Foxborough, Mass. - One of the greatest moments in New England Patriots franchise history is owed to a South Dakotan, yet South Dakota is the only state without a visitor to The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon.
"We reached our 49th state some time ago and have already had visitors from eight foreign countries, but still no South Dakota," said Bryan Morry, Executive Director of The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon. "We know Patriots fans in South Dakota would love to visit, but it's a long trip, so we decided to provide an incentive by offering a small prize."
In recognition of the milestone, The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon will award the first visitor carrying a valid South Dakota ID with a mini helmet autographed by Adam Vinatieri, the former Patriots kicker and three-time Super Bowl champion who hails from Yankton, South Dakota and attended South Dakota State.
Even without the unique prize, The Hall is worth the trip. The two-story facility adjacent to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. contains 36,000 square feet of interactive exhibits and rare artifacts, including the Patriots' three Lombardi Trophies. There is also an exhibit dedicated to Vinatieri.
On Jan. 19, 2002, Vinatieri completed a 45-yard field goal through driving snow to send the Patriots into overtime against the Oakland Raiders in the divisional playoffs. The Patriots went on to beat the Raiders on a 23-yard kick by Vinatieri, launching them toward their first Super Bowl victory. Among the signature exhibits at The Hall is one that allows visitors to relive Vinatieri's historic field goal. The interactive exhibit features a climate-controlled dome that drops in temperature upon entry and creates the effect of a snow globe while a video presentation dissects Vinatieri's kick. There is also an interactive kicking exhibit where fans can try to make the famous field goal for themselves.
ABOUT THE HALL AT PATRIOT PLACE PRESENTED BY RAYTHEON
The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon is the crown jewel of Patriot Place and the only sports and education experience of its kind. Through a dazzling array of interactive multimedia exhibits and artifacts never before viewable by the public, The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon showcases the tradition of the New England Patriots, explores the history of football in New England, and promotes math and science education for thousands of schoolchildren each year. In 2009, The Hall received a Gold MUSE Award from the American Association of Museums, was named to Boston Globe Magazine's Best of the New, and was a Yankee magazine Editor's Choice recommendation. For more information, please visit www.patriot-place.com/thehall.
