Gillette Stadium (Boston)

📌 Key Facts:

• Location: Foxborough, Massachusetts — approximately 35 km southwest of downtown Boston, with rail access via the MBTA’s Foxboro Station.

• Opened: September 9, 2002 (originally named CMGI Field)

• Capacity: Around 64,628 for football; tournament setup expands to approximately 70,000

• Home Teams: New England Patriots (NFL) and New England Revolution (MLS), among others.

• Owner/Developer: Owned by Robert Kraft and the Kraft Group; designed by Populous.

📚 Historical Significance:

• Replaced old Foxboro Stadium (host of 1994 World Cup matches) and has served as a host for major soccer tournaments like MLS Cup, CONCACAF Gold Cup, and the Women’s World Cup 2003.

• Recently became home to Boston Legacy FC for the 2026 NWSL season.

🏗 Architecture and Features:

• A major $225–250 million renovation completed in fall 2023 introduced:

  • A towering 22-story “lighthouse” with a 360° observation deck

  • The largest outdoor curved HD video board in the U.S. (~22,200 sq ft)

  • A revamped north end zone with redesigned Hall of Fame Alley, bridge, and improved concessions/restrooms.

• Additional upgrades ahead of the World Cup include:

  • Removal of corner seats to meet FIFA’s space requirements

  • Temporary replacement of turf with natural grass

  • Infrastructure enhancements for media, security, and accessibility