Why Are the New England Patriots in Boston?

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The New England Patriots are technically not in Boston. The franchise plays its home games at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, approximately 22 miles southwest of downtown Boston. Despite their Greater Boston affiliation, the Patriots have called Foxborough home since 1971 when the team left the city due to inadequate stadium options and political indifference. The “New England” name reflects the regional identity the franchise adopted after leaving Boston proper.

Why Did Boston Lose the Patriots?

  • Political turf wars between Boston neighborhoods prevented agreement on a stadium location
  • No venue within Boston could accommodate the NFL’s new 50,000-seat minimum requirement after the merger
  • The city offered no public funding or infrastructure support to retain the franchise
  • Foxborough provided free land and a welcoming community, making the relocation financially straightforward

Could the Patriots Ever Return to Boston?

  • Robert Kraft attempted to build a downtown Boston stadium in the mid-1990s, but negotiations collapsed
  • Hartford, Connecticut nearly lured the team away with a stadium proposal in the late 1990s
  • Kraft ultimately chose to privately fund Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, committing the franchise to that location long-term
  • Boston remains the only major professional sports market where all venues are privately owned, eliminating public funding incentives to move

Where Exactly Is Gillette Stadium?

  • Gillette Stadium sits 22 miles southwest of downtown Boston in Foxborough, Massachusetts
  • The venue lies 18 miles northeast of Providence, Rhode Island, accessible to fans across New England
  • Travel time varies between 45 minutes and 90 minutes depending on traffic conditions
  • No direct public transit connects Boston to the stadium, though game-day shuttle services run on match days
  • The location between Boston and Providence reflects the regional branding behind the “New England” name

Why Did the Team Change Its Name?

  • The franchise initially proposed “Bay State Patriots” after leaving Boston, but the NFL rejected it due to the unfortunate “B.S. Patriots” abbreviation
  • “New England Patriots” was officially announced on March 22, 1971, coinciding with the move to Foxborough
  • The regional name reflected the broader fanbase the team hoped to attract beyond Boston city limits
  • The rebrand positioned the franchise as belonging to all six New England states
  • The name change proved successful, helping build one of the NFL’s most loyal and geographically diverse fanbases

Who Kept the Patriots in New England?

  • Robert Kraft purchased Foxboro Stadium in 1988, gaining leverage over any potential relocation
  • Owner James Orthwein attempted to move the team to St. Louis in 1993, but Kraft refused to release them from their stadium lease
  • Kraft bought the Patriots in 1994 for $172 million, specifically to prevent their departure
  • He had been a season ticket holder since 1971 and was determined to keep the team local
  • Kraft’s ownership stabilized the franchise, leading to six Super Bowl championships and transforming the Patriots into one of the NFL’s most valuable organizations