NFL fans react to Patriots’ new training facility partnership with New Balance

New Balance is teaming up with the Patriots, making the brand the official and exclusive athletic footwear and apparel partner of the team and Gillette Stadium.

The partnership includes the development of a new state-of-the-art training center in New England. It will give the company a major presence across performance, facilities and community initiatives.

The Patriots’ new training complex next to Gillette Stadium will be named the New Balance Athletics Center, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday. It will open this spring, while the surrounding practice fields will be known as the New Balance Practice Fields.

The name announcement sparked reactions from NFL fans on X, with some posting jokes and humorous takes about the facility.

“That’s a brutal name,” one fan said.

“I’m going to predict that most players will not be wearing the ugly ass zero drip cleats and shoes that company makes,” a fan commented.

“It’s weird to be how the only people New Balance used to Sponser were suburban dads,” another fan said.

“Imagine being an NFL player and having to wear New Balance,” one fan wrote.

“First the stadium, now the training facility soon the New England Patriots playbook will be sponsored too,” a fan tweeted.

“Cooper Flagg to the Pats?!?!” another fan wrote.

New Balance maintains a broad global sponsorship portfolio that spans teams, leagues and athletes. Among its notable partnerships are the New York Road Runners and the NBA, along with MLB franchises such as the Red Sox and the Mets.

The brand also released collaborative product lines with prominent athletes, including Dodgers pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard.

A look at the moves the Patriots have made in free agency

The start of the new league year brought significant roster turnover to the New England Patriots. The team allowed two starters from last season, K’Lavon Chaisson and Jaylinn Hawkins, to leave in free agency, but quickly added new talent.

One of the headline additions was Kevin Byard, who reunites with Pats coach Mike Vrabel after spending six seasons together with the Titans. The veteran safety signed a one-year, $9 million contract and is expected to take over the starting job previously held by Hawkins.

Here’s the list of every free-agent signing New England has made in 2026.

WR Romeo Doubs – Four years contract ($68 million)

OG Alijah Vera-Tucker – Three years ($42 million)

DE Dre’Mont Jones – Three yrs ($39.5 million)

TE Julian Hill – Three years ($15 million)

FB Reggie Gilliam – Three years ($12 million)

S Kevin Byard – One year ($9 million)

LB K.J. Britt – One year, ($1.3 million)

S Mike Brown – One year ($1.3 million)

OLB Jesse Luketa – One year ($1.1 million)

QB Tommy DeVito – Two years ($7.4 million)

FB Jack Westover – One year ($1.1 million)