Major renovations are taking place at Gillette Stadium, the home of the NFL’s New England Patriots.
The project comes with a price tag of $225 million and is set to be completed prior to the start of the upcoming 2023 NFL season.
There are a lot of changes being made, so here is a closer look at what Patriots fans can expect to see the next time they catch a game at Gillette.
In the works for years
The facility is aiming to transform the fan experience for all sporting events, as well as concerts. Plans for the overhaul were announced in December 2021. Construction began in January 2022.
The renovations include a new outdoor video board, a new lighthouse, and 75,000 square feet of hospitality and function spaces connecting the East and West Putnam Clubs, the Dell Technology Suite Levels, and the upper concourse.
In addition, a new plaza and fan entrance is also being built on the north end.
New video board and lighthouse
Perhaps the most noteworthy upgrades to the stadium are the additions of a brand new video board and an upgraded lighthouse.
The new 22,000 square-foot outdoor video board will be the largest outdoor stadium high-definition video board in the country.
Located directly next to the video board will be an enhanced lighthouse that will stand 218 feet high. The reimagined lighthouse will include a 360-degree observation deck above the playing field, offering fans spectacular views of the stadium, the game field and Patriot Place.
Expanded hospitality areas
Once complete, the renovations will give Gillette Stadium a total of 50,000 square feet of glass-enclosed hospitality and function spaces.
The stadium’s largest game day hospitality space will belong to the G-P Atrium. This area encapsulates the lighthouse, and is designed so members can arrive early and enjoy amenities that include a private entrance, all-inclusive food and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as a two-tier balcony.
The expansive atrium is climate-controlled and has a number of premium bars, as well as an HD media wall. Memberships to the G-P Atrium are available only to season ticket holders.
Bud Light Celebration Beer Hall
The Bud Light Celebration Beer Hall is a new hospitality area that has both outdoor and indoor access. In total, it encompasses 4,000 square feet of indoor space, 2,000 square feet of outdoor space, and a 375 square-foot oval bar in the center of the room.
Located on the northeast corner of the stadium, this new field-level club offers fans unprecedented access to watch the Patriots walk onto the field from the locker room. There is also an open air patio.
If sports betting fans are looking for a place to find the best New England Patriots odds and place some legal bets online at Gillette, the Bud Light Celebration Beer Hall feels like a good spot.
Members can access the hall before, during and after the game.
Other renovations
New and improved concession locations are also included in the renovation plans. Stadium entrances are also getting an upgrade. There will be a grand staircase leading to the main concourse at the north end of the stadium.
There will also be a new fan activation area in the lower plaza and additional outdoor gathering spaces throughout the stadium.
The entire renovation project will be privately funded by the Kraft family, the owners of the New England Patriots. The Kraft family also paid for the cost of Gillette Stadium’s original build.
Throughout Gillette Stadium’s entire existence, the Kraft family has spent more than $300 million on stadium enhancements.
Gillette Stadium quick facts
The New England Patriots have made home field advantage something of a specialty over the decades. The weather, the fans and some clever tactics have helped make Gillette Stadium into a place where most teams would prefer not to play if they had the choice.
The stadium, which was previously known as CMGI Field, opened on May 11, 2002, replacing the adjacent Foxboro Stadium. Patriot Place now sits on the site of Foxboro Stadium. The grass fields behind Gillette Stadium serve as the venue for Patriots training camp each year.
Gillette Stadium has a capacity of 68,878, which can expand by 20,000 more when necessary.
The stadium is located approximately 22 miles southwest of downtown Boston. The address is 1 Patriot Place, Foxborough, Massachusetts.
