Community Press Release
July 7, 2026
The Town of Foxborough has filed its Answer and Counterclaim in response to the pending lawsuit regarding the 2026 Entertainment License for Gillette Stadium. As outlined in the Town’s court filings, the Town believes it acted lawfully and appropriately in issuing the license and imposing conditions necessary to protect public health and safety. The Town further believes that the public safety costs at issue are supported by longstanding contractual obligations and are directly related to the unique services required to plan for and manage major events at Gillette Stadium.
The Town is disappointed that the Plaintiffs’ claims fail to recognize the extensive work performed by Foxborough’s public safety personnel each year. More than 70 events are held at Gillette Stadium annually, requiring months of coordination, training, operational planning, and interagency collaboration involving police, fire, emergency communications, public works, and other municipal staff before the first attendee arrives. The Town’s public safety professionals develop and implement the plans necessary to protect patrons, residents, and visitors and to ensure that large-scale events can be conducted safely and
efficiently.
As reflected in the Town’s court filings, the Town’s position is that these public safety services are uniquely required because of the scale and nature of the events held at the stadium and should not be borne by Foxborough taxpayers. Furthermore, the Town’s filings note that, under its longstanding contract with the Town, the Plaintiffs are required to bear these expenses, a fact that the Plaintiffs failed to include within their underlying appeal.
The Town remains committed to protecting both public safety and the interests of its residents while ensuring that events at Gillette Stadium can continue to be conducted safely and successfully. The Town is also committed to ensuring that the owners of Gillette Stadium adhere to their obligations to the Town.
Because this matter is the subject of active litigation, the Town will not comment further on
the substance of the case.