Robert Kraft’s presence, or absence, will determine the story line at Gillette Stadium when the New England Patriots host the Pittsburgh Steelers for their Week 2 home opener. The owner’s recent decision to block Macklemore from performing at the stadium after the rapper made pro-Palestinian remarks has shifted attention from football to a broader cultural and financial dispute.
That controversy intensified after Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour, prompting other opening acts to pull out in solidarity. Macklemore challenged Kraft to match his $1 million donation to aid Palestinian people, and Kraft responded in a public statement, saying he plans "to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis." The exchange has left local fans, national media and performers watching whether Kraft attends Sunday and whether he will address the dispute.
On the field, the Patriots arrive after a season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks, a rematch of the 2026 Super Bowl that Seattle also won. Pittsburgh enters off a win over the Atlanta Falcons. Kickoff is Sunday, Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. ET, with local broadcasts on CBS and multiple streaming options available, including DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and Paramount+. Oddsmakers currently list the Patriots as the betting favorite.
A photograph published with the game coverage shows quarterback Drake Maye speaking with Kraft before kickoff, underscoring how intertwined the team’s on-field leadership and ownership have become in public view. For Patriots fans and civic leaders in Foxborough, the immediate question is whether the home opener will become a referendum on Kraft’s actions or remain primarily a sporting event.
What to watch next: whether Kraft appears at Gillette Stadium, whether he makes any public remarks, and how sustained attention to the controversy affects the Patriots’ public standing. The Steelers matchup will provide the first clear measure of how the dispute alters attendance, coverage and the conversation inside a stadium that is normally focused on football.
