Honoring the greatest football player who ever lived is no easy task, but the New England Patriots are up for the challenge.
Since Tom Brady announced his retirement from the NFL after 23 seasons and seven Super Bowl championships, the team has been hard at work planning a ceremony that does justice to the quarterback's legendary career.
All that comes to fruition on Wednesday, June 12, as Brady becomes the 35th player inducted to the Patriots Hall of Fame presented by RTX.
Players typically must wait four years before their legacy is formally enshrined, but Patriots chairman and CEO Robert Kraft announced in September that Brady's grace period would be waived.
Still, that didn't feel like enough to celebrate the player who forever changed the trajectory of the franchise, so here's what the Patriots have in store and what to expect:
- Boston comedian Bill Burr will deliver the opening monologue to kick the ceremony off. Fans should be in their seats by 6:30 p.m. ET to ensure they don't miss Burr or any of the surprise musical performances.
- More than 100 of Brady's former teammates will return to Foxborough for the occasion including: Julian Edelman, Randy Moss, Rob Gronkowski, Willie McGinest, Devin McCourty, Vince Wilfork, Ty Law, James White, Wes Welker, Kevin Faulk, Matthew Slater, Dan Koppen, Logan Mankins, Matt Cassel, Brian Hoyer, Drew Bledsoe, Rob Ninkovich, and Patrick Chung.
- Before the ceremony, Jason McCourty, Deatrich Wise Jr., and Patriots reporter and host Tamara Brown will be live on the red carpet interviewing guests as they arrive. The Red Carpet Arrival show will begin at 5:15 p.m. ET and will be live-streamed on Gillette Stadium's video board and on Patriots.com. You never know who will show up, so be sure to get to your seat when gates open at 5:00 p.m. ET.
- On the plaza, Mike "Sarge" Riley will facilitate interviews with Patriots Hall of Famers and other special guests, while Patriots reporter Mike Dussault and radio host and personality Nick "Fitzy" Stevens run point on a similar setup on the main stage before the main event begins.
- Logistics for fans in attendance will be similar to that of a game day. Parking lots open at 3 p.m. ET, with gates into Gillette Stadium opening at 5 p.m. ET so fans can enjoy a number of Patriots Partner Activations at the Patriot Place Plaza outside the ProShop. There will be giveaways, photo ops, and more.
- All attendees will receive a special commemorative souvenir, so be sure to grab yours after your ticket is scanned.
- Season ticket members were given first priority to purchase tickets, with general public tickets still on sale for the event. The show will go on, rain or shine, but the forecast for Wednesday night looks promising.
- The evening will conclude about Gillette Stadium around 9:30 p.m. ET.
- Just like it is on a game day, the clear bag policy will be in effect, so be sure to check out Gillette Stadium's rules and regulations here.
- More information and FAQs about the event can be found here.
- Even if you don't have a ticket to Wednesday's must-see event, you can catch everything live on all Patriots digital and social platforms starting at 5:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
