To the disappointment of many football fans, the New England Patriots kicked off the new NFL season with a 20-25 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. However, days before the big game, the Patriots’ home stadium celebrated a major win with the completion of a facility overhaul.
On Sept. 7, the Kraft family and Gillette Stadium officials joined partners Anheuser-Busch, Enel, G-P, Gillette, Pepsi, Populous, Suffolk Construction, and Ticketmaster to celebrate the completion of the North End renovation project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The $250 million renovation (which Facilities Management Advisor‘s “Under Construction” series named one of July 2023’s top facility projects) is the largest and most transformative project since Gillette Stadium opened in 2002.
The project includes the Gillette Stadium Lighthouse, a new signature 22-story lighthouse with a 360-degree observation deck open to guests year-round. The renovation also features the largest outdoor curved-radius videoboard at a sports venue in the country (22,200 square feet); the G-P Atrium, a new 50,000 square-foot function space overlooking the game field; and the newly reimagined Enel Plaza.
The improvements also include the Ticketmaster entry canopy; a remodeled Row of Honor for military servicemembers; the Bud Light Celebration Beer Hall; the Pepsi Grab & Go; connectivity on the Upper concourse for movement east to west; increased restroom capacity; and permanent bars and concession locations featuring new product offerings.
“When we built Gillette Stadium in 2002, we were intentional in making sure the space would be able to grow and evolve to meet the needs of our fans,” said Robert Kraft, chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group. “I am proud that, over the last 20 years, our first priority has been to provide the best guest experience possible for all visitors to the stadium and this project will transform and upgrade the fan experience at Patriots games, [New England Revolution soccer] matches, concerts, and special events for years to come.”
The full announcement, including details about the stadium’s prized Lighthouse, is available here.
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