Gillette Stadium Drops Out as MIAA Football Finals Venue

Massachusetts high school football’s divisional championship games will move from Gillette Stadium this year because of scheduling conflicts, the venue said on November 2. The MIAA said it had learned late the previous week that the stadium was no longer available for the finals, which are scheduled for early December.

The Patriots are due to host the Buffalo Bills on December 6, while the New England Revolution could play a home playoff match on December 2 or 5. A Revolution game would require the teams to practice on the stadium field the day before, adding to the scheduling and field-preparation demands.

Gillette has hosted the MIAA finals since 2007. The stadium said the Kraft family had provided its use for the event, and expressed hope it could host the championships again in the future. The MIAA said it would work to find sites that offer a suitable experience for student-athletes and school communities. It has not announced replacement venues.

The change comes only weeks before the championships. St. John’s Prep coach Brian St. Pierre called the development shocking so late in the season. He said players would miss the chance to compete at a professional stadium, but also argued that Gillette’s size could make it difficult for players to feel the crowd’s energy.

St. Pierre suggested Boston College or Harvard as possible alternatives, while acknowledging he was speculating. The MIAA’s other sports finals take place at a mix of professional, college and high school venues. Attendance at the football championships has varied in recent years, with weather cited for a combined crowd of 16,800 last year across the eight games.