Dive Brief:

• Boston-based builder Suffolk has completed a $250 million renovation at Gillette Stadium, the home of the NFL’s New England Patriots and MLS’s New England Revolution in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the Patriots announced on Sept. 7. The franchise said it is the largest and most transformative project finished since the stadium opened in 2002.
• Key parts of the project are the Gillette Stadium Lighthouse, a 22-story tower with a 360-degree observation deck open to guests year-round, and a new 50,000-square-foot space overlooking the field, according to the release. Additionally, the stadium features the country’s largest outdoor curved-radius videoboard at a sports venue, according to the Patriots.
• Other improvements include a new entry canopy, a remodeled Row of Honor, connectivity on the upper concourse for movement east to west, increased restroom capacity and permanent bars and concession locations, per the release.

Dive Insight:

The stadium’s new lighthouse, which replaces a previous structure and will be open to the general public starting Oct. 1, draws inspiration from the plethora of maritime structures that dot the New England coastline, according to the release. 

"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 at Kraft Sports + Entertainment, in the release.

Robert Kraft, chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group, which owns the Patriots and the Revolution as well as the stadium, noted in the release that the stadium was built with adaptation in mind.

“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.

Gillette Stadium isn’t the only professional sports venue that’s seeing upgrades or major work. Across the country, and throughout the NFL, teams are gearing up to build new stadiums or recasting their existing homes. A Gilbane-Turner JV is putting together the Buffalo Bills’ approximately $1.6 billion complex, and the Jacksonville Jaguars are prepping for a $1 billion renovation to their current venue.

Correction: This story has been updated with the names of the sports teams that are owned by the Kraft Group.