Though many details remain unresolved, Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker is expressing some support for a proposed New England Revolution stadium in Dorchester.
Robert Kraft has been seeking a location for a soccer-specific stadium for the Revolution, who currently play at Gillette Stadium. Since at least last fall, representatives from the Revolution have discussed some details with the University of Massachusetts about the Bayside Expo Center site in Dorchester.
Aside from the framework of the agreement between Kraft and UMass, which owns the site, there are some other concerns to be addressed. For instance, doubts have been raised about whether the roads surrounding the site could support a 20,000 to 25,000 seat facility. Baker acknowledges that some particulars still need to be addressed, but says that he likes the idea of a soccer facility in the area. More from the Boston Globe:
“At this point, conversations between UMass and the Krafts are sort of ongoing, and there are a bunch of pretty significant open issues,” Baker said.
Still, the governor can see how this could be a boon to the neighborhood.
“A facility like that could be used by kids and by UMass Boston and by the community at large,” he said. “If the rest of it could get worked out, I think it could be a plus.”
The Globe reports that an agreement between Kraft and UMass does not appear to be close at this time.
Photo from the New England Revolution home opener, 2014, via flickr.com.
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