Not any more. For the past two years, the new Patriot Place, built on the stadium's grounds, has enticed visitors who are as interested in shopping, entertainment and dining as they are in Football.

From movies to gourmet pizza, skinny jeans to jazz, the mall brings a panoply of offerings. At one end, the Renaissance Hotel glitters, with spa facilities and the Twenty 8 restaurant, open to the public as well as hotel guests.

To the south, behind an arc of stores that includes Staples, Bed, Bath and Beyond and the Christmas Tree Shops, a half-mile nature walk wends through the last cranberry bog still operating in Foxboro. Open seven days a week, from dawn to dusk, the mulch-covered path offers glimpses of local flora and fauna as well as the seasonal variations of the wetlands.

The log cabin facade of the Bass Pro Shops, which sells fishing, hunting and boating supplies, continues the juxtaposition of indoors and outdoors. Here, a 34,000-gallon, freshwater aquarium holds more than 400 fish native to Massachusetts; live fish feedings are held three times a week through the end of December. At the Blue Fin Lounge, diners can gather around the fireplace for a cozy meal or, in sunny weather, sit overlooking the pond.

Closer to the stadium, the brick walkways of the North Retail Marketplace mimic a small-town shopping area. Dining options range from casual to extravagant. You can grab a burger at Five Guys, choose exotic pizza toppings at Tavolino's, or feast on North Italian food at Davio's Italian Steakhouse. Finish off the meal with an ice cream cone from Baskin-Robbins or a cream-filled chocolate at Godiva's.

Most clothes options appeal to the young, with Hollister, Aeropostale and Express within yards of one another. And for those who end up watching the Pats on an unexpectedly rainy or frigid day, Eastern Mountain Sports sells outdoor gear.

Patriot Place is as much an entertainment venue as it is a shopping area. At Showcase Live, music and comedy come to the stage. Dinner shows seat 500, while standing-room shows admit 1,000. The movies are right next door at the 14-screen Showcase Cinema de Lux.

Rock the Plaza features local musicians at free concerts on weekends. At the CBS Scene, a three-story restaurant with tabletop televisions, diners can watch the game (or other programming) in high definition.

Of course, Football still reigns supreme. Next to the stadium, the Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon honors Patriots heroes past and present.

The goal of this interactive museum is "preserving history as it's made." Through audio and video exhibits, fans can experience Football in new and accessible ways as they celebrate the Patriots' own Hall of Famers.

And at the adjacent Patriots ProShop, there is plenty of team merchandise to last through the season and beyond - to Super Bowl 2010.

If you go

Parking

Restricted retail lots make it possible to park easily at Patriot Place at any time. Event parking and tailgating are not allowed in these lots. Retail parking is always free, though on game days there is a two-hour limit after 2:30 p.m. On weekends, a shuttle service from the South to the North retail area is available.

The Hall

Hours: Mondays through Fridays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sundays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closed for the day on all Patriots home games

Tickets: Adults, $10; seniors (60 and older) and active military with ID, $7; children 5-12, $5, and children 4 and younger, free.

For more

For directions and more information, particularly about upcoming events and performances, visit www.patriot-place.com.