Foxboro Stadium opened on August 15, 1971, as Schaefer Stadium, a modest $7.1 million concrete bowl in Foxborough, Massachusetts that would become the home of the New England Patriots for 31 NFL seasons. The open-air venue seated around 60,000 fans and passed through three official names — Schaefer Stadium (1971–1983), Sullivan Stadium (1983–1989), and Foxboro Stadium (1989–2002) — reflecting a series of naming-rights deals that tracked the franchise’s turbulent ownership history.
Despite its utilitarian design, Foxboro Stadium punched well above its weight as a major-event host. The stadium welcomed six FIFA World Cup matches in 1994 and five FIFA Women’s World Cup matches in 1999, while also serving as the founding home of MLS side the New England Revolution from 1996 through 2001. Its final game — the January 19, 2002, AFC Divisional playoff against the Oakland Raiders, forever known as the ‘Tuck Rule Game’ — became one of the most controversial and celebrated moments in NFL history before demolition crews arrived weeks later.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Teams: New England Patriots (NFL), New England Revolution (MLS), New England Tea Men (NASL)
- Opened: August 15, 1971
- Closed: January 19, 2002
- Demolished: 2002
- Final Capacity: 60,292
- Construction Cost: $7.1 million
- Notable Events: 1994 FIFA World Cup (6 matches), 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup (5 matches)
A Stadium of Many Names
The stadium’s three name changes mirrored the shifting fortunes of the Patriots franchise. It opened as Schaefer Stadium, named for the Schaefer Brewing Company’s sponsorship deal, giving the venue a blue-collar identity that matched its exposed-concrete construction. In 1983 it became Sullivan Stadium, honoring the Sullivan family who then owned the team, before the final rebrand to Foxboro Stadium in 1989 tied it more closely to its host town.
Throughout these changes the physical structure remained largely the same — an unenclosed bowl that offered little protection from New England winters. Critics frequently cited its spartan amenities, but generations of Patriots fans embraced the rawness of the environment, and the frigid late-season atmosphere gave the home team a genuine competitive edge on cold January playoff nights.
World Stage and Final Chapter
Foxboro Stadium’s hosting of the 1994 FIFA World Cup elevated its international profile, welcoming matches that drew crowds from around the globe to a venue better known for cold-weather football. Five years later it reprised that role for the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, cementing its legacy as more than a single-sport facility despite its relatively small footprint by late-1990s NFL standards.
The stadium’s final moments proved unforgettable. On a snow-covered field on January 19, 2002, referee Walt Coleman’s controversial reversal of a Tom Brady fumble ruling — upheld under the NFL’s tuck rule — sent the Patriots past the Oakland Raiders 16–13 in overtime in the AFC Divisional playoff. The win launched New England’s dynasty era. Demolition of Foxboro Stadium began within days, and Gillette Stadium opened on the same site in 2002.
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Foxboro Stadium FAQs
When was Foxboro Stadium demolished?
Demolition began in late January 2002, shortly after the ‘Tuck Rule Game’ on January 19, 2002, and was completed by mid-2002. Gillette Stadium was built on the same site and opened in September 2002.
What was the last game played at Foxboro Stadium?
The last game was the AFC Divisional playoff on January 19, 2002, between the New England Patriots and the Oakland Raiders. The Patriots won 16–13 in overtime in what became known as the ‘Tuck Rule Game,’ one of the most debated officiating decisions in NFL history.
How many people did Foxboro Stadium hold?
At its final configuration, Foxboro Stadium had a listed capacity of 60,292, making it one of the smaller venues in the NFL during its final years of operation.
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Photo: NASA / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.