Gillette Stadium was one of the 16 venues for the 2026 World Cup, and while it used grass, it is reverting back to artificial turf for the NFL season, but the new layer needs to be replaced
Gillette Stadium is undergoing a change of turf on the eve of the 2026 NFL season
Gillette Stadium is undergoing a change of turf on the eve of the 2026 NFL season(Image: Getty Images)
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The New England Patriots must install a new artificial turf at Gillette Stadium after its recently-laid surface was deemed "noncompliant" by the NFL.
NFL players have been pushing for the league to switch entirely to natural grass, arguing that the World Cup has demonstrated that the transition is possible. League executives remain divided over whether a full change is practical.
Natural grass is already in place at half of the league's venues, and seven NFL stadiums have converted to natural grass to satisfy World Cup requirements — including several venues where making the switch had long been viewed as too difficult or unrealistic. Players have long stated, and the players’ association has stated, that playing on artificial turf is detrimental to players’ health and has caused injuries.
However, with the World Cup in the books, the Patriots are reverting: Gillette Stadium must install a new artificial turf playing field. This is because the newly installed layer of artificial turf did not meet NFL standards.
The surface originally installed was vetted by the AFC East franchise and the New England Revolution, who also play home games at the Foxborough stadium. The turf passed all NFL and MLS field tests, according to chief operating officer Jim Nolan, via ESPN.
However, the field was ultimately deemed noncompliant by the NFL based on the league and NFL Players Association’s independent laboratory testing protocols.
Last March, the new field was lab-tested and paired with an “E-layer” — a rubber shock pad that sits underneath the field system — because the lab testing was conducted over concrete.
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The Patriots must change the turf before facing the Indianapolis Colts in Foxborough on Thursday
The Patriots must change the turf before facing the Indianapolis Colts in Foxborough on Thursday(Image: Getty Images)
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But the combination of the artificial field and the E-layer was deemed unsuitable for Gillette Stadium. This is because the artificial turf is laid over a stone-dust base, not concrete, and, as it was not installed over an E-layer, it was deemed noncompliant even after passing all NFL field tests.
“We are confident the field would have passed if they had tested it in March without a pad, even over concrete,” Nolan said.
Regardless, the decision has been made, and a new artificial turf field must be installed for compliance. Nolan added: “The field we're installing is the latest version of the field we took out in January. From a player perspective, it will be incredibly consistent with what they played on last year.”
The Patriots host the Indianapolis Colts in their preseason opener this Thursday. New England will then kick off its regular season in a Super Bowl rematch against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, Sept. 9, with their first home game on Sunday, Sept. 20 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.