Gillette Stadium new signature-view Lighthouse

Article posted by Coliseum, September 19^th, 2023

Image: Gillette Stadium

Recently, the Kraft family and Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Massachussetts, US) officials joined partners Anheuser-Busch, Enel, G-P, Gillette, soft drink brand Pepsi, Populous, Suffolk Construction, and Ticketmaster to celebrate the completion of the North End renovation project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

‘Gillette STADIUM’ stated that the $250 million project is the largest and most transformative since the Gillette Stadium opened in 2002. The renovation has completely transformed Gillette Stadium’s appearance and will greatly enhance the day of game experience for fans.

The 65,878-capacity Gillette Stadium is a football stadium located in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts (US), which is 22 miles Southwest of downtown Boston and 18 miles Northeast of Providence, Rhode Island. It serves as the home ground of the New England Patriots and New England Revolution.

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The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area (US). The Patriots compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league’s American Football Conference East division.

The New England Revolution is an American professional soccer club based in the Greater Boston area that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the Eastern Conference of the league. It is one of the 10 charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inaugural season.

The Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC, is an American brewing company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri (US). Since 2008, it has been wholly-owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, now the world’s largest brewing company, which owns multiple global brands, notably Budweiser, Michelob, Stella Artois, and Beck’s.

Rome (Italy)-based Enel S.p.A. is an Italian multinational manufacturer and distributor of electricity and gas. Enel, which originally stood for Ente nazionale per l’energia elettrica, was first established as a public body at the end of 1962, and then transformed into a limited company in 1992.

Boston (US)-based G-P/Globalization Partners helps growing companies unlock their full potential by making it possible to build highly skilled global teams in days instead of months. Through the #1 Software as a Service (SaaS)-based Global Growth Platform™, it helps find, hire, onboard, pay, and manage team members, quickly and compliantly, to expand growth opportunities for everyone, everywhere – without the hassle of setting up local subsidiaries or branch offices. It’s the everywhere workforce, working together.

Boston (US)-based Gillette is an American brand of safety razors and other personal care products including shaving supplies, owned by the multinational corporation Procter & Gamble, the American consumer goods giant.

Kansas City (US)-based Populous is a global architectural and design practice specializing in sports facilities, arenas and convention centers, as well as the planning and design of major special events.

Boston (US)-based Suffolk Construction is a national enterprise that builds, invests and innovates. It is an end-to-end business that provides value throughout the entire project lifecycle by leveraging its core construction management services with vertical service lines that include real estate capital investment, design, self-perform construction services, technology startup investment, and innovation research/development.

Ticketmaster Entertainment, LLC is an American ticket sales and distribution company based in Beverly Hills, California with operations in many countries around the world. In 2010, it merged with Live Nation under the name Live Nation Entertainment (American multinational entertainment company).

‘Gillette STADIUM’ further stated that the renovation project includes the Gillette Stadium Lighthouse, a new signature 22-story lighthouse with a 360-degree observation deck open to guests year-round. The project also features the largest outdoor curved-radius videoboard at a sports venue in the country, 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, 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.

Remarked Robert Kraft, Chairman and head honcho of the Kraft Group, “When we built the 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. 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, Revolution matches, concerts and special events for years to come. We are grateful to our partners and sponsors for their hard work and dedication on this project and we look forward to welcoming fans home to the renovated stadium.”

Foxborough (US)-based the Kraft Group, LLC, is a group of privately- held companies in the professional sports, manufacturing and real estate development industries doing business in 90 countries.

At the ceremony, Gillette Stadium officials announced the stadium’s new Lighthouse will open to the general public on October 1^st. The Lighthouse, with views extending to the Boston and Providence skylines from the observation deck, will provide access to the Gillette Stadium on non-event days and allow guests visiting an opportunity to take in the panoramic views and capture one-of-a-kind keepsake photos. Atop the observation deck, known as the Lookout, guests can use a stationary camera that is affixed to the Lighthouse to capture a hands-free photo of their visit with unparalleled views of the Gillette Stadium and the field in the background. A second unique photo can also be taken remotely from a camera mounted inside the stadium that shows the visitors standing on the observation deck of the Lighthouse. In addition, visitors will have the ability to share these images as a part of a digital mosaic that will automatically be created and displayed on screens inside the Lighthouse and on Gillettestadium.com. On gamedays, the Lighthouse will be incorporated into both the Patriots and Revolution game presentation by serving as a focal point for key celebratory moments and new aspects of the gameday experience.

Commented Jen Ferron, Chief Marketing Officer, Kraft Sports + Entertainment, “The previous Lighthouse served as an iconic architectural element of our stadium for 20 years, so it was important to incorporate a functional component into our renovation. We are excited to share this experiential feature with guests who visit us year-round.”

Foxborough (US)-based Kraft Sports + Entertainment, a division of The Kraft Group, oversees marketing, sales, content development, and event operations for the New England Patriots, the New England Revolution, the Boston Uprising of esports’ Overwatch League, and Gillette Stadium. Led by Robert and Jonathan Kraft, Kraft Sports + Entertainment have set the standard for delivering world-class concerts and sporting events to the people of New England for more than 20 years.

When the Gillette Stadium opened its doors in 2002, a bridge and lighthouse were designed into the architecture to reflect an important part of New England’s coastal history. There are more than 160 lighthouses throughout New England, with Boston Light being the oldest continually used and last staffed lighthouse in the country, dating back to 1716. Gillette Stadium’s new signature-view Lighthouse aims to serve as a beacon for the region and a symbol of its proud coastal and maritime history while providing guests with the opportunity to experience Gillette Stadium on non-event days.

The Gillette Stadium Lighthouse will be open year-round. Hours of operation will vary by time of year and the Lighthouse may be closed to the general public on days when the Gillette Stadium is hosting events such as Patriots games, Revolution matches, concerts, Monster Jam, and other ticketed or private events.

Beginning on October 1^st, the Lighthouse can be accessed for $5, with net proceeds going to a charitable fund earmarked for New England charities. Children 10 and under, active military, veterans, first responders, and Patriots and Revolution Season Ticket Members will receive free admission.

The Lighthouse Lantern Room, an intimate indoor space connected to the observation deck, can also be rented for private events and functions, and can be used in conjunction with the brand-new G-P Atrium.

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