Thousands of New England Patriots fans braved frigid temperatures Sunday morning for a Super Bowl send-off rally at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. The rally featured players, management, and ownership with appearances like New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft, Head Coach Mike Vrabel, quarterback Drake Maye, and others.
Fans began lining up outside the gates around 8 a.m., braving temperatures that, with wind chill, were estimated to feel like -17°F.
Gates opened at 9 a.m., and event programming began with a live DJ set around 9:30 a.m. The entertainment portion of the event was headlined by Boston’s own Dropkick Murphys with other performances from the Patriots Cheerleaders and Flagship Drumline. Around 11:00 a.m., after the speaker’s remarks, the team boarded buses, departed for the airport, and flew to San Jose, Calif. for Super Bowl LX media week.
Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 8. You can watch the game on NBC or stream it on Peacock.
Patriots fans cheer and hold up signs on the field at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)A shirtless fan with body paint that says “I heart Drake Maye” on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)Patriots owner Robert Kraft addresses the crowd of fans with his son, Jonathan Kraft on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)A child cocooned in winter gear sits atop someone’s shoulders during the send-off rally on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)A fan carries an empty Bud Light beer keg up the stadium stairs as a part of a raffle competition for fans on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins came out on stage without shoes on to hype up the crowd of thousands on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. The ‘feels like’ temperature was -4°F at the time. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)Duncan from Dighton, Mass. won an all-expenses-paid trip to Super Bowl 60 during the rally on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)Patriots quarterback Drake Maye addresses the crowd at Gillette on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)A young fan on someone’s shoulders watching the stage on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)A Patriots fan waving a Columbian flag during the rally on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)Fans scream and cheer during the Super Bowl send-off rally on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)A fan screams and cheers during the rally on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)
Arthur Mansavage (he/him) is a senior Journalism student from Carmel, Indiana. He is a Multimedia Managing Editor at The Berkeley Beacon, where he oversees the photo/web department and manages reader experience & engagement.
