You have to travel either 33 miles from Boston or 21 miles from Providence mostly on either U.S. Route 1 or I-95 to Foxborough, Massachusetts to reach the great arena where the two title-winning teams, the New England Patriots and the New England Revolution call their home.
Gillette Stadium, part of a larger entertainment and commercial complex called Patriot Place, is a large sports venue. The stadium had cost $ 325 million to build and replaced an earlier stadium on the same property (situated by the stores) called either Schaeffer, Sullivan, or Foxborough Stadium over the years. Gillette Stadium, itself was briefly known as CMGI Stadium, a venture capital group, until that company went bankrupt. Built on the old horse racing track, it caused the relocation of the Neponset River (a small creek at this point).
The stadium is owned by Robert Kraft, who also owns both the soccer and football teams. There are 68,756 seats, 6,600 clubhouse seats, and 2,756 suite seats. The main entrance area has a gateway with a stylized lighthouse beacon. There is a sports hall, recently completed, that has artifacts and displays on the successes of both teams.
Included with the stadium is a practice facility that was opened in 2003, with 80,000 square feet of space. Their training facility has over 40,000 square feet.
The stadium has also been used for several music concerts, including the Rolling Stones.
The mall, completed in 2008, tries to bring commerce to the location all year long. There is a movie theater, several restaurants, and several commercial stores, including the Pro-Bass Shop (which my girlfriend and I call the "Dead Animal Display" shop).
I have not been to this stadium, but I was at the previous stadium for two games with the New England Patriots. The first game was a miserable experience. Not only did the Patriots lose the game, but a light drizzle turned to a medium rain, and we ended up leaving at the end of the third quarter. The second game was a preseason game in the last year of the old stadium. I won't miss those metal bench seats.
The New England Patriots are a well known and formidable football team. They began in 1959 as the Boston Patriots and played in several stadiums, including Fenway Park, before finally getting their own stadium in Foxborough. The team has won 3 superbowls in 4 years, and appeared in a total of six superbowls.
The New England Revolution are also a formidable team, in soccer, but are less known and followed (since soccer is not as well followed in the U.S.) They have yet to win an MLS Cup, but they have appeared in the finals in the last three years and made each winner earn that title.
Gillette Stadium Web Site:
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Wikipedia Web Site:
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New England Patriots Web Site:
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New England Revolution Web Site:
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