History of Gillette Stadium in Timeline

Gillette Stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, is a multi-purpose stadium serving as the home for the New England Patriots (NFL) and the New England Revolution (MLS). Opened in 2002, it replaced the old Foxboro Stadium. It also hosted UMass Minutemen football for a period. The stadium has a seating capacity of 64,628, including club seats and luxury suites.

1960: Patriots Founded

In 1960, the Patriots were founded as the Boston Patriots of the American Football League.

1970: Patriots Join the NFL

In 1970, the AFL merged into the NFL, and the Boston Patriots joined the NFL.

1971: Patriots Play at Foxboro Stadium

From 1971, the Patriots played their home games at Foxboro Stadium.

1984: Victory Tour of The Jacksons

In 1984, team executive Chuck Sullivan funded the Victory Tour of The Jacksons in an attempt to earn more profit for the team, however ticket sales failed.

September 1993: Connecticut Proposal to Attract Patriots

In September 1993, Lowell Weicker, the Governor of Connecticut, proposed building a new stadium in Hartford to attract the Patriots.

September 27, 1993: Bill Passes in State Assembly

On September 27, 1993, the bill to build a new stadium in Hartford to attract the Patriots passed in the Connecticut State Assembly.

1994: Patriots Sell Out Streak Begins

The Patriots have sold out every home game since 1994 season at Foxboro Stadium; by September 2016, it had reached 231 games.

December 1996: Plan to Build New Stadium in South Boston Leaked

In December 1996, Kraft's plan to build a new stadium in South Boston was leaked to the press, leading to objections from residents and the abandonment of the plan.

January 1997: Talks to Relocate Team to Providence Begin

In January 1997, Kraft began talks with Providence mayor Vincent Cianci to relocate the team to Providence and build a new stadium there. However, the proposal fell through after a few weeks.

September 1998: Plans Revealed to Build New Stadium in Foxborough

In September 1998, the team revealed plans to build a new stadium in Foxborough, funded by the state and Kraft himself.

November 18, 1998: Agreement Signed to Move Team to Hartford

On November 18, 1998, Kraft signed an agreement to move the team to Hartford. However, the plan eventually fell through.

1998: Modeled on M&T Bank Stadium

Kraft wanted the stadium modeled on M&T Bank Stadium which had opened in Baltimore in 1998.

December 6, 1999: Foxborough Approves Stadium Construction Plans

On December 6, 1999, the town of Foxborough approved plans for the construction of Gillette Stadium.

1999: Team Announces It Will Remain in Foxborough

In 1999, the team officially announced that it would remain in Foxborough, which led to Gillette Stadium's construction.

March 24, 2000: Stadium Construction Begins

On March 24, 2000, construction began on Gillette Stadium.

April 18, 2000: Plans Revealed for New Stadium in Foxborough

On April 18, 2000, the team revealed plans for the new Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. It was announced as a 68,000-seat stadium at a cost of $325 million, with the entire cost privately funded.

2001: Patriots End Play at Foxboro Stadium

Until 2001, the Patriots played their home games at Foxboro Stadium.

May 11, 2002: First Official Event at Gillette Stadium

On May 11, 2002, the first official event at Gillette Stadium took place; an MLS soccer game where the New England Revolution defeated Dallas Burn 2-0.

September 9, 2002: First NFL Game at Gillette Stadium

On September 9, 2002, the first NFL game was held at Gillette Stadium, a 30–14 Patriots victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

2002: Gillette Stadium hosts MLS Cup 2002

In 2002, Gillette Stadium hosted the MLS Cup.

2002: Gillette Stadium Opens

In 2002, Gillette Stadium opened, replacing the adjacent Foxboro Stadium. It serves as the home stadium for the New England Patriots (NFL) and the New England Revolution (MLS).

2002: Record attendance at 2002 MLS Cup Final

In 2002, the MLS Cup Final at Gillette Stadium drew a crowd of 61,316, setting a record for stand-alone MLS post-season attendance.

2003: Gillette Stadium hosts FIFA Women's World Cup games

In 2003, Gillette Stadium hosted four games of the FIFA Women's World Cup.

2003: First Playoff Game at Gillette Stadium

In 2003, Gillette Stadium hosted its first playoff game, a Divisional Round game against the Tennessee Titans, which was the coldest game in New England Patriots history. The Patriots won 17-14.

2003: uBid Sponsorship Until 2003

Until 2003, uBid (a wholly owned subsidiary of CMGI) continued to sponsor one of the main entrance gates to the stadium.

2004: Nationally Televised Season-Opening Game

Gillette Stadium hosted the NFL's nationally televised primetime season-opening game in 2004.

2005: Nationally Televised Season-Opening Game

Gillette Stadium hosted the NFL's nationally televised primetime season-opening game in 2005.

2005: Revolution win Eastern Conference Final

In 2005, Gillette Stadium hosted the Eastern Conference Final where the Revs defeated the Chicago Fire, sending the Revs to the MLS Cup.

2005: Procter & Gamble Acquires Gillette

In 2005, Gillette was acquired by Procter & Gamble, but the stadium retains the Gillette name.

November 14, 2006: Decision to replace grass surface with FieldTurf

On November 14, 2006, the Patriots decided to replace the natural grass surface with FieldTurf after a rainstorm deteriorated the grass during a game against the Jets.

November 2006: Patriots play first game on FieldTurf

In November 2006, the Patriots played their first game on the new FieldTurf surface, defeating the Chicago Bears.

2006: Plans announced for Patriot Place

In 2006, the Patriots and Kraft announced plans to build Patriot Place, a "super regional lifestyle and entertainment center" near Gillette Stadium, costing $350 million.

August 2007: Patriots lost a preseason game on FieldTurf

In August 2007, the team lost a preseason matchup to the Tennessee Titans on the new FieldTurf.

December 2007: Plans announced for CBS Scene restaurant and nightclub

In December 2007, the Patriots and CBS announced plans to build "CBS Scene", a themed restaurant and nightclub at Patriot Place, which would also include studios for WBZ-TV.

2007: Revolution win Eastern Conference Final

In 2007, Gillette Stadium hosted the Eastern Conference Final where the Revs defeated the Chicago Fire, sending the Revs to the MLS Cup.

2007: AFC Championship Game

The Patriots won the 2007 AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium, where they beat the San Diego Chargers to improve to 18–0 and advance to Super Bowl XLII.

July 2008: First restaurants and stores in phase two of Patriot Place begin opening

In July 2008, the first restaurants and stores in phase two of the Patriot Place project began opening.

September 2008: Patriots lost to the Miami Dolphins on FieldTurf

In September 2008, the Patriots lost to the Miami Dolphins on the FieldTurf surface.

2008: Gillette Stadium hosts NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships

In 2008, Gillette Stadium hosted the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships.

2009: Gillette Stadium hosts NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships

In 2009, Gillette Stadium hosted the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships.

2009: Health center and hotel open, along with additional sites in phase one

In 2009, the health center and hotel opened at Patriot Place, along with additional sites in phase one.

January 10, 2010: First Home Playoff Loss at Gillette Stadium

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.

February 2010: Field surface upgraded to FieldTurf "Duraspine Pro"

In February 2010, the FieldTurf surface was upgraded to FieldTurf "Duraspine Pro" to meet FIFA standards.

September 2010: Gillette and Patriots Extend Partnership

In September 2010, Gillette and the Patriots announced an extension of their partnership, including naming rights to the stadium, through the 2031 season.

2010: Stadium Installs New HD Video Displays

In 2010, Gillette Stadium installed two new HD Daktronics video displays to replace the previous setup at both ends of the field.

January 16, 2011: Second Consecutive Home Playoff Loss

On January 16, 2011, the Patriots suffered their second consecutive home playoff loss in Gillette Stadium in a 28–21 New York Jets victory.

2012: AFC Championship Win

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.

2012: Gillette Stadium hosts NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships

In 2012, Gillette Stadium hosted the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships.

2012: UMass Minutemen home games at Gillette Stadium

In 2012, the UMass Minutemen played all their home football games at Gillette Stadium as part of their move to Division I FBS. This was due to their on-campus stadium not meeting FBS standards.

2013: UMass Minutemen home games at Gillette Stadium

In 2013, the UMass Minutemen continued to play all their home football games at Gillette Stadium, as their on-campus stadium was still not suitable for FBS football.

2013: UMass Minutemen Continue to Play at Gillette Stadium

In 2013, the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Minutemen football team continued to use Gillette Stadium as their home venue while Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium underwent renovations.

April 2014: Field surface upgraded to FieldTurf "Revolution"

In April 2014, the field surface was upgraded to FieldTurf "Revolution" with "VersaTile" drainage system.

2014: AFC Championship Win

During the Divisional Round of the 2014–15 NFL playoffs, the Patriots beat the Baltimore Ravens by beating them 35–31. The following week, they defeated the Indianapolis Colts 45–7 in the 2014 AFC Championship.

2014: UMass Minutemen continue to play some home games at Gillette Stadium

In 2014, despite renovations to their on-campus stadium, the UMass Minutemen continued to play four home games at Gillette Stadium as part of an agreement with the Kraft Group.

2014: Monster Jam at Gillette Stadium

Since 2014, Monster Jam has been coming to Gillette Stadium.

2015: Nationally Televised Season-Opening Game

Gillette Stadium hosted the NFL's nationally televised primetime season-opening game in 2015.

2015: Boston Cannons home at Gillette Stadium

In 2015, Gillette Stadium was the home of the Boston Cannons.

January 1, 2016: NHL Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium

On January 1, 2016, Gillette Stadium hosted the eighth edition of the NHL Winter Classic, featuring a game between the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens.

September 2016: Patriots Sell Out Streak Reaches 231 Games

By September 2016, the Patriots' sell-out streak for every home game had reached 231 games, dating back to the 1994 season at Foxboro Stadium.

2016: AFC Championship Win

During the 2016 playoffs, the Patriots defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 36–17 in the sixth AFC Championship hosted at Gillette Stadium.

2016: Gillette Stadium hosts Copa America Centenario matches

In 2016, Gillette Stadium hosted some Copa America Centenario matches.

2016: UMass Minutemen continue to play some home games at Gillette Stadium

In 2016, the UMass Minutemen continued to play four home games at Gillette Stadium as part of an agreement with the Kraft Group.

2016: AMA Supercross Championship at Gillette Stadium

Since 2016, the AMA Supercross Championship has been racing at Gillette Stadium.

2017: Nationally Televised Season-Opening Game

Gillette Stadium hosted the NFL's nationally televised primetime season-opening game in 2017.

2017: Gillette Stadium hosts NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships

In 2017, Gillette Stadium hosted the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships.

2018: Gillette Stadium hosts NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships

In 2018, Gillette Stadium hosted the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships.

2018: Record broken for largest stand-alone MLS post-season crowd

In 2018, the attendance record set in 2002 at Gillette Stadium was broken by the MLS Cup in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

2018: Divisional Round Game Win

In the 2018 season, Gillette Stadium hosted a Divisional Round game, as the Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Chargers by a score of 41-28 on the way to winning Super Bowl LIII.

2018: UMass Games at Gillette Stadium

Through 2018, Gillette Stadium served as a part-time home venue for higher attendance UMass football games.

February 15, 2019: Premier Lacrosse League announces Boston as first city on schedule

On February 15, 2019, the Premier Lacrosse League announced that Boston would be the first city on the schedule for the 2019 season, with games at Gillette Stadium.

June 2, 2019: Women's Professional Lacrosse League at Gillette

On June 2, 2019, Gillette Stadium hosted a handful of games for the Women's Professional Lacrosse League to start their 2019 season.

2019: Nationally Televised Season-Opening Game

Gillette Stadium hosted the NFL's nationally televised primetime season-opening game in 2019, when the Patriots unveiled their championship banners from Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI, and LIII.

2019: Tom Brady's Final Game as a Patriot

In Tom Brady's final game as a Patriot in 2019, they were upset by the Tennessee Titans in the First Round of the playoffs with a loss of 20-13.

2020: Premier Lacrosse League season put on pause due to COVID-19 pandemic

In 2020, the Premier Lacrosse League season was put on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the league scrapped their 2020 schedule.

January 18, 2021: Gillette Stadium Used as Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Site

From January 18, 2021, Gillette Stadium was used as a mass distribution site for the COVID-19 vaccine.

June 14, 2021: Gillette Stadium COVID-19 Vaccination Site Concludes

On June 14, 2021, Gillette Stadium's use as a mass distribution site for the COVID-19 vaccine concluded, with a total of 610,283 shots administered.

December 10, 2021: $225 Million Renovation Project Announced

On December 10, 2021, a $225 million renovation project for Gillette Stadium was announced, including a new video board and lighthouse.

January 2022: Gillette Stadium Renovation Project Begins

In January 2022, construction began on the $225 million renovation project for Gillette Stadium.

2022: Gillette Stadium logo painted on the field

Prior to the 2022 season, the Gillette Stadium logo was painted on the field.

September 2023: Gillette Stadium Renovation Completed

In September 2023, the $225 million renovation project at Gillette Stadium was completed.

2023: All-Time Playoff Record at the Stadium

Entering the 2023 season, the Patriots had an all-time playoff record of 19-4 at the stadium.

2023: Gillette Stadium hosts Army-Navy Game

In 2023, Gillette Stadium was selected as the neutral site for the annual Army-Navy Game.

2023: Gillette Stadium logo redone as part of renovation project, no longer present on field

In 2023, the Gillette Stadium logo was redone in time for the renovation project, but it is no longer present on the field.

April 27, 2024: Soccer attendance record broken during Revolution vs Inter Miami CF match

On April 27, 2024, Gillette Stadium's soccer attendance record was broken during a regular season match between the Revolution and Inter Miami CF, drawing 65,612 spectators.

June 12, 2024: Tom Brady Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

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

2026: Gillette Stadium to Host FIFA World Cup Matches

In 2026, Gillette Stadium is set to host several matches during the FIFA World Cup, and will be known as Boston Stadium for the tournament.

2026: Gillette Stadium to host Navy vs Notre Dame rivalry game

In 2026, Gillette Stadium will host the rivalry game between Navy and Notre Dame.

2031: Gillette and Patriots Partnership Extension

In September 2010, Gillette and the Patriots announced an extension of their partnership, including naming rights to the stadium, through the 2031 season.