Foxborough select board approves 2026 Gillette Stadium entertainment license, pauses new expense charges for two months

The Foxborough select board voted April 17 to approve the 2026 annual entertainment license for Craft Sports and Entertainment for events at Gillette Stadium, One Patriot Place, while also agreeing to a two-month pause on charging the organization for newly listed expense items so both sides can review the town’s cost spreadsheet.

The action followed testimony from company representatives who said the draft of a substantially revised license and a spreadsheet of expenses reached them only shortly before the initial hearing. "Can't we just hit the pause button for a minute here and take a couple months before we make a major change in the license to talk about it," said Gary Ronin, representing Craft Sports and Entertainment, urging time for joint review and a dispute-resolution mechanism in the license language.

A select board member responding on behalf of the board said staff had spent months compiling the expense estimates and proposed approving the new license form but pausing any charges to the company for two months while discussions proceed. "We're going to put a two-month pause on any expenses being charged to the craft group to give you the time to review those and decide whether or not you think they're appropriate," the board member said. The board member added the town would not seek to recoup the paused amounts for that period.

Jay, town counsel, said the revised license reflected significant staff work and said the compromise included an approximately 18% reduction from an earlier draft. "The compromise is reflected in what ... is essentially not only a two-month pause but it's also an 18% discount," Jay said, describing the step as a good-faith middle ground while longer-term license discussions continue.

Board members and staff also set expectations for follow-up: they encouraged staff-to-staff, agenda-driven meetings that include chiefs and the town’s relevant professionals so technical questions about expense allocations can be answered, and emphasized that any communications must comply with open meeting law. Public-safety officials urged formal meetings with agendas because both town and stadium teams will face heightened workloads for upcoming large events.

The select board closed the public hearing and approved the license; two signed copies were exchanged at the meeting. The transcript records the motions, seconds and voice approvals but does not provide individual vote tallies.

Next steps include scheduling the staff-level meetings and reviewing the expense spreadsheet during the agreed two-month pause. The board and the company agreed to continue discussions and revisit any specific expense items before charges are applied.