Patriot Place in Foxborough, Massachusetts

Gillette Stadium, which opened in 2002, is privately funded by the Kraft family, owners of the New England Patriots. The stadium covers 17 acres and includes over 500 concession locations and 1,000 tv monitors. The New England Patriots have grown in popularity in recent years, winning the Super Bowl in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, and 2018. While the stadium is not open to the public for tours, visitors and sports fan can get their fix of Patriots fever by visiting the Patriots Hall of Fame, an interactive museum that sports fan will enjoy.

Traveling with Kids:

• Check seasonal hours here

• The Hall of Fame offers free tickets for military and teachers with ID. Check here for more information.

• If you’re starting with the Hall of Fame and Pro Shop, park at the far area of the complex, to the left of the cinema. Look for “P1” signs.

• The Hall of Fame is located on the 2nd and 3rd floors, and pro shop and ticket window on the 1st floor. Take the elevator to the 3rd floor to begin the tour of the Hall of Fame.

• The entire Hall of Fame is handicap and stroller accessible with elevators. Restrooms are located near the elevators on both the 3rd and 2nd floors.

• Patriot Place has dozens of dining options, from fast food to fancy restaurants. Check here for a guide.

• Use your smartphone and scan over QR codes in every exhibit for additional information and statistics.

20 Must Do Activities at the Patriots’ Hall of Fame:

1. Walk through the giant football helmet to enter the 3rd floor museum.
2. Listen to recounts of important moments from memorable games.
3. Search for the jersey of the high school championship team closest to your home town (we found our actual hometown champions on display!)
4. Calculate the speed of a pass in the By the Numbers exhibits.
5. Play MathMovesU to sharpen your math skills and Guess Who to match the player with his baby photo.
6. Read about the origins of football in New England colleges in the 1820s and formalizing with the Harvard/ Yale game in 1876 (you can even see one of the first footballs).
7. Watch the 20 minute film in the 150 seat Raytheon Theater, narrated by James Earl Jones describing the history of the New England Patriots, with tons of highlights and interviews.
8. Compare uniforms, footballs, memorabilia, and trophies from various decades in the Patriots United exhibit.
9. Compare records for interceptions and sacks in the For the Record  exhibit (check out how many records Bill Belichick has amassed!)
10. Compare your foot size to the footprint of Tim Fox (size 12) and Andre Tippett (size 13) outlined on the floor.

11. Read short biographies and statistics about current Hall of Fame inductees.
12. Have your photo taken with the 6 Super Bowl rings and Vince Lombardi trophies.
13. Count the number of footballs symbolizing the longest NFL streak.
14. Ogle at the number on the check Robert Kraft wrote to purchase the Patriots (and note: that was only the DEPOSIT!)
15. Make the call by watching a review of various plays to see if you agree with the referees.
16. Pose with statues of players and in the replica locker room.
17. Practice your skills with various simulations including jumping and sprinting.
18. Have your photo taken catching the ball in a past game and email it to yourself.
19. Sit inside a retired DUCK boat used in the 2001 Super Bowl parade.
20. Shop for every imaginable souvenir in the Pro Shop on the first floor.

Make sure you leave time to visit other parts of Patriot Place, a 1.2 million square foot complex encompassing dozens of dining and shopping venues, a movie theater, and even a health care center.

For more sports related fun, check out our adventures touring AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas, and our recap of 10 sports halls of fame we have explored here.

And for more fun in nearby Boston, check out our adventures at the Museum of Fine Arts,  Boston Tea Party Ship and Museum, the Boston Historic Park, the Charlestown Navy Yard and USS Constitution and Museum, Massachusetts State House, and Legoland Discovery Center.