Updated 05-May-2020.
Mondo shtuff from around the internet, all about GILLETTE STADIUM!
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My botty best at summarizing from Wikipedia: Gillette Stadium is a stadium in the northeastern united states . it opened 18 years ago in 2002, replacing the adjacent Foxboro Stadium . the seating capacity is 65,878, including 5,876 club seats and 89 the stadium was originally known as CMGI Field before the naming rights were bought by Gillette after the “dot-com” bust . Gillette and the Patriots jointly announced in September 2010 that their partnership, which the town of Foxborough approved plans for the stadium’s construction on December 6, 1999 . work on the stadium began on march 24, 2000 . the stadium is accessible by rail via the Providence/Stoughton and Franklin lines in 1984, team executive Chuck Sullivan funded the Victory Tour of The Jacksons . tickets sales failed, however, and the team’s debt increased even further . after two unsuccessful owners bought the team and stadium, it was clear cities in the new england area were interested in building new stadiums to lure the Patriots away from Foxborough . Lowell weicker, the governor of Connecticut, proposed a new stadium in Hartford to attract the Patriot menino backed out, fearing it would affect his chance at re-election . groups popped up to save the historic ballpark . Kraft began a plan to build a new stadium in south Boston Kraft abandoned all plans for a Boston Stadium after the affair . in 1997, Kraft began talks with Providence mayor to relocate the team to Providence . the proposed 68,000-seat domed stadium would have cost $250 million . the team revealed plans to build a new stadium in Foxborough, keeping the team in Massachusetts . it was to be funded by the state as well as Kraft himself . the proposed stadium included 68,000 seats, 60 luxury boxes, and in 1999, the team officially announced that it would remain in Foxborough, which led to Gillette Stadium’s construction . the entire plan eventually fell through, enraging then Connecticut governor John G. Rowland . Row a rare instance of an NFL owner privately financing the construction of a stadium . it was announced as a 68,000-seat stadium at a cost of $325 million . the stadium was designed by HOK Sport ( Kraft wanted a “front door” with a Disneyland-like entrance . Populous went through 200 designs before coming up with one that Kraft liked . the lighthouse and bridge are now featured on the stadium’s logo in 2010, the stadium installed two new HD Daktronics video displays . the larger screen was the second-largest video monitor in any NFL stadium . Gillette Stadium ranks first among all NFL venues in stadium food safety Gillette Stadium also hosted the 2007 AFC Championship Game . in 2008, the Patriots lost to the new york giants in the super bowl . on January 10, 2010, the Baltimore Ravens beat the pats 33–14 the Patriots suffered their second home playoff loss on January 16, 2011 in a 28–21 New York Jets victory . During the 2012 NFL playoffs, the patriots defeated the Denver Broncos, 45–10 the stadium hosted its sixth AFC Championship game during the 2016 playoffs . the Patriots defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 36–17 . in all, the patriots are 16–3 at Gillette Stadium in the playoffs. the Minutemen’s stadium is 95 miles away from the UMass campus in Amherst . it is the longest trip of any FBS member . the stadium was renovated to FBS standards for 2014 season . Gillette will continue to host UMass football with those games of anticipated larger attendance . the venue hosted MLS Cup 2002, four games of the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and some Copa America Centenario matches in 2016 the entire job was done during a two-week road trip, with three shifts working around the clock . the Patriots’ first game on the surface was a victory over the previously 9–1 Chicago Bears on November 26 in 2010, the surface was pulled and upgraded to FieldTurf “Duraspine Pro” in April 2014, the surface is now used at many venues across North America . the cost of the project was $350 million, more the first restaurants and stores in phase two began opening in July 2008 . more locations, including the health center and hotel, opened in 2009 . “the hall at Patriot Place” includes a two-level interactive museum honoring the Patriot Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01504-3. Foulds, Alan E. (2005). Boston’s Ballparks & Arenas. University Press of New England. ISBN 978-1-58465-409-4.