The Kraft family has been talking with Boston officials about a New England Revolution new stadium site on Interstate 93, close to MBTA’s Red Line and the South Station.
The Revolution currently play at Gillette Stadium, but the Krafts have been seeking a soccer-specific home for the team for years. And with the Revolution enjoying perhaps the best year in team history in 2014 on the business side, there’s some momentum in Boston for a facility closer to the city — and the perceived heart of the Revolution fan base.
The site is owned by the city and used for public works, like the storage of towed cars. Not glamorous, but the location at the confluence of public transit and freeway makes it ideal for a new stadium. From the Boston Globe:
Numerous sources said the Kraft family has been meeting with state and city officials to discuss the stadium and possible locations over the past several months, with the team focusing on Frontage Road. It was not known Monday what additional sites the Krafts were considering.
Through a spokesman, the Krafts on Monday said: “We are currently developing concepts for how a soccer stadium for the Revolution can benefit the greater Boston area. Once we have more developed plans, we will comment further.”…
“You’re targeting young professionals — the ones who grew up playing soccer and now want to watch, drink beer, and sing songs,” said Victor Matheson, a sports economist at College of the Holy Cross and a former MLS referee. “Those are the passionate fans you want.”
Finding a site, which itself is a daunting task, is just the beginning of the effort for a New England Revolution new stadium. Since it’s public land, any attempt to develop it for the Revolution would open the process up to bid. Then there would be a discussion of any funding or financing for the project, but it may be a short one: in Boston, teams tend to build and renovate their own facilities, and with the price tag of a New England Revolution new stadium expected to be around $100 million, it’s likely the Krafts will need to line up financing.
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