When Robert Kraft bought the New England Patriots in 1994, the team played their games in a virtually worthless facility called Schaefer/Sullivan/Foxboro Stadium. By 1998 when Kraft nearly moved the franchise to Hartford, Connecticut, no less than thirteen other NFL teams had just built — or were about to build — brand-new, modern football stadiums. Seeing the handwriting on the wall, Mr. Kraft set out to construct a new Patriots home to keep pace with the competition. Sixteen years later, Gillette Stadium — which opened in 2002 — is still among the top venues in the NFL.
Of course, we know Gillette as home to the Revolution and, in that regard, it’s ranked as one of the worst soccer facilities in MLS.