Gillette Stadium

Gillette Stadium is one of the few stadiums in the USA that plays host to both soccer and American football matches. It is shared between the MLS side, the New England Revolution, and the NFL side, the New England Patriots.

Although the stadium was only opened in 2002, it does have an old-school feel to it, especially when you consider how many large, more modern stadiums have opened around the USA over the past 20 years.

There is no retractable roof here, and there weren’t any gigantic video screens either until 2023, but for some fans, this makes a trip to the stadium feel more authentic and less manufactured.

The most iconic feature at the stadium is the Gillette Stadium Lighthouse, which is considered the tallest ‘lighthouse’ in the USA. Fans are able to go inside and to the top of this lighthouse to gain panoramic views of the field and the Boston skyline.

In 2023, Gillette Stadium completed its most transformative upgrade since opening, with the Kraft Group investing $250 million in a comprehensive north end zone renovation.

The project delivered the largest outdoor curved-radius videoboard at any sports venue in the country, measuring 370 feet by 60 feet, over five times the size of the previous board.

The iconic Gillette Stadium Lighthouse was completely rebuilt as a fully functional 22-story tower standing 218 feet tall, with a 360-degree observation deck offering views across Foxborough to the Boston and Providence skylines.

Other improvements included the G-P Atrium, a new 50,000 square foot function space overlooking the field; the reimagined Enel Plaza and grand staircase; the Bud Light Celebration Beer Hall; self-pouring beer kiosks; new glass-enclosed market areas on the lower concourse; and increased restroom capacity. The total investment by the Kraft Family into the stadium now exceeds half a billion dollars.

Gillette Stadium will play host to seven matches during the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. These matches are as follows:

• Haiti 01 Scotland — Saturday, 13 June, Group C
• Iraq 1-4 Norway — Tuesday, 16 June, Group I
• Scotland 1-0 Morocco — Friday, 19 June, Group C
• England 0-0 Ghana — Tuesday, 23 June, Group L
• France 4-1 Norway — Friday, 26 June, Group I
• Round of 32 — Norway 2-1 Ivory Coast — Monday, 29 June
• Quarter-final— Thursday, 9 July

The most famous person associated with Gillette Stadium is former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who called this place home for the vast majority of his career. Aside from Brady, the following big names have all visited the stadium:

• Mark Wahlberg
• Matt Damon
• Ben Affleck
• Chris Evans
• Taylor Swift
• Elizabeth Banks

You can expect to hear the following chants during a trip to Gillette Stadium to watch the New England Revolution:

• We Love New England
• New England ‘Till I die
• ONE New England
• Go Revs
• New England Belongs to Me

The club enjoys a healthy partnership with many pubs and bars in the region. The Phoenix Landing, The Banshee, Murphy’s Law, Arigna Irish Pub & Coal Fire Kitchen, and Brass Monkey are among the well-known options.

For food and drink immediately adjacent to the stadium, Patriot Place is the obvious destination.

The complex surrounds the ground and includes Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse, Citizen Crust, Six String Grill & Stage, Bar Louie, and numerous other options across a range of price points. Fans are encouraged to arrive early as the complex fills up quickly on matchdays, particularly for high-profile fixtures.

The stadium was given construction approval just before the turn of the century, with construction then beginning in March 2000. After two years, it finally saw its first event, when New England Revolution battled it out with Dallas Burn in May 2002. The exterior wasn’t finished, but the interior was, with the hosts running out 2-0 winners.

Gillette Stadium points to the region’s colonial past, while a stylised lighthouse and bridge welcome fans at the Patriot Place Gate. New England’s coastal heritage is also highlighted in the design. Inside, the stadium prides itself on fan satisfaction, largely through unobstructed views, where every seat points directly toward midfield to provide maximum viewing.

National Football League icons, the New England Patriots, also play at Gillette Stadium, which has hosted college football, ice hockey, and lacrosse matches over the years, as well as several high-profile music concerts.

Several gathering areas on the Main and Upper Concourses encourage fans to socialise before and after matches, while the Putnam Club and various other exclusive suites are among the country’s finest.

New England Revolution previously played their home games at the Foxboro Stadium from 1996 until 2001. The stadium is now demolished, having been situated on the land right next door to the future home of the club.

The stadium is located 25 miles northeast of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, and 29 miles southwest of downtown Boston. The MBTA often offers special train services from both Boston and Providence for matches at the venue. Taxi pickup is also available in Lot 6A. The stadium has a designated rideshare drop-off and pick-up location in Lot 15 for Uber and Lyft users.

By car

From Boston: From I-93 South (S.E. Expressway) take Exit 1 to merge onto I-95 South (Providence). Take Exit 9 onto Route 1 South. Follow Route 1 South approximately 3 miles to Gillette Stadium, which will be on the left.

From Southern Connecticut, Rhode Island: Take I-95 North to I-495 North. Take Exit 14A onto Route 1 North. Follow Route 1 North approximately four miles to Gillette Stadium.

From Maine, New Hampshire: Take I-128 South to I-95 South. Take Exit 9 onto Route 1 South. Follow Route 1 South approximately three miles to Gillette Stadium.

From Cape Cod: From I-495 North, take Exit 14A onto Route 1 North. Follow Route 1 North approximately four miles to Gillette Stadium.

From Northern Connecticut, Vermont, Upstate New York: Take I-90 East (Massachusetts Turnpike) to I-495 South. Take Exit 14A onto Route 1 North. Follow Route 1 North approximately four miles to Gillette Stadium.

Free parking is available at Gillette Stadium during New England matches, opening and closing two hours prior to and two hours after the match, respectively.

By public transport (recommended)

The MBTA Commuter Rail is running special event services directly to Foxboro Station, which is steps from the stadium gates, for all seven World Cup matchdays.

Return tickets cost $80 and can be booked through the MBTA’s mTicket app. Services depart from South Station in Boston.

A Boston Stadium Express bus service also operates from Logan Airport and hotels around the region, with tickets priced at $95 return.

With stadium parking limited to 5,000 spaces per match, public transport is strongly recommended.