Watch Live: New England Patriots Super Bowl sendoff rally at Gillette Stadium
The New England Patriots are leaving for the Super Bowl Sunday morning after a sendoff rally at Gillette Stadium.
You can watch coverage as the team heads out for Super Bowl on CBS News Boston in the embedded video.
The parking lots at Gillette Stadium opened for fans at 8 a.m. and the stadium gates opened at 9 a.m. Thousands of fans were in attendance, including some who braved the frigid temperatures without shirts on.
The entertainment included the Patriots cheerleaders and some former players making appearances. Then, the Dropkick Murphys entertained the crowd for about half an hour.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft addressed the crowd.
"We thank you all for how special you are. We hope to bring a seventh treasure back here to all of you," Kraft said.
Head coach Mike Vrabel addressed the crowd as well, come out yelling "Warriors, come out and play!" That rallying cry went viral thanks to wide receiver Mack Hollins' entrance prior to the AFC Championship Game.
"This is beyond my wildest dreams for the fans to have embraced us in the first year of this program the way that you have. I said all along, if our players played up to the standard that you guys expected and the effort in which they would play and their style of football, you would come out. And come out you did. So thank you," Vrabel said.
Patriots captains Drake Maye, Marcus Jones, Hunter Henry, Robert Spillane, Harold Landry III and Brenden Schooler also took the stage. To chants of "MVP," Maye took the microphone for a brief message.
"First off, I want to thank you guys. You guys have been great all season. We wouldn't be here without you guys. What a journey, and we still have more left to do. Shoutout to these guys. Love you guys. Celebrate when we get back. Go Pats, baby," Maye said.
The program ended and the Patriots boarded their buses to head for T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, Rhode Island.
The Patriots will face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX on Sunday, February 8 at 6:30 pm. at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The Patriots are 6-5 in Super Bowls and have played in more than any other team in the NFL. They're currently tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most Super Bowl wins.