Gillette Stadium Drops High School Title Game

Massachusetts high school football finals will move to a new location this year.

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association announced Monday that it is seeking replacement sites for the MIAA Football Championships. The association learned late last week that Gillette Stadium would not host the event this season. The stadium cited scheduling constraints and logistics as the primary reasons for the change.

The New England Patriots have two home games in early December, with matchups against the Buffalo Bills on December 6 and the Minnesota Vikings on December 10. The New England Revolution also secured a spot in the MLS playoffs and currently hold the third position in the Eastern Conference. This schedule allows for potential home games on December 2 and 5, which require on-field practice the days prior. High school games must conclude by the first week of December.

Robert Kraft, owner of the Patriots and the stadium, initially selected Gillette as the host site in 2007. At that time, he stated the organization wanted to remember the thrill of playing in different venues. The stadium expressed thanks to the Patriots organization for hosting the event for nearly two decades.

The MIAA stated it is looking for venues that provide the best possible championship experience for student athletes and school communities. The association released brackets for the 128-team, four-division tournament on Sunday. The first playoff games are scheduled to begin on Thursday.