Patriots Hold Ribbon-Cutting in 'New' Gillette Stadium

The New England Patriots announced the completion of a $250 million renovation project for Gillette Stadium just in time for Sunday's season opener.

Gillette Stadium will look a little different when the New England Patriots host the Philadelphia Eagles for their season opener on Sunday.

On Thursday night, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Gillette Stadium officials and business partners held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the North End renovation project. With a budget of $250 million, it's the largest-scale and most expensive renovation in Gillette Stadium's 21-year history.

“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," Kraft said in a press release. "I am proud, that over the last twenty 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.”

The project's most striking feature is a 22-story lighthouse, which will allow visitors to see to the skylines of Boston and Providence. During game days for both the Patriots and the MLS' New England Revolution, the lighthouse will be "a focal point for key celebratory moments and new aspects of the game day experience." Gillette Stadium has featured a lighthouse since its opening, even being part of its logo, so adding a new iteration of the New England staple was paramount. 

Cred: Patriots.com

“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,” said Jen Ferron, chief marketing officer of Kraft Sports + Entertainment. “We are excited to share this experiential feature with guests who visit us year-round.”

The lighthouse will be open to the public on Oct. 1 and carry a $5 entry fee, with proceeds going to New England charities. Patriots and Revolution season ticket members, as well as children 10 and under, active and veteran military members and first responders can enter for free.

Also included in the project is the Patriots' previously-unveiled video board, the largest at any sports venue in the country at 22,000 square feet. Other features include an atrium, a 50,000 square foot activity space, an entry canopy, new bar and concession locations and more.

With the Patriots' season opener now just days away, fans won't have to wait long to see the improvements for themselves.