Gillette Stadium is home to the six-time Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots and is the region's premier sports and entertainment venue. Located between Boston and Providence in suburban Foxborough, Mass., Gillette Stadium is the only modern venue of its kind to be privately-financed without the use of personal seat licenses. The stadium officially opened on Sept. 9, 2002, when the Patriots made their regular-season debut by unveiling the franchise's first Super Bowl banner and celebrated a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Since then, Patriots fans have helped create a home-field advantage that is unrivaled in the NFL, as the Patriots have won more regular season and postseason games at home than any other team. New England is first in the NFL in points scored at home since Gillette Stadium opened in 2002 and every Patriots home game has been sold out. The home-field success has helped power a dynasty that has propelled the Patriots into the playoffs consistently. Since 2002, Gillette Stadium has hosted 23 playoff contests, including seven AFC Championship Games. In addition to the Patriots, Gillette Stadium is also the home of the New England Revolution and has played host to an impressive array of events which have made it among the busiest venues of its size in the world and one of the top-grossing concert venues.

New England Patriots Team Info

Conference: AFC

Division: East

Year Founded: 1959

Team Colors: Nautical Blue, Red, New Century Silver, White

Mascot: Pat Patriot

New England Patriots History

The Boston Patriots were the eighth and final franchise awarded in the startup American Football League (AFL) on Nov. 16, 1959. For 11 seasons (1960-70), the team hosted its games in Boston, calling five different venues home during that time. The AFL merged with the NFL in 1970 and the following year the Patriots moved to the suburban community of Foxborough, Mass., where they have made their home for the past 48 years. Robert Kraft attended Patriots games at every Boston venue in which they played and became a season ticket member the year the franchise moved to Foxborough. For the next 23 years, he supported the team as a dedicated fan through its many ups and downs before becoming the first long-term season ticket member to buy the franchise which he supported. While featuring some of the league's greatest players, from AFL MVPs Gino Cappelletti and Jim Nance, to future Pro Football Hall of Famers John Hannah, Mike Haynes and Andre Tippett, the Patriots fielded some successful teams, but struggled to sustain that success long term. In the franchise's first 34 seasons, the Patriots only won 10 or more games six times. The 1978 team won 11 games while setting a then-NFL rushing record that stood for 40+ years with 3,165 yards. That year, the team's 11 wins tied the franchise record and earned the Patriots their second division title in team history and an opportunity to host their first home playoff game. It ended up being their only home playoff game in the franchise's first 36 seasons, a game they lost 31-14 to the Houston Oilers.

On Jan. 21, 1994, Kraft bought the Patriots from St. Louis native James Orthwein, keeping the franchise in New England. The Patriots went to the playoffs four out of the next five seasons and have become a modern-era dynasty, recording more than 20 seasons with at least 10 wins since Kraft purchased the team.

The 2020 season marked the 27th season of ownership for Robert Kraft and his family. During that time, the Patriots established the highest winning percentage of any of the five major professional sports franchises and had won more regular-season games, postseason games, division championships, conference championships and Super Bowls than any other NFL team.