Gillette Stadium Granted More Putnam Way Use

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Gillette Stadium now has more dates to use the Putnam Way access road off of North Street.

Thursday night, the planning board approved a minor site plan modification that will allow for the road to be used for 12 special events rather than six. The stadium will continue to use the road for all football and soccer matches.

Other aspects of the deal, including a limit of 1,400 vehicles with road access per event and the general operation of the way, did not change.

Gillette Stadium attorney Peter Tam told the board that due to the total number of special events at the stadium, they are often close to the six-event limit. Events like the NHL Winter Classic, he noted, could not be imagined when the agreement was formed in 2000.

“The system has worked well for all these years," board member Gordon Greene said. "It’s helped our traffic. I think it's the right thing to do.”

The meeting was a drastic change from about 18 years ago when North Streets residents packed meetings to object to the concept of a VIP access road. Despite 67 abutters being notified of the public hearing, no one from the public made any comments.

“I think, overall, the cooperation between the stadium, the neighbors and public safety officials [has] eliminated that concern,” planning board Chairman Kevin Weinfeld said.

Stadium officials say the increase will allow them to provide access road passes to events where they were not available previously.

Image: File Photo