Patriots Country

Home Improvement: Patriots Gillette Stadium Gets Mega-Makeover

Gillette Stadium's $250 million facelift gives the New England Patriots the largest sports stadium video scoreboard in America.

Richie Whitt

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Not sure if it will be enough to attract free agents DeAndre Hopkins and/or Dalvin Cook, but the New England Patriots are adding to Gillette Stadium all the bells, whistles, lighthouses and scoreboards. Stadium executives on Tuesday unveiled the new, $250 million facelift to the Pats' home stadium, highlighted by a tweaked end-zone lighthouse that soars 22 stories and the largest outdoor sports stadium video scoreboard in America.

The Patriots can only hope their on-field product takes as big of a step forward as their 21-year-old stadium has.

New England is only a mediocre 25-25 since Tom Brady departed after the 2019 season. One of the reasons for the significant slide down the AFC East standings is the lack of success at home, where are they only 13-12 the last three seasons.

While the additions of offensive playmakers such as Hopkins and Cook would go a long way toward increasing their playoff chances this season, their stadium will not be a scapegoat if they miss the postseason for the third time in four years.

Gillette's makeover includes the 218-foot lighthouse, now topped by an observation deck that gives 360-degree views of both Providence to Boston. And the 60-by-370-foot video board - which is undergoing color testing this week - will be the new grand jewel of the NFL.

Gillette always had an open tunnel next to the famed lighthouse that would impact the passing and kicking games, adding what coach Bill Belichick called a “swirling effect.” But with the renovations, that tunnel and those gusty winds will be a thing of the past.

The Patriots will debut the changes for a national TV audience, the defending NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles - and even Tom Brady - when they play their highly anticipated home opener Sept. 10.

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Richie Whitt
RICHIE WHITT

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