While a number of teams around the NFL have allowed a limited number of fans to attend games this season, the Patriots won't be joining those ranks at any point this season.
Gillette Stadium announced Monday afternoon that it will not be open to fans at least through the end of the 2020 football and soccer seasons, meaning the Patriots and Revolution will continue to play in an empty house.
In a statement, Gillette Stadium cites Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker's executive order prohibiting large capacity venues from opening to the public.
Massachusetts, like much of the country, has seen a rise in coronavirus cases recently, with five straight days of 1,600 or more cases through Sunday, the first such stretch for the state since early May.
"Throughout the last several months, Gillette Stadium officials and the Kraft Sports + Entertainment organization have worked diligently to develop a plan to safely host fans at a reduced capacity," the statement reads. "We have done so in collaboration with a team of infectious disease experts and the Massachusetts Reopening Advisory Board and feel confident in our plan, which complies with guidelines issued by the CDC, the National Football League and Major League Soccer.
"We have recently been informed that the Governor’s Executive Order prohibiting large capacity venues from opening to the public will remain in force for the remainder of the 2020 football and soccer seasons.
"We understand that the advisory board, Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito made this decision with the health and safety of the community in mind. Still, we know that this decision will be disappointing to the friends and family members of our respective teams and countless Patriots and Revolution Season Ticket Members who were eager to attend games this season.
"As we turn our focus to 2021, we will continue to work closely with the advisory board to safely reopen our building. We look forward to welcoming Patriots and Revolution fans back home to Gillette Stadium upon being granted approval next year."