Patriots Super Bowl Send-Off Rally At Gillette Stadium Draws Estimated 35,000
FOXBORO (CBS) – Patriots fans sent the team to the Super Bowl in style. An estimated 35,000 people were at Gillette Stadium for a send-off rally on Sunday.
Crowds lined up as early as 1 a.m. Sunday morning, waiting to get their spot on the field.
In previous years, the rally has been held outside the Patriots Pro Shop. But this year, fans have the chance to go into the stadium and onto the turf.
The gates opened at 8 a.m., and fans rushed to get their spot on the field.
Speakers at the event featured team captains, including Tom Brady. Patriots coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft also spoke.
"We are here to show love to the team we love more than anything else in the world. It's just a celebration," said one of the fans who lined up early to get in for the rally.
Madison Mack said, "I love that they are so determined and they try their best and they give everything they got."
"To be on the field today, it feels amazing," said young Layla Flint. "I never thought I would be on this field today."
It was a special moment for Layla and her father; she was diagnosed with leukemia in 2016. "To see the smile on her face? That was priceless," he said.
A Brockton bakery made a massive cake for the occasion. The cake, which is about 16 feet by 12 feet, is comprised of 80 Funfetti sheet cakes and is designed to feed 5,000 people.
