Grand opening
The Town of Foxborough approved plans for the stadium's construction on December 6, 1999, and work on the stadium began on March 24, 2000. The first official event was a New England Revolution soccer game on May 11, 2002. The Rolling Stones played at the venue on September 5 on the band's Licks Tour; Jeremiah Freed was the opening band at the WBCN River Rave on June 9, making them the first band to ever play Gillette Stadium. Grand opening ceremonies were held on September 9, when the Patriots unveiled their Super Bowl XXXVI championship banner before a Monday Night Football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.