Playoff Football at Gillette: Capturing the Roller-Coaster Ride of Patriots Fandom
The Patriots haven’t hosted a Divisional Playoff game since 2017, and we can’t wait for Sunday. There’s nothing quite like the drama of playoff football. From the roar of the crowd to the shared groans after a missed kick, it’s all about little moments that make live events what they are - and, of course, how they are remembered.
Across the NFL, those emotional swings are now being captured in what many fans describe as the, “roller-coaster ride photo,” of live sports. At venues such as Lumen Field and M&T Bank Stadium, Momento’s proprietary in-stadium camera technology captures authentic fan reactions in real time, preserving the highs and lows of the game with the same intensity as the action on the field.
The good news for Patriots fans is that same experience is also now front and center at Gillette Stadium, where Momento and Sports Illustrated Tickets’ “Faces in the Crowd” campaign are available at every Patriots home game, including last week’s Wild Card win, and of course, this weekend’s Sunday divisional playoff matchup against the Houston Texans.
Here’s how it works. During Patriots games, Momento’s in-stadium photography captures authentic fan reactions during the game at pivotal moments - touchdown, interceptions, turnovers, etc. Those moments can then be accessed by fans online as personalized digital keepsakes, including high-quality photos and animated GIFs. All you need is your section, row and seat number. It’s a subtle but meaningful shift in how fans experience live sports. Instead of hoping to catch a glimpse of yourself on the video board or taking your own selfie with friends, fans can now take home a lasting reminder of what it felt like to be there while being purely in the moment.
The Faces in the Crowd campaign shines a well-deserved spotlight on those everyday Patriots fans who make the atmosphere unforgettable. It’s about capturing the passion that creates the true homefield advantage, whether it’s a lifelong season-ticket holder or a fan attending their first game. Fans can collect a printed Sports Illustrated cover or a commemorative ticket in the Sports Illustrated Pavillion in the North End-zone concourse - which opens to any game ticket holder.
Patriots fans are also now part of a wider trend in sports where more teams are adopting Momento’s technology to deepen fan engagement. According to a recent SBJ piece, Momento’s platform is now used by several high-profile franchises in the NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS, and beyond, including:
- Baltimore Ravens (NFL)
- Cincinnati Bengals (NFL)
- Atlanta Falcons (NFL, SI Tickets experience)
- Washington Commanders (NFL, SI Tickets)
- Seattle Seahawks (NFL)
- Seattle Mariners (MLB)
- Seattle Kraken (NHL)
- New England Revolution (MLS, SI Tickets)
- New York Red Bulls (MLS, SI Tickets)
- Gotham FC (NWSL, SI Tickets)
All of these teams have deployed Momento to capture fan reactions and convert them into shareable digital memories that extend the excitement of gameday far beyond the stadium gates. And the feedback from fans and teams alike has been overwhelmingly positive. For example, at M&T Bank Stadium, the Ravens reported thousands of downloads and high engagement with captured photos on game days. The Mariners also experienced record-setting downloads during their historic playoff run.
For teams and fans, it’s clear to see why this is a win-win. Team officials note that Momento has elevated the fan experience and created memorable, shareable content that turns casual attendance into lasting personal moments. On the fanside, they appreciate having a tangible digital memory of their reactions during key moments, and many share those moments online via social media.
No question, the live sports and fan experience is continuously evolving. When it’s often easier to watch from the comfort of home, fans who go to games rightfully want more - they want connection, participation and memories that last a lifetime. By turning the camera toward the crowd, Momento is making fans part of the narrative of each game, and not just observers of it.
So - if you’re headed to Gillette Stadium this Sunday night - stay in the moment. Soak it all in. Afterwards, head to https://patriots.mymomento.com to relive either the joy of victory (or the worst case, the agony of defeat). Either way, it’s a new lifelong memory and forever will be a part of Patriots playoff history.
