Gillette Stadium is the home of the New England Patriots and the largest stadium in the United States. The stadium will be able to host a vast number of fans in addition to the media and the World Cup officials.
Robert Kraft plans to renovate the stadium to accommodate the larger field and the tournament. New locker rooms and team facilities are part of the renovation plan, but so is the addition of a retractable roof. The renovation would cost around $90 million and be covered by the 2018 World Cup bid. Kraft’s desire to bring the World Cup to his stadium led to the bid.
In 2015, Robert Kraft revealed his plans to bring the 2026 World Cup to Gillette Stadium, which would be played on artificial turf. The Patriots have had a longstanding relationship with the Russian soccer organization and have been one of the most popular teams. Additionally, the New England Patriots have been frequent visitors to the country.
In May 2018, it was announced that the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be contested in North America, with 48 teams competing in 12 venues. The United States of America, Canada, and Mexico have all presented proposals in the hope of hosting the event. The U.S. hosted in June 2018, when the votes were cast, and it was decided that the U.S. would be the host. On January 13, 2019, it was announced that Foxborough would be one of the 12 venues for the 2026 World Cup.
Gillette Stadium was built in 2002 with a retractable roof. It has a seating capacity of 71,878. Built as a joint effort between Kraft Sports Group and Merrill Lynch, it was the most expensive football stadium upon completion. The stadium’s lower bowl features eight sections of luxury suites and 435 box seats. The overall capacity will grow to 71,500 once a new $560 million training center for the New England Patriots and other amenities are completed on the stadium’s north side in 2023.
During the kickoff event, Robert Kraft made some pointed remarks, including regarding the need for the U.S. to generate more World Cup support. Robert Kraft is the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kraft Group, which is a diverse holding company with many interests. Go to this page for more information.
Learn more about Kraft on https://www.crunchbase.com/person/robert-kraft