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The award-winning University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band will perform at halftime of the New England Patriots’ home opener against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 7. 

The 1 p.m., Week 1 matchup is the first opportunity for fans to see the new-look Patriots in regular season action under new Head Coach Mike Vrabel.

The Minuteman Marching Band, the largest collegiate marching band in the Northeast and the only one to have received the prestigious Sudler Trophy, the highest award a college band can achieve, last performed at Gillette Stadium in 2018. Their first performance for the Patriots was in 1966.

The 350-member complement of the “Power and Class of New England” will include musicians, baton twirlers, dancers and color guard members. The band will perform the music of pop superstar Rhianna.

“The members of the band are thrilled by this opportunity,” says director Timothy Todd Anderson, who has led the Minuteman Marching Band since 2011 and through two Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades. “We can’t wait to put on a show for the 65,000 Pats fans.” 

“We are so proud to have the Minuteman Marching Band represent New England at the Patriots’ home opener and we thank the Kraft family for the opportunity to showcase the incredible talent of our students,” says UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes. “The Patriots organization and the UMass Marching Band both represent excellence, and we look forward to seeing that on display on September 7! Go U, Go UMass!”

“As someone who has held Patriots season tickets for almost 40 years, I couldn’t be more thrilled that I will be able to see our world-class, award-winning UMass Amherst Minuteman Marching Band take the field at Gillette Stadium,” UMass President Marty Meehan said. “I take special pride in the accomplishments of the Minuteman Marching Band. What a wonderful way to start the season seeing them display their amazing talent and hard work in front of Patriots fans. Go Minuteman! Go Patriots!”

The day before the appearance in Foxborough, the band will march at McGuirk Stadium as the UMass football team takes on Bryant University on Saturday, Sept. 6.

The Patriots game will be broadcast on CBS / WBZ and 98.5 FM The Sports Hub.