Gillette Stadium, the home of the New England Patriots, has received a disappointing ranking in The Athletic’s latest NFL stadium ranking. Despite being the backdrop for the Patriots’ successful two-decade dynasty, NFL writers across the country do not hold the stadium in high regard.
In the recent ranking of the top 30 NFL stadiums by The Athletic, Gillette Stadium came in at 21st place overall. This comes as a surprise considering the Patriots’ five Super Bowl victories since moving to Gillette Stadium in 2002. The ranking highlighted that four ballots even ranked Gillette Stadium as one of the worst stadiums in the NFL.
This is not the first time Gillette Stadium has received a lower ranking. In The Athletic’s previous NFL stadium ranking in 2020, Gillette Stadium was placed 20th overall. Since then, new venues like the Allegiant Stadium of the Las Vegas Raiders and the SoFi Stadium of the Los Angeles Rams/Chargers have joined the field.
The top spot in the ranking went to the Minnesota Vikings’ U.S. Bank Stadium. Half of The Athletic’s voters designated it as the number one stadium. On the other end of the spectrum, the Washington Commanders’ FedEx Field ranked last at number 30, with 25 out of 30 ballots considering it the worst stadium in the league.
Despite holding a significant place in NFL history, Gillette Stadium finds itself behind other older stadiums in the ranking. Stadiums such as Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Empower Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, and M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore all surpassed Gillette Stadium in the ranking.
Other factors, like the proximity to major cities and press box amenities, can influence reporters’ opinions of stadiums. However, it’s worth noting that Gillette Stadium also fared poorly in the NFL Players Association report cards released earlier this year. In this report, which surveyed 1,300 players across the league, the Patriots ranked 24th out of 32 teams in terms of overall player satisfaction. Players expressed that the facilities were old, dated, and in need of renovation.
Despite these rankings, Gillette Stadium is not resting on its laurels. The stadium has invested heavily in a $250 million renovation project set to be completed by the 2023 season. One of the highlights of this project is a new north end zone video board, which is the largest outdoor curved-radius video board in the country. The screen measures 22,200 square feet and is over five times the size of the previous board.
Other renovations taking place at Gillette Stadium include the construction of a 22-story lighthouse behind the north end zone videoboard, the Bud Light Celebration Beer Hall at field level, an expanded Enel Plaza and grand staircase, and more.
While Gillette Stadium may not have impressed NFL writers and players with its current offerings, the upcoming renovations aim to address their concerns and provide an improved experience for both fans and players alike.
