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Report: Revs ownership eyeing Boston location for stadium

RevsStadium-BostonGlobe

By RYAN TOLMICH

The wheels seem to finally be turning on the New England Revolution’s plans for an urban stadium.

The Boston Globe is reporting that the Kraft family, the team’s owners, is planning construction of a new stadium in Boston. The Revolution currently play outside the city in Foxborough’s Gillette Stadium, home of the Kraft’s other franchise, the NFL’s New England Patriots.

One location being considered is a strip of city-owned land on Boston’s Frontage Road off of Interstate 93, which would offer easy access to both the highway and public transit. The Krafts have reportedly held discussions with local officials about the site, which is currently used as a yard for towed cars and public works.

“We are currently developing concepts for how a soccer stadium for the Revolution can benefit the greater Boston area,” said the Krafts in a statement. “Once we have more developed plans, we will comment further.”

Robert Kraft is reportedly hoping to have the stadium constructed within the next five years and aims for a capacity of 18,000 to 22,000 fans.

The targeted location is also adjacent to a proposed location in Boston’s 2024 Summer Olympics bid. The site had been looked at as a possible Olympic Stadium spot by the city’s Olympics group, of which Kraft is a member.

What do you think of the Revolution’s stadium ideas? How much faith do you have in the proposed plan?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Wow, am i dreaming. Let me get this right, so revolution will get a stadium by latest 2024 IF Boston gets the olympics.
    That means revolution will a soccer stadium before whitecaps, sounders. Wow crazy stuff.If revolution can do it then whitecaps and sounders can as well.

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  2. I would still question the Kraft’s motivation for saying they are going to build a new stadium. They already own the stadium the Revs are in and the Revs get them +/- 20 additional dates there instead of it sitting empty most of the time. That is all money in their pocket.

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  3. This is the first step to another major MLS FAIL

    They find the land but build the worst stadium concepts. The stadiums leave to much open space and never account for weather elements.

    Its 38 degrees in boston right now and the stadium will probably look like the Orlando Stadium

    MLS needs to start building stadiums that look like the new Real Madrid Stadium proposal

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  4. 18-22….I don’t get it. Does anyone think MLS numbers will still be in that ballpark ?

    Even the “I love the NY Cosmos, but never post on any NASL article ” troll that thinks MLS will fold has attendance higher than that in 5 years.

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  5. Am I crazy in thinking this stadium should be closer to 25 -30k? The team is getting better and an accessible location would grow the attendance by 25-50%. They just had 30k at the season finale, and 21k for the Columbus game. It looks like the next playoff game will hit 25k.
    Also, this location is perfect. I live in the South End (other side of the highway on drawing) and that parcel of land is wasted space at the moment. The area is very walkable, has multiple access points for cars and public transportation, and is packed with the 20-35 demographic. I’ll just keep my fingers crossed for now!

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  6. tight spot but about as urban/close to downtown as they are going to get!

    i like this concept. glad to see the Krafts bringing the Rev’s in the right direction.

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  7. The Boston Globe story has a graphic that shows Yankee Stadium being 0.5 miles from the “city center”. Maybe they mean half a mile from the center of the Bronx!

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  8. Potentially a good site. However, there are some issues that need to be resolved. Most South Boston parking lots are used by people who work in Boston. Is this going to be a Rev. exclusive parking lot or will day parkers use it too? This brings me to my second obstacle which is how will they handle matches taking place at the same time or overlapping with concerts at whatever corporate name is slapped on Harborlights (I think it is Blue Hill Bank Pavillion but it has changed numerous times since it was known as Harborlights. Traffic can be a huge cluster f*ck just for concerts alone.

    I thought that Suffolk Downs would be a good location as while it is not in Boston proper, the T still goes there. It would need some infrastructure upgrades on Rt. 16 and other surface roads.

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    • What Boston lots are you talking about? They are all pay lots and you have to be out by “X” time. It’s like any other lots. They are owned by the big systems (Kinney, Pilgrim, etc). Not sure parking will be an issue.

      As for Blue Hill Bank Pavillion, it’s far enough away that it should not cause a problem at all. That facility is on Seaport Drive. and their is plenty of parking for that 5,000 seat facility.

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    • Anywhere is Boston proper will be an absolute mess. There is barely any parking as it is. And the T (subway) will have to be the primary vehicle to the games. And the T is even a mess. The city needs a serious transit overhaul. It will be nice because it is right off the Red Line.

      Construction is going to be absolutely insane for this. i93 is already a traffic nightmare in that area. I cannot believe they are even considering the Olympics. Anyone around for the “big dig” has to be very weary about this.

      A lot of negativity in my post (stems from being jaded about construction and traffic in Boston) but they do need to get out of Gillette and closer to Boston. The stadium location has definitely held them back.

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      • a less negative way to say it; traffic is a given in Boston.. anywhere you build its going to be difficult. Go for the spot that gives you the best T and downtown access as well as just be apart of the city.

        also,
        Boston Olympics is a terrible idea!

      • With respect, I live right in that area and you could not be more wrong. The site is a current industrial wasteland and is the last part of the development connecting S. Boston to Boston proper. They would be building TWO HUGE lots on either side of the stadium.

        Parking will not be an issue, especially because there is no housing on that side of I-93 nestled between the industrial yard.

      • I dunno he seems to be doing quite fine. But thanks for the marketing advise, I’m sure he’ll take you up on that – stat.

        There are clubs out there that have splashed more cash then him and have achieved far less.

        I’m a DC fan and I can appreciate the pains of not having a top class home. But I’d rather guys like this do it right instead of rush to the next sticks project and have no fans show up, or worse, these very fans further complain about how they’d love to go catch a game if only the location was better.

      • I have wondered about this as a Rapids fan- IMO our location is terrible, and seems to ensure we continue to delve deep into the dippin’ dots/minivan demographic to put butts in seats. Prime urban location seems to matter to the prized fan- the 20 to 30 year olds that are necessary to create a Timbers/Sounders type of club atmosphere. Am I off base on this?

      • Nope, I went to Denver last year and said the same thing. Both Rockies and Nuggets are right in downtown. Rockies has a lot of nice bars around the stadium.

        Rapids needs a downtown stadium but real estate is running out downtown

    • This one actually has traction. I live not to far from this site, and I have connections to the Mayor’s Office. This is 100% legit, and the Mayor BADLY wants this to happen. Now, it is all going to come down to the Benjamins– How much will the Kraft’s kick-in will be the sticking point.

      The location is fantastic, you have a Silver-line bus stop within walking distance, a Red-Line T-stop (Broadway), and an entire new set of housing (the Ink Block) not to far, along with the revitalization of Fort Point Channel.

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      • If only Bobby Kraft could play another New England city off of Boston and hold them hostage, make promises to this other city and then stick Boston with the majority of the bill. This scenario is a win/win for everyone.

      • Haha…so, so true. But this time, he’s got city support. Menino and Kraft did not play well together; two HUGE egos.

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