Gillette Stadium

Gillette Stadium
Gillette Stadium in 2007
Gillette Stadium is located in Massachusetts
Gillette Stadium
Gillette Stadium
Location in Massachusetts
Gillette Stadium is located in the United States
Gillette Stadium
Gillette Stadium
Location in the United States
Former namesCMGI Field (May 11–August 4, 2002)
Address1 Patriot Place
LocationFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
Coordinates42°05′28″N 71°15′50″W / 42.091°N 71.264°W / 42.091; -71.264
Public transit  Franklin/Foxboro 
 Providence/Stoughton Line  at Foxboro (regular service for Franklin/Foxboro Line, game days only for Providence Line)
OwnerKraft Group
OperatorKraft Group
Executive suites82
CapacityAmerican football:
64,628 (2023–present)[1]
65,878 (2015–2023)
68,756 (2002–2014)
Soccer:
20,000 (expandable)[2]
Record attendance71,723 (concert; Ed Sheeran, July 1, 2023)
Field sizeAmerican football:
120 yd × 53 1/3 yd[3]
Soccer: 116 yd × 75 yd
SurfaceFieldTurf (2006–present)
Grass (2002–2006)
Construction
Broke groundMarch 24, 2000 (2000-03-24)
OpenedMay 11, 2002 (2002-05-11)
Renovated2023 (2023)
Construction cost$325 million
($551 million in 2023[4])
ArchitectHOK Sport (now Populous)
Project managerBarton Malow[5]
Structural engineerBliss and Nyitray, Inc.
Services engineerVanderweil Engineers[6]
General contractorSkanska[5]
Tenants
New England Patriots (NFL) (2002–present)
New England Revolution (MLS) (2002–present)
Massachusetts Minutemen (NCAA) (2012–2016, 2018)
Boston Cannons (MLL/PLL) (2015, 2024–future)
New England Revolution II (MLS Next Pro) (2020–present)
Website
gillettestadium.com

Gillette Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States. The stadium is 22 miles (35 km)[7][8] southwest of downtown Boston, Massachusetts and 18 miles (29 km) northeast of Providence, Rhode Island. It serves as the home stadium and administrative offices for both the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL) and the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer (MLS). It opened in 2002, replacing the adjacent Foxboro Stadium.[9][10] It also served as the home venue for the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Minutemen football team in 2012 and 2013, while on-campus Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium underwent renovations; it continued to serve as a part-time home venue for higher attendance UMass games through 2018. Gillette Stadium's seating capacity is 64,628, including 5,876 club seats and 82 luxury suites.

The town of Foxborough approved plans for the stadium's construction on December 6, 1999, and work on the stadium began on March 24, 2000.[11] The first official event at the stadium was an MLS soccer game on May 11, 2002, where the New England Revolution defeated Dallas Burn, 2–0.[9][12] Jeremiah Freed was the opening band at the WBCN River Rave on June 9, making them the first band to play at the stadium.[13] Grand opening ceremonies were held on September 9, when the Patriots unveiled their Super Bowl XXXVI championship banner before a Monday Night Football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.[14] The stadium was originally known as CMGI Field before the naming rights were bought by Gillette after the "dot-com" bust.[15] Although Gillette was acquired by Procter & Gamble in 2005, the stadium retains the Gillette name. In September 2010, Gillette and the Patriots announced that their partnership, which includes naming rights to the stadium, would extend through the 2031 season.[16] Additionally, uBid (a wholly owned subsidiary of CMGI until 2003) continued to sponsor one of the main entrance gates to the stadium.[17]

Gillette Stadium is served by special MBTA Commuter Rail service from Boston and Providence during events, plus regular weekday service via the Franklin/Foxboro Line, at Foxboro station. The Patriots have sold out every home game since moving to the stadium—preseason, regular season, and playoffs. This streak dates back to the 1994 season at Foxboro Stadium;[18] by September 2016, it had reached 231 games.[18] The stadium is owned and operated by Kraft Sports Group, a subsidiary of the Kraft Group, the company through which businessman Robert Kraft owns the Patriots and Revolution.[19]

The stadium is set to host several matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Due to FIFA rules regarding stadium sponsorships, Gillette will be known as Boston Stadium for the tournament, in reference to the Greater Boston area the stadium sits on.[20][21][22]

  1. ^ "Stadium Overview - Gillette Stadium". Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Gillette Stadium Overview". revolutionsoccer.net. 8 March 2012. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  3. ^ "National Football League Rules Digest". NFL. Archived from the original on 24 February 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  4. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  5. ^ a b "CMGI Field". SportsBusiness Journal. 20 May 2002. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  6. ^ "Vanderweil Engineers". Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  7. ^ "Foxborough, MA | Gillette Stadium, City Info | Greater Boston". Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Foxborough, Massachusetts - City Information, Fast Facts, Schools, Colleges, and More". citytowninfo.com. Archived from the original on 10 May 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  9. ^ a b Ulman, Howard (12 May 2002). "Foxboro's new stadium opens with soccer game". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. p. 6D. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  10. ^ "Stadium Information". New England Patriots/Gillette Stadium. Archived from the original on 28 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
  11. ^ Vaillancourt, Meg (7 December 1999). "Foxborough Ok's Patriots Stadium". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  12. ^ "Gillette Stadium". New England Revolution. Archived from the original on 8 November 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2008.
  13. ^ "WBCN River Rave 2002 Setlists". setlist.fm. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  14. ^ Pedulla, Tom (6 September 2002). "New Stadium is Champion Pats' Crowning Jewel". USA Today. Retrieved 11 October 2008.
  15. ^ "CMGI Field is now Gillette Stadium". CNN.com. 5 August 2002. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2008.
  16. ^ "Gillette naming rights extended". ESPN Boston. 21 September 2010. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  17. ^ "CMGI and New England Patriots Agree to Revise Sponsorship Agreement". Business Wire. 5 August 2002. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2008.
  18. ^ a b "Game Notes: Patriots improve to 3-0 in Thursday Night Kickoff games". Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  19. ^ "Gillette Stadium Quick Facts". New England Patriots/Gillette Stadium. Archived from the original on 28 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
  20. ^ "Boston Selected to Host FIFA World Cup 2026". Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  21. ^ "FIFA unveils stellar line-up of FIFA World Cup 2026™ Host Cities". FIFA. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  22. ^ "The FIFA World Cup 26™ stadiums". FIFA. 27 September 2023. Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.