An Inside Look At 2018 New England Patriots Training Camp

FOXBOROUGH, MA — More games, activities, and plenty of photos ops will be available for fans who make the trip to New England Patriots Training Camp.

The first practice session of the 2018 season is scheduled for Thursday and Gillette Stadium officials are preparing to host more than 100,000 fans over the next 10 days. The free practices are open to the public and will give Pats fans young and old an opportunity to see their favorite players work out.

“This is for the non-season ticket holder who wants to see the team up close. We have folks who are 80 bringing their grandkids, fans who are 23, 24 who bring their younger kids,” Phil Buttafuoco, Gillette Stadium’s executive director of special events, said Wednesday during a tour of the training camp area for Foxborough town officials.

In addition to the Patriots practice sessions, fans will be able to try their hand at Fowling, which is bowling but with footballs instead of bowling balls and a diving catch challenge. Kids will be able to take part in their own training camp which includes sprint, passing, and kicking challenges. Afterward, they can download their results.

Buttafuoco said the games are a way to engage with the younger members of the crowd who come to training camp. Fans of all ages will be able to enjoy a photo op with giant pictures of Devin McCourty, Tom Brady, and Dont’a Hightower and a “Go Pats” installation.

Other events include a kids program where the youngest Pats fans can make paper helmets, prizes for the Patriots fan who traveled the furthest to Foxborough, exhibits from the Hall at Patriot Place and a blood drive that's planned for the first four days of camp.

Town Manager Bill Keegan, Assistant Town Manager Mary Beth Bernard, Selectman Leah Gibson, and Selectman Mark "Doc" Elfman were part of the group that toured the area prior to Thursday's opening and even got a chance to test out some of the games, to varying degrees of success.

The most die-hard fans are expected to line up outside the fields behind Gillette Stadium up to five hours before the 8 a.m. gate opening. There is a security checkpoint at the entrance, but coolers and lawn chairs for the hill-area behind the south end zone are allowed.

In the event of poor weather, training camp may be moved into the Empower Field House. If that is the case, an announcement will be made by the Patriots and the practice session will not be open to the public.

Images taken by Dan Libon