New England Patriots Opening Night Vs. KC Chiefs: Banner Ceremony Info, Game Time, And More

FOXBOROUGH, MA — The New England Patriots will begin the defense of their Super Bowl LI Championship when they host the Kansas City Chiefs in primetime on Thursday night, Sept. 7. The Patriots are the last team to defend their title after winning back-to-back Super Bowls in 2003 and 2004, an achievement 40-year-old Tom Brady and company are shooting for once more.

The NFL’s Thursday Night Kickoff began in 2002, and the defending Super Bowl Champion has hosted every year since 2004. New England is 3-0 when playing in the Thursday Kickoff game as the defending Super Bowl Champion. The Patriots won the first two such contests. New England defeated Indianapolis, 27-24, on Sept. 9, 2004, and Oakland, 30-20, on Sept. 8, 2005, in Thursday games at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots defeated Pittsburgh, 28-21, on Sept. 10, 2015.

Overall, the Patriots are 4-0 all-time in season openers after winning the Super Bowl, including a 30-14 Monday Night Football win vs. Pittsburgh on Sept. 9, 2002, the first regular season game at Gillette Stadium.

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Here's what you need to know about Thursday night's game:

Broadcast Information

TELEVISION: This week’s game will be broadcast by NBC and can be seen locally on NBC Boston-10. Al Michaels will handle play-by-play duties with Cris Collisworth as the color analyst. Michele Tafoya will work from the sidelines. The game will be produced by Fred Gaudelli and directed by Drew Esocoff. NBC Boston will have pregame coverage starting at 7 p.m.

NATIONAL RADIO: This week’s game will be broadcast to a national audience on Westwood One. Kevin Harlan and Boomer Esiason will call the game. Tony Boselli will report from the sidelines.

LOCAL RADIO: 98.5 FM, The Sports Hub, is the flagship station for the Patriots Radio Network. Play-by-play broadcaster Bob Socci will call the action along with former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, who will provide color analysis. The games are produced by Marc Cappello.

Pregame Ceremony and Kickoff

An opening night tradition, fans are advised to get to their seats by 8 p.m. for the Super Bowl banner ceremony. Located in the south end zone, the team had to raise the Gillette Stadium sign above the video screen to make room for the fifth banner. Following the renovation, there is now room for two extra banners in the space and four where they previously hung.

Gates open at 6 p.m. and kickoff is 8:30 p.m.

The Betting Line

Here's what the oddsmakers have to say about Thursday night's game via ESPN.com:

• Westgate - New England by 9 points
• Caesar's - New England by 9 points
• William Hill - New England by 9 points
• Wynn - New England by 8.5 points
• Cantor - New England by 8.5 points
• Unibet - New England by 8.5 points

Parking Information

Stadium parking lots open at 3:30 p.m. Parking is $40 for cars and motorcycles and $150 for buses, RVs and limos. For more parking information, visit the Gillette Stadium parking FAQ.

Allow for Plenty of Time Around the Stadium

With the arrival of a capacity crowd overlapping with the evening commute, fans are encouraged to arrive early to allow for plenty of time when traveling near the stadium. The usual traffic restrictions will be in place on local roads before and after the show. Fans must use Interstate 95, Interstate 495 or Route 140 to access Route 1 and Gillette Stadium.

Clear Bag Policy In Effect

Fans attending the game are reminded that bags larger than a small wristlet or handheld wallet will not be allowed inside Gillette Stadium, per the venue’s clear bag policy, which is in effect at all ticketed events. If carrying a bag into the stadium is necessary, there are two options: a clear plastic bag the size of a 1- gallon Ziploc bag or a small wristlet or handheld wallet not exceeding 8” x 5” x 2” (approximately the size of a hand).
Please note that bags larger than the permitted size, including purses, shoulder bags, diaper bags and backpacks, will not be allowed inside Gillette Stadium on event day. Further, bags exceeding the permitted size will not be held or stored by the venue and must be returned to a vehicle before entering the stadium. For more information on the clear bag policy, click here.

Banned Items

Prohibited items at Gillette Stadium include, but are not limited to: selfie sticks, GoPro cameras, camera bags, umbrellas, coolers, fanny packs, outside food and beverage, balloons or beach balls, noisemakers, signs larger than 11 x 17 and any other items deemed dangerous and/or inappropriate by stadium management. For more information on prohibited items, check the stadium security protocol.

If You Need Help

Guest service booths located on the 100- and 300-level concourses at midfield/50-yard line for all stadium events. If you need immediate assistance during the event, please contact the stadium hotline at 508-384-9205.

If you require anonymous assistance during the event for behavioral or conduct related matters, please send security operations a text message at 508-928-3838 or text the word, CONDUCT to 78247 followed by all the relevant details.

Some information in this article was provided by the New England Patriots/Gillette Stadium.

Image Credit: Dan Libon