The Patriots are back on the fields behind Gillette Stadium, and training camp comes with a full slate of public practices, joint sessions, and a few storylines worth tracking from the first whistle.
Fans can get in free, and parking is free too. The team will hold 13 public practices on July 25-28, July 30-Aug.
1, Aug. 3-4, Aug.
7, Aug. 11, and Aug. 19-20.
Every session starts at 10:15 a.m. except July 27, when a walkthrough begins at 10 a.m. Gates open an hour before practice and close an hour after it ends.
The Patriots also have three joint practices on the calendar: against the Colts on Aug. 11 and against the Eagles on Aug. 19-20, all leading into preseason games.
If you’re heading down to watch, the basics matter. A low spot works best for individual drills, while a higher view is better for team periods. Fans are told to know the roster and jersey numbers, pay attention to pairings and combinations, judge the one-on-one battles with detail, watch the game situations, and listen closely to what the coaches are saying.
On the field, the biggest question is what a Super Bowl rebound looks like. A year ago, nobody expected the Patriots to get there after back-to-back four-win seasons before Mike Vrabel arrived in Foxborough.
Then they ripped off 14 wins. This time, there’s no sneaking up on anybody.
Drake Maye is a major reason why. Coming off a near-MVP campaign, the quarterback has already shown he belongs among the league’s elite. The defense brings back plenty of contributors, with Milton Williams and Christian Gonzalez among the key pieces on a unit that was stingy last season.
The other big change is at receiver, where A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs are set to reshape the room.
Doubs signed a four-year, $68 million deal after posting 55 catches for 724 yards and six touchdowns with the Packers. He’s expected to settle in as the No. 2 option behind Brown, who topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of his four seasons with the Eagles.
Brown’s ability to win contested balls downfield and beat man coverage fits well with what Maye does best.
The schedule brings its own challenge. After the opener in Seattle, the Patriots’ road gets tougher with a home opener against the Steelers on Sept. 20, then trips to Jacksonville and Buffalo.
Last season’s slate was easier after a last-place AFC East finish two years ago, but this time the Patriots get the top end of the draw. They’ll also log the fifth-most miles in the league, at 27,590.
There’s also a community event on the calendar. The Patriots will host Pet Adoption Day on Saturday, July 25, with the team saying, “Join New England Patriots and the Pawtriots in finding dogs their forever home,” in partnership with the Animal Protection Center of Southeastern Massachusetts, Baypath Humane Society of Hopkinton, Potter League of Rhode Island, and Buddy and Friends Animal Rescue.
The preseason schedule includes three games, two at Gillette Stadium, and all three will air on WBZ.
A few other key NFL dates are worth circling. The Hall of Fame Game is Aug. 6 in Canton, Ohio, with the Cardinals facing the Panthers at 8 p.m. on NBC and Peacock.
Rosters must be trimmed to 53 players by Aug. 30, the fourth year with a single cutdown date after teams can carry 90 players through preseason. And Sept. 9 brings the regular-season opener, a rematch of Super Bowl LX, when the Patriots visit the Seahawks in Seattle.
For fans planning a trip to camp, the details are straightforward: concessions are available around the practice fields and in the Fan Zone, along with Patriots Hall of Fame exhibits. Everything sold is cashless.
Pat Patriot, Patriots cheerleaders, and Patriots alumni will make appearances. Collapsible chairs, strollers, and outside food and drinks are allowed, while tailgating is not.
Sunscreen, hats, and a pen or Sharpie are recommended for autograph sessions after practice.
Security will be tight. Everyone with a view of the fields will go through metal detectors and bag screening, and clear bags are encouraged.
Prohibited items include animals except service animals, alcohol, beach balls, bullhorns and air horns, coolers, fireworks or pyrotechnics, helium balloons, illegal drugs, laser pens, noisemakers, video cameras, weapons, unmanned aircraft systems, remotely controlled model aircraft, selfie sticks, and GoPro cameras. Flags are allowed, but flagpoles must be no longer than 2 feet.
For drivers, the routes are simple: from Boston and farther north, take I-95 South to Exit 19, then Route 1 South about 3 miles to Gillette Stadium on the left. From Cape Cod, take I-495 North to Exit 36A, then Route 1 North about 4 miles to the stadium on the right. From southern Connecticut and Rhode Island, take I-95 North to I-495 North to Exit 36A, then Route 1 North about 4 miles to Gillette Stadium on the right.
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