If you want to understand Gillette Stadium, you have to understand one decision: Robert Kraft chose to pay for it himself. No public bailout, no taxpayer bonds. In seven years of researching who owns America’s stadiums, that remains one of the boldest ownership moves I’ve documented — and it’s why the Patriots still play in New England today.
With the Boston area hosting seven FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, including a quarterfinal, here is the complete story of who owns Gillette Stadium.
What Is Gillette Stadium?
Gillette Stadium is a 65,000-seat venue in Foxborough, Massachusetts, roughly halfway between Boston and Providence. Opened in 2002, it’s home to the NFL’s New England Patriots, MLS’s New England Revolution, and the new NWSL club Boston Legacy FC. For the 2026 World Cup, FIFA refers to it as “Boston Stadium.”
Who Owns Gillette Stadium?
Gillette Stadium is owned by Robert Kraft through Kraft Sports + Entertainment (part of his family’s Kraft Group). Unlike the publicly owned venues that dominate this World Cup, Gillette is privately owned and was privately financed — Kraft built it with his own money.
That makes Gillette one of only a couple of genuinely private venues in the tournament, alongside Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. Kraft owns the stadium, the surrounding Patriot Place development, and the teams that play there — a fully integrated, family-controlled operation.
Gillette Stadium Ownership at a Glance
| Party | Role | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Kraft / Kraft Sports + Entertainment | Owner | Privately owns and financed the stadium |
| The Kraft Group | Parent Company | Family holding company behind the stadium and teams |
| New England Patriots & Revolution | Resident Teams | Both owned by Kraft and based at the venue |
| Gillette (Procter & Gamble) | Naming-Rights Holder | Boston-based brand; name only, no ownership stake |
Who Owns the New England Patriots?
The Patriots are owned by Robert Kraft, who bought the team in 1994 for a then-record $172 million. His purchase kept the franchise from relocating, and it went on to become one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history. The same family owns the stadium and the Revolution. Read the full breakdown in my guide to who owns the New England Patriots.
Privately Built to Save the Team
This is the heart of the ownership story. In the late 1990s the Patriots flirted with a move to Hartford, Connecticut. To keep the team in Massachusetts, Kraft made the rare choice to finance the new stadium privately rather than wait on public funding. That decision is why he owns the building outright today — and why, for the World Cup, Kraft Sports + Entertainment even stepped in to ensure the town of Foxborough wouldn’t bear the event’s costs.
The Naming Rights Story
The name comes from Gillette, the Boston-founded razor brand now owned by Procter & Gamble, which signed on as the naming-rights partner when the stadium opened in 2002. It’s a hometown fit — but, as always, the naming sponsor owns the sign, not the stadium. For the World Cup, crews have already covered the Gillette signage in favor of the neutral “Boston Stadium.”
Gillette Stadium at the FIFA World Cup 2026
The Boston area is hosting seven matches as “Boston Stadium,” a slate that runs through the group stage and includes a quarterfinal in July. A recent grass-surface and lighting upgrade has the venue tournament-ready. See how it stacks up in my FIFA World Cup 2026 stadium ownership guide.
Could the Ownership Ever Change?
As a privately held asset, Gillette’s future rests with the Kraft family. Robert Kraft has built a sprawling, integrated sports-and-real-estate operation around the stadium, and there’s no indication he intends to sell. Any change would most likely be a generational handoff within the family rather than an outside sale.
The Bottom Line
My summary: Robert Kraft privately owns Gillette Stadium, the Patriots, and the Revolution, while Gillette just rents the name. It’s a stadium that one owner built to save his team — and in 2026, “Boston Stadium” repays that bet by hosting World Cup football all the way to a quarterfinal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who owns Gillette Stadium?
Robert Kraft, through Kraft Sports + Entertainment, privately owns Gillette Stadium — along with the Patriots and the Revolution.
Q2. Is Gillette Stadium publicly or privately owned?
It is privately owned and was privately financed by Kraft — unusual among the 2026 World Cup venues, most of which are public.
Q3. Does the Gillette company own the stadium?
No. Gillette (owned by Procter & Gamble) holds only the naming rights from 2002. It has no ownership stake.
Q4. What is Gillette Stadium called during the World Cup?
It is referred to as “Boston Stadium” during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Q5. How many World Cup matches will the Boston area host?
Seven matches, including a quarterfinal.