillette Stadium was on September 9, 2002. The Patriots won 30–14 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- It has hosted many playoff games, including several AFC Championship Games.
- The Patriots have a great record at home in the playoffs, winning many important games.
- In 2024, a special Hall of Fame ceremony was held for legendary quarterback Tom Brady. Over 60,000 fans came to celebrate his career.
College Sports
Gillette Stadium also hosts college football games. The UMass Minutemen football team played many of their home games here from 2012 to 2018. This was because their campus stadium was being renovated and wasn't big enough for top-level college football.
In 2023, the stadium hosted the famous Army–Navy Game, a big rivalry in college football.
Ice Hockey Matches
The stadium has even been turned into an ice rink for hockey! In 2016, it hosted the NHL Winter Classic, a special outdoor game between the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens.
Soccer Matches
As the home of the New England Revolution, Gillette Stadium sees a lot of soccer action.
- It hosted the MLS Cup 2002 final.
- It was one of the venues for the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup.
- In 2016, it hosted several matches for the Copa América Centenario.
- In April 2024, a record 65,612 fans came to watch the Revolution play Inter Miami CF.
2026 FIFA World Cup
Gillette Stadium is one of the stadiums chosen to host matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It will host seven games: five group stage matches, one Round of 32 game, and one quarterfinal. For this big international event, the stadium will be called "Boston Stadium."
| Date | Time (UTC−4) | Team #1 | Res. | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
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| June 13, 2026 | --:-- | TBD | – | TBD | Group C | |
| June 16, 2026 | --:-- | TBD | – | TBD | Group I | |
| June 19, 2026 | --:-- | TBD | – | TBD | Group C | |
| June 23, 2026 | --:-- | TBD | – | TBD | Group L | |
| June 26, 2026 | --:-- | TBD | – | TBD | Group I | |
| June 29, 2026 | --:-- | Winner Group E | – | 3rd Group A/B/C/D/F | Round of 32 | |
| July 9, 2026 | --:-- | Winner Match 89 | – | Winner Match 90 | Quarter-finals |
Lacrosse Tournaments
Lacrosse is another sport that often takes over Gillette Stadium.
- It has hosted the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship several times.
- The Boston Cannons professional lacrosse team also played some of their home games here.
- The Premier Lacrosse League has held many games at the stadium since 2019.
Concerts and Shows
Many famous music artists have performed at Gillette Stadium. It's a popular spot for big concerts and tours.
- Artists like Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé, and The Rolling Stones have all played here.
- Taylor Swift was the first woman to headline the stadium in 2010. She also became the first woman to headline three shows in a row in 2018.
- Jay-Z was the first rapper to headline the stadium in 2014.
- The stadium has set attendance records for concerts, including Ed Sheeran's show on July 1, 2023, which had 71,723 people.
Other Fun Events
Besides sports and concerts, Gillette Stadium hosts other exciting events:
- The AMA Supercross Championship brings dirt bike racing to the stadium.
- Monster Jam features huge monster trucks performing stunts.
- Bridgewater State University holds its graduation ceremonies at the stadium each year.
Playing Surface
When Gillette Stadium first opened, it had a natural grass field. However, after a heavy rainstorm in 2006 made the grass very muddy, the team decided to switch to an artificial turf surface called FieldTurf. This change was made quickly during a two-week road trip.
The artificial turf has been upgraded several times to improve playability and meet international standards for soccer. The current surface is FieldTurf "Revolution."
Field Logo
For American football games, the New England Patriots' "Flying Elvis" logo is painted at the center of the 50-yard line. Before the 2022 season, the Gillette Stadium logo was also painted on the field. This logo showed the lighthouse and bridge from the stadium's north entrance.
Patriot Place
Right next to Gillette Stadium is a large shopping and entertainment area called Patriot Place. This area was built by the Kraft Group, the same owners as the stadium and teams. It cost $350 million to build, which was even more than the stadium itself!
Patriot Place opened in phases starting in 2007. It includes:
- Many stores like Bass Pro Shops and Christmas Tree Shops.
- Restaurants, including Five Guys Burgers.
- A Cinema de Lux movie theater.
- A hotel and a health center.
- The Patriots Hall of Fame, which is an interactive museum celebrating the team's history and championships.
Patriot Place makes visiting Gillette Stadium a full experience, with places to shop, eat, and have fun before or after an event.
Images for kids
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End zone club under construction, summer 2015.
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Field view, circa 2007.
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Video board completed in 2023
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The statue of Tom Brady, displayed in front of Gillette Stadium
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Panorama of Gillette Stadium, taken from the south end, in 2007. Many renovations have been made since.
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See also
In Spanish: Gillette Stadium para niños
- List of current NFL stadiums
- Statue of Tom Brady
