The New England Patriots will play their first preseason game of 2026 on Thursday night. On the eve of the contest, another event took place on the franchise’s premises: the official opening of a new, state-of-the-art training facility.
The New Balance Athletics Center as it is known for sponsorship reasons gives the team 160,000 square feet dedicated exclusively to football, the largest such space in the league.
“Today is a very exciting day for the New England Patriots,” said Robert Kraft.
“When our
family purchased the Patriots in ‘94, we made a commitment to all our fans to do everything we could to build a first-class organization and give the team the right resources to compete at the highest level. For more than 30 years that commitment has guided us. It has meant investing not only in the team on the field but also the people, facilities and infrastructure that support the team every day. This building is the latest example of that commitment.”
The Patriots started using the facility, which provides dedicated spaces for coaching, scouting, athletic training, strength and conditioning, sports science, nutrition, and recovery, earlier this offseason. The club’s draft operation and workout program already were held there during the spring.
The new athletics center features a 15,000-square-foot weight room, a 11,000-square-foot dining and kitchen area and a 10,500-square-foot virtual reality room. In addition, 3,700 square feet are used for hydrotherapy and recovery, while the new locker room includes 92 permanent lockers as well as a players lounge and barbershop right next to it.
The Patriots will open their 2026 preseason on Thursday night against the Indianapolis Colts, with whom they already held one joint practice earlier this week. Kickoff at Gillette Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
