Gillette Stadium

Gillette Stadium opened on May 11, 2002, replacing the adjacent and aging Foxboro Stadium. It was originally to be called CMGI Field, but after the dot-com crash the naming rights were sold to Gillette, the Boston-based razor company.

The dynasty era

The stadium's history is inseparable from one of the greatest runs in sports. Under quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots dominated the NFL for two decades, reaching nine Super Bowls and winning six championships. Gillette Stadium became a fortress where the Brady–Belichick dynasty was forged, hosting countless playoff classics before frigid New England crowds.

Toward 2026

In 2023, a $225 million modernization transformed the north end with a towering new lighthouse and a record-setting video board. The stadium was then selected as a host for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where it will stage seven matches — five group-stage games, one Round of 32, and one quarterfinal. For the tournament it will be temporarily renamed "Boston Stadium" under FIFA sponsorship rules.

Game day at Gillette Stadium is a quintessential New England experience, shaped as much by the weather as by the football. With kickoffs running deep into the autumn and winter, fans bundle against the cold, and the home crowd's resilience has become part of the Patriots' identity.

The lighthouse and the chill

The illuminated lighthouse towering over the north end is the stadium's beacon and emotional center, lit up on game nights and visible across Foxborough. Frigid December and January playoff games — snow swirling under the lights — are part of local lore, with the harsh conditions long seen as a home-field advantage for the Patriots.

Tailgating tradition

The surrounding Patriot Place complex of shops and restaurants gives the matchday a festive, all-day rhythm. Hours before kickoff, the parking lots fill with tailgaters, grills and team colors, building to the roar of a packed house. The record crowd of 71,723 came not for football but for an Ed Sheeran concert in July 2023, underscoring the venue's reach beyond sport.

Gillette Stadium sits beside Route 1 in Foxborough, midway between Boston and Providence, and is surrounded by the Patriot Place dining and shopping district. Because it is not in a major city center, planning your travel in advance is essential, especially on event days.

How to get there

• By train: The MBTA Commuter Rail runs special event trains to the on-site Foxboro station from Boston (South Station) and Providence on game and concert days — the easiest way to avoid traffic.
• By car: Take Route 1 to the stadium; extensive but heavily used parking lots open hours before events, so arrive early.
• Tickets: Buy Patriots (NFL) and Revolution (MLS) tickets through the teams' official sites or Ticketmaster; 2026 FIFA World Cup tickets are sold exclusively via FIFA's official channels.
• On site: Explore Patriot Place shops, restaurants and the Patriots Hall of Fame before kickoff.