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(PHOTO: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports) Despite numerous NFL stadiums around the country reopening to limited capacity this season, the New England Patriots formally announced on Monday that Gillette Stadium will not host fans the remainder of the 2020 season.
Gillette Stadium released the following statement on their website.
“Throughout the last several months, Gillette Stadium officials and the Kraft Sports + Entertainment organization have worked diligently to develop a plan to safely host fans at a reduced capacity. We have done so in collaboration with a team of infectious disease experts and the Massachusetts Reopening Advisory Board and feel confident in our plan, which complies with guidelines issued by the CDC, the National Football League and Major League Soccer.
We have recently been informed that the Governor’s Executive Order prohibiting large capacity venues from opening to the public will remain in force for the remainder of the 2020 football and soccer seasons.
We understand that the advisory board, Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito made this decision with the health and safety of the community in mind. Still, we know that this decision will be disappointing to the friends and family members of our respective teams and countless Patriots and Revolution Season Ticket Members who were eager to attend games this season.
As we turn our focus to 2021, we will continue to work closely with the advisory board to safely reopen our building. We look forward to welcoming Patriots and Revolution fans back home to Gillette Stadium upon being granted approval next year.”
The news wipes out any chance of fan’s attending the Patriots remaining final four home games along with the New England Revolution playoff games.
Speaking on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show Monday, Patriots quarterback Cam Newton shared his reaction to the news.
Newton told WEEI it was “extremely” disappointing to hear the announcement.
“I’m an energy, vibrant type of person,” Newton said. “I’m not going to sit up here and say some of the outcomes of this year would’ve been different with fans because I know I had couple of reasons to have some boo-birds, but for a person to understand and to have played this game for so long in one specific environment, you feed off of the energy in the stadium.
“The momentum has been kind of watered down or lessened for that reason,” Newton continued, “because when you do score, the energy of the team, you have to generate it on the sideline, when normally home-field advantage is what it says: home-field advantage. You start getting the energy of the crowd and the fans kind of rejuvenate you in times that you need to bounce back.
Despite the missing energy, Newton understood the importance behind the decision.
“It’s extremely disappointing, but at the end of the day it’s for a great cause in knowing that it keeps people safe and I think that’s what’s most important.”
As it stands, the earliest fans can hopefully see the team again is next summer at training camp.
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