As the home of Gillette Stadium, Foxboro is known around the world as a Mecca for sports. With the five-time Super Bowl champion Patriots and the always-in-the-hunt New England Revolution as residents and UMass and others dropping by to throw or kick it around every so often, it is one of the most trophy-heavy and fan-friendly places in the world And with the ever-expanding menu of opportunities at Patriot Place (see accompanying article on Davio’s), there are more reasons than ever to come by on any one of the 40 other weekends (or weeks) of the year.
For those who need to get your football fix on command, “The Razor” offers the screen-centric confines of CBS Scene, where fans can dine while watching almost any Tiffany Network broadcast ever. For those who love our men in blue, however, the place to be is the Hall at Patriots Place (www.thehallatpatriotplace.com/hall-of-fame/).
While the main NFL Hall is in Ohio, New England fans need travel no further than Foxboro to get more than their fair share of trophies and memorabilia. Created in 2008 by team owner (and, for many, savior) Robert Kraft, the Hall not only pays homage to the team and the many greats who have been a part of it – both on and off the field – it also offers insight into the game itself and its long and storied history in the region. From the jerseys worn by all high school champions to the ball from on of the original versions of “The Game” between Harvard and Yale, the Hall celebrates all that is football in New England; not just the team that wears the name.
Starting with an Emerson-quoting, chill-inducing video on the game, the team, and the devoted and dedicated local fans who make both of them great, the 30,000 square foot Hall offers 17 roomsfull of jerseys, balls, programs, photographs, and other artifacts (including the check with which Kraft purchased the team!) that literally bring visitors into the game. Guests can even try on official uniforms in a replica of the team’s locker room and get in a huddle to hear TB12 call ‘em out. For those who may be skipping school to attend (Ed note: This publication does not condone such behavior), there are kiosks where they can apply STEAM protocols to figure out what makes a perfect spiral perfect and how Adam Vinatieri and Saint Tom made all those game-winning kicks and passes. There is even an entire room dedicated to our beloved Pat Patriot, an enduring symbol that has lingered in hearts and minds even as “Elvis” prowls the sidelines. Other exhibits invite guests to see how they measure up in terms of size, speed, and skill with some of the Patriots’ best.
Speaking of the team’s best, the Hall’s centerpiece is a set of four energy-efficient and brilliantly displayed Magink pylons that display the larger-than-life images of past Pats who made the team what it is today and paved the way for tomorrow. From Capaletti, Hannah and Nelson to Grogan, Law, and Bledsoe, these towering tributes reveal the men inside the numbers and the numbers that made them worthy of induction. Just past this are the trophies themselves, housed in a room that is set to be expanded to fit not only number 5, but more!
While the Hall empties into the Pro Shop (natch), perhaps the best souvenir is an emailable image of catching the interception that made Malcolm Butler a household name or pictures in the team’s entrance tunnel, on a confetti-strewn duck boat, or with the John Deere that literally cleared the way for one of the team’s many runs to glory (and infamy).
So whether you just cant get enough Patriots or are looking for something fun to do before of after shopping or a meal at any of Patriot Place’s great eateries, the Hall is (dare we say it?) a touchdown!
