Gillette Stadium

Gillette Stadium

File:Gillettestadiumlogo.png
Former names	CMGI Field (2002)
Location	1 Patriot Place, Foxborough, Massachusetts 02035
Coordinates	42°5′27″N 71°15′52″W
Owner	Robert Kraft
Operator	Robert Kraft
Capacity	68,756
Surface	FieldTurf (2006–present) Grass (2002–2006)
Construction
Broke ground	March 24, 2000
Opened	May 11, 2002 (partial) September 9, 2002 (grand)
Construction cost	$325 million
Architect	John Bolles
Structural engineer	Bliss and Nyitray, Inc.
Tenants
New England Patriots (NFL) (2002–present) New England Revolution (MLS) (2002–present)

Gillette Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium and serves as the home stadium for the New England Patriots football team and the New England Revolution soccer team. Located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the facility opened in 2002, replacing Foxboro Stadium. The seating capacity is 68,756, including 6,000 club seats and 87 luxury suites. The stadium is owned and operated by Massachusetts businessman Robert Kraft, the majority owner of the Patriots and Revolution. The stadium was originally known as CMGI Field before the naming rights were bought by Gillette after the "dot-com" bust. Although Gillette has since been acquired by Procter & Gamble, the stadium retains the Gillette name because P&G has continued to use the Gillette brand name. Additionally, uBid (until April 2003 a wholly owned subsidiary of CMGI) as of 2009 continues to sponsor one of the main entrance gates to the stadium.

The Town of Foxborough approved plans for the stadium's construction on December 6, 1999, and work on the stadium began on March 24, 2000. The first official event was a New England Revolution game on May 11, 2002. The Rolling Stones also played at Gillette Stadium on September 5, 2002 on the band's Licks Tour. Grand opening ceremonies were held four days later on September 9 when the Patriots unveiled their Super Bowl XXXVI championship banner before a Monday Night Football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Gillette Stadium is accessible by rail via the Providence/Stoughton and Franklin lines at the Foxboro MBTA station, but only when an event (non-soccer) takes place at the stadium.

History

Foxboro Stadium

From the 1971 NFL season until the 2001 NFL season, the Patriots played all of their home games at Foxboro Stadium. The stadium was poorly constructed and it eventually fell into disrepair. Its aluminum benches would freeze over during games with cold weather and it had an unorganized dirt parking lot. Foxboro Stadium did not prove to bring in the profit that was needed to keep an NFL team in New England, as it was one of the smallest stadiums in the NFL, with just over 60,000 seats,. The team had fallen into debt after team executive Chuck Sullivan attempted to bring music acts to the stadium to earn more profit for the team. Tickets sales failed, however, and the team's debt increased even further - to a final total of $126 million (USD). After two unsuccessful owners bought the team and stadium, it was clear that a new stadium had to be built for the team to stay in New England. This is when other cities in the New England area, including Boston, Hartford and Providence became interested in building new stadiums to lure the Patriots away from Foxborough.

Location discussions

The first major stadium proposal from another city came in September 1993. Lowell Weicker, the Governor of Connecticut, proposed to the Connecticut State Assembly that a new stadium should be built in Hartford to attract the Patriots to move there, stating that a stadium had "potentially great benefit" if it were built. The bill passed in the State Assembly on September 27, 1993. In Massachusetts, there was a proposal to build a "Megaplex" in Boston, which would be the site of the stadium, baseball fields, and a much needed convention center. Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Boston mayor Tom Menino wanted this stadium in West Roxbury, but governor William Weld wanted it in South Boston. Neither of these neighborhoods wanted a stadium, thus Menino backed out fearing it would affect his chance at re-election.

Kraft then began a plan to build a new stadium in South Boston. In that plan, Kraft was to pay for the stadium himself, hoping to win the support of Weld and Menino. He began to sketch designs, but the project was leaked to the press in December 1996. The residents of South Boston objected to a stadium being built in that location, causing Menino and Weld to become angry at Kraft. Kraft abandoned all plans for a Boston Stadium after the affair. In January 1997, Kraft began talks with Providence mayor Vincent Cianci to relocate the team to Providence and build a new stadium there. The proposed 68,000 seat domed stadium would have cost $250 million, and would have been paid through income taxes, public bonds, and surcharges on tickets. However, citizens in the proposed neighborhood were highly opposed to the project, and the surrounding area would have needed massive infrastructure improvements. The proposal fell through after a few weeks.

During a news conference in September 1998, the team revealed plans to build a new stadium in Foxboro, keeping the team in Massachusetts. It was to be funded by the state as well as Kraft himself. This plan brought more competition from Connecticut, as a $1 billion plan to renovate an area of Hartford, including building a stadium. Kraft then signed an agreement to move the team to Hartford on November 18, 1998. The proposed stadium included 68,000 seats, 60 luxury boxes, and had a projected cost of $375 million. As before in Boston and Providence, construction of the stadium was challenged by the residents. Problems with the site were discovered, and an agreement could not be reached regarding the details of the stadium. The entire plan eventually fell through, enraging then Connecticut governor John G. Rowland, who lobbied hard for the stadium and spent weeks deliberating with Robert Kraft. In 1999, the team officially announced that it would remain in Foxboro, which led to Gillette Stadium's construction.

Design

On April 18, 2000, the team revealed plans for the new stadium in Foxboro. It was announced as a 68,000 seat stadium at a cost of $325 million. Concurrently announced was a new road to access the stadium from U.S. Route 1, and an additional 3,000 parking spaces to accommodate the increased number of fans.

Notable games

Gillette Stadium main entrance

The venue has hosted the NFL's nationally–televised primetime season–opening games in 2004 and 2005 (when the Patriots unveiled their championship banners from Super Bowl XXXVIII and XXXIX). The stadium also played host to the 2003 AFC Championship Game, in which the Patriots defeated the Indianapolis Colts 24–14. Eight days earlier the Patriots hosted the coldest game in New England Patriots history when in the AFC Divisional Playoff game when the Patriots defeated the Tennessee Titans by the score of 17–14.Gillette Stadium also hosted the 2007 AFC Championship Game, with the Patriots defeating the San Diego Chargers, 21–12. In all, the Pats are undefeated in the seven playoff games at the stadium. Additionally, the venue hosted 2002 MLS Cup and four games of the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup. Gillette Stadium also hosted the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships in 2008 and 2009. In 2012 it is also to host the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship.

Playing surface

The field

On November 14, 2006, two days after a rainstorm contributed to the deterioration of the grass surface in a Patriots loss against the New York Jets, team management decided to replace the natural grass surface with FieldTurf. The Patriots' first game on the surface was a victory over the previously 9–1 Chicago Bears on November 26. At the conclusion of the 2007 season, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had a career record of 31–3 on artificial turf.

Field logo

Two gray logos appear on the 50 yard line of the playing field. They are the stadium logo, representing the bridge and tower at the east entrance to the stadium.

Patriot Place

Main article: Patriot Place

In early 2006, the Patriots and Kraft announced plans to build a "super regional lifestyle and entertainment center" in the area around Gillette Stadium named Patriot Place. The cost of the project was $350 million, more than the cost the build Gillette Stadium itself; Kraft had purchased much of the surrounding land, about 700 acres, when he bought Foxboro Stadium in the late 1980s.

The first phase of the project opened in late 2007, and featured the first Bass Pro Shops in New England, as well as Circuit City, Bed Bath & Beyond, Christmas Tree Shops, and Staples. In December 2007, the Patriots and CBS announced plans to build a themed restaurant and nightclub, named "CBS Scene," at the site, which would also include studios for CBS-owned WBZ-TV. The restaurant was part of the second phase of the project, which included an open mall, a health center, a Cinema de Lux movie theater, a four-star Renaissance hotel, and "The Hall at Patriot Place." Attached to Gillette Stadium, the Hall includes a two-level interactive museum honoring the Patriots accomplishments and Super Bowl championships, plus the Patriots Pro Shop. The first restaurants and stores in phase two began opening in July 2008, and were followed by the openings of the Hall at Patriot Place and the CBS Scene in time for the beginning of the 2008 New England Patriots season. More locations, including the health center and hotel, opened in 2009, along with additional sites in phase one.

Panorama of Gillette Stadium

References

• Roberts, Randy (2005). The Rock, the Curse, and the Hub. Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674015043. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Foulds, Alan E. (2005). Boston's Ballparks & Arenas. University Press of New England. ISBN 9781584654094. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

External links

• Gillette Stadium Website
• Web Cam of Gillette Stadium
• Official Patriot Place Website