Building Gillette Stadium allowed Boston to retain their football team. Previously, all Patriot home games were played at Foxboro Stadium. The facility offered few amenities and was considered one of the smallest sports venues in the National Football League. Other New England cities, including Hartford and Providence, considered building new stadiums to attract the Patriots football team. After some failed attempts, plans for the new stadium were presented in 2000.
HOK Sport, now known as Populous, designed Gillette Stadium. The venue seats 68,756 people. A lighthouse stands near the front entrance, designed to resemble a large front door. As of 2006, games have been played on artificial turf. A total of 2 clubhouses standing 3 stories high and 86 suites accommodate an additional 9,356 fans.
Clubhouse members have year-round access to the area. View games from the clubhouse or from V.I.P stadium seating. Suites accommodate between 16 and 70 people. Suites have sliding windows that allow occupants to bring the feel of the stadium indoors. Stadium parking holds up to 16,500 vehicles in a brightly lit and well-secured lot.
Gillette Stadium has 46 permanent concession stands. A total of 500 retailers are located within the stadium. Purchase team gear at the 7,200 square foot Patriots Pro Shop. Never miss a minute of the game with two high definition television screens placed over each end zone. An advanced audio system equipped with 2,000 sound sources produce rich, clear tones. A total of nine Bank of America automated teller machines are located in or near the stadium.
The stadium participates in fundraising activities with non-profit groups. Purchase tickets for events at Gillette Stadium at the ticket window Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Pay for tickets to Patriot games using cash or credit / debit cards with a Visa logo. Most major credit cards or cash are accepted as payment for all other stadium events.
Tours of Gillette Stadium are not available to the general public. Contact the venue for information on booking a private function. The stadium hosts weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, business meetings- even outdoor clam bakes. Arrange to meet current and former Patriots team members during the event.
Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, is the home to a number of professional and college-level sports teams, including the NFL's New England Patriots and the MLS's New England Revolution. Football, soccer, and even the odd hockey game are played in this new, state-of-the-art sports stadium.
After 30 years of playing all of their home games in Foxboro Stadium, the New England Patriots decided it was time to move. Foxboro was one of the smallest stadiums in the NFL; it had few amenities, its benches would freeze over in the cold weather, and it was simply not bringing in enough profit to keep the Patriots in New England. On March 24th, 2000, construction for a new, more modern stadium, Gillette Stadium, began. The stadium was privately funded by businessman and Patriots/Revolution owner Robert Craft, behind the Kraft Sports Group. The new stadium cost 325 million dollars. 2 years later, on September 9th, 2002, the stadium made its grand debut as the Patriots defeated the Pittsburg Stealers on Monday Night Football. It now serves as the home field for the New England Patriots, the New England Revolution, the MLL's Boston Cannons, and the University of Massachusetts's Minutemen football team. In addition, it hosts the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association's high school football super bowl, and will host the 2016 NHL Winter Classic ice hockey game.
Gillette Stadium is owned and operated by the Kraft Sports Group. The official seating capacity for the stadium is 68,756 fans for football games (including 6,000 club suites, 86 luxury suites, and 2 super suit) and 20,000 fans for soccer games.