The New England Patriots will open their 51st annual training camp on Thursday, July 29, with practices scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. at Gillette Stadium.
Training camp is scheduled to run through August 16, with practices open to the public on the fields behind Gillette Stadium.
The practice schedule throughout training camp is tentative and subject to change. Fans planning to attend practice are encouraged to check Patriots.com for daily updates or call the training camp hotline at 508-549-0001. The tentative practice schedule through the first seven days of training camp calls for two practices each day from Thursday, July 29 through Wednesday, Aug. 4, with a morning session from 9:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m. and an afternoon session from 3:45-5:30 p.m., with the exception of August 2 which will have a morning practice open to the public and an evening practice exclusively for season ticket holders inside the stadium.
Patriots fans of all ages will be able to enjoy and celebrate the game of football at the home of the Patriots. Parking and admission are free.
Gillette Stadium offers an abundance of parking for the thousands of fans who attend training camp practices and enjoy the family-oriented entertainment. Bleacher seating, located on the west sideline and in the north end zone of the practice fields, will provide seating for thousands of fans with overflow seating for thousands more on a hillside in the north end zone.
Besides watching practice, fans attending training camp can enjoy other types of family entertainment, including Patriots Experience.
Patriots Experience is an interactive-football-themed playground. It features interactive games allowing fans to test their kicking, passing and tackling skills on a variety of obstacle courses and similar challenges. Fans can also enjoy games, music, face painting and appearances by the Patriots Cheerleaders. The football-themed playground is located adjacent to the West Suite/Clubhouse lot along the route from the public parking lots to the practice fields. Fans should check www.patriots.com for the schedule. All fans participating in Patriots Experience must sign a waiver form, available at training camp or download it here.
Most training camp practices are open to the public. Practice schedules will be updated daily at www.patriots.com/trainingcamp/2010/ and on the Training Camp Information hotline at 508-549-0001. Parking, admission to practices, admission to Patriots Experience and rosters are all free.
JOINT PRACTICES WITH SAINTS AND FALCONS
The Patriots will host a combined practice session with the defending Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints during the 2010 training camp. New Orleans will visit Foxborough for practices on August 10, two days prior to the preseason debut at Gillette Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
The following week, New England will head to the Falcons' headquarters in Atlanta on Tuesday, August 17 for joint practices on Aug. 17 and 18, two days before the teams battle in a preseason meeting at the Georgia Dome on August 19.
RAIN POLICY
When the Patriots are forced to practice indoors due to inclement weather or poor field conditions, those practices will be closed to the public. For that reason, we stress the importance that fans and media visit Patriots.com or call the training camp hotline at 508-549-0001 prior to every practice for up-to-the-minute changes in the daily practice schedule.
ROSTER REDUCTION DATESThe NFL roster limit during training camp is 80 players. The first mandatory preseason roster reduction date is Aug. 31, two days prior to the Patriots' final preseason game. On that date, rosters must be reduced to 75 players. On Saturday, Sept. 4, rosters must be reduced to the regular-season limit of 53 players. On Sept. 5, clubs may establish an eight-man practice squad.
PATRIOTS PROSHOPThe Patriots ProShop will be open daily on all days that the public has access to practice. The ProShop is located on the northeast corner of the stadium below The Hall at Patriots Place presented by Raytheon. Fans may access the ProShop by car or by the staircase on the north side of the stadium. Times will vary depending on the daily practice schedule, opening at least 45 minutes before and closing at least 45 minutes after each practice session. Call 888-662-PATS for exact daily hours.
PROHIBITED ITEMSTo ensure that all fans have a safe and enjoyable visit to Gillette Stadium for Patriots Training Camp, the following items are prohibited:
- Animals, except service animals assisting those with disabilities.
- Any alcoholic beverages
- Beach balls
- Bullhorns and air horns
- Coolers
- Fireworks or pyrotechnics
- Flags will be allowed, however flag poles over two feet in length will not be allowed.
- Helium balloons
- Illegal drugs or any other illegal substance
- Laser pens
- Noise makers
- Video Cameras
- Weapons of any kind (including knives)
- Any other item deemed inappropriate by stadium management
No prohibited items will be accepted at training camp for safekeeping. Fans are reminded to please leave all such items secured in their vehicles.
Individuals with possession of a prohibited item(s) may be denied admission to training camp, ejected, arrested and prosecuted. Prohibited items that are discovered at training camp will be confiscated.
CONCESSIONS
The concession stands at training camp offer fans a variety of options.
PARKINGParking is free throughout training camp. Tailgating is not permitted in the lots during training camp.
