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Proposed Area of a New England Soccer Specific StadiumThe city of Somerville, a place very close to Boston, MA is looking to revitalize one of its areas a la the Chester Stadium just outside of Philadelphia.
As a result the mayor is behind an effort to bring a stadium for the Revs to the Boston area so that it results in more traffic on one of the train lines.
Here is an excerpt from this article:
Back in June, we announced that the City had asked developers with an interest in Inner Belt and Brickbottom to contribute to a study of these issues led by a respected non-profit urban design collaborative called the Urban Ecology Institute. That study has confirmed that it would be feasible to build a Green Line maintenance facility in this area in such a way that it would minimize impacts on residents and - just as important - permit developers to build right over it, using air rights in much the same way that the Prudential Center was built over the Massachusetts Turnpike without taking additional scarce land in Boston's Back Bay.
Such an approach would also have the welcome effect of providing the storage area and maintenance yard with better cover from the elements, and presenting less of a barrier to pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
One of several possible uses for those air rights might be a new stadium - it's no secret that the Kraft Group is interested in building an urban home for the New England Revolution - and that's a solution that would generate considerable additional ridership for the new Green Line Extension (and revenue for the T).
In the short term, an air rights solution might be more expensive, but it is feasible, and it could have a much larger payoff for all stakeholders (including the city's and the state's taxpayers).
Do you support the Revolution getting into a soccer specific stadium closer to Boston or should the Krafts spend that money on other things (ie: academy, Designated Player(s), etc)?
Slightly smaller (22,500) Hakatanomori Football Stadium Could Be An Excellent Design For The Revs
Get it done. Revs really need a real stadium and being nearer to Boston can't be a bad thing.
I'd love to see Toronto's fans get cute in Somerville.
I don't get the whole somerville thing. Its the most densely populated municipality in the US outside of the New York metro area. Why would you try to build a stadium there? They're already short on space.
People keeping clamoring for an urban location. So, there you go. They're not going to build in Southie, Chelsea or Dorchester. Where do you want the thing? Central Falls, RI?
While I would support the move, because Gillette is a pain in the ass to get to from Boston. It would cut off much of their traditional support from Southern New England. No one is going to want to drive through Boston on a weeknight to go to a game.
Foxboro is a straight, painless shot from The Cape. I'd think twice before heading to Somerville. But if the Revo can attract more people from the city, then they won't miss me.
Glorious plan for Somerville. Put stadiums in urban locations...PERIOD.
Urban, urban, urban... a la tfc.
I'd love to see Toronto's fans get cute in Somerville.
That's a good point. Despite steady gentrification - and often because of it - Somerville is not the kind of place where you want to start any crap. Toronto's own urban thugs may want to zip it when in Somerville. At least outside the stadium.
Is it easily accessible by public transit? ..that's the key to success imo.
Otherwise you get a Columbus/KC situation.
We please keep the legal questions out of a thread such as this? Let the lawyers deal with each other but keep the provocations to yourselves.
With respect to the stadium question I believe an effort should be made, one that's transparent and includes input from members of the community to explore a stadium for the Brickbottom section of Somerville. There would be challenges to overcome on issues related to parking, tax revenues and more, but an urban stadium would be feasible, with much improved accessibility that could result in higher home attendance, club visibility, and perhaps development of club/community schemes that could benefit individuals living in the area.
It would especially make sense considering the planned expansion of the Green Line into Somerville as the stadium could be accessible to multiple new MBTA stations, could be within walking distance of Union Square, and could be linked in some fashion to planned development tied to the development of the North Point neighborhood.
I believe that both Kraft and Herb Chambers (a wealthy local businessman who runs a ton of card dealerships) have recently commissioned a study to explore the feasibility of a stadium in Somerville, and it would be interesting to see if/when that might be made available to the general public.
It would definitely cut me out of the season ticket holder status. too long of a haul from CT. I'd probably end up going to a couple of single games or a flex-pack. But with the people they will draw from Boston (hopefully) they won't miss my 2 tickets anyway.
I live in southern NH, and I could take public transportation to Boston. I go to many of the games in Gillette, but it's so tough to get a ride there all the time. This move would be great, and I can't wait for the day we're in our own stadium!
dump that shitty "Revolution" name or keep it decoupled from the shitty "New England" name. One or the other but not together. And go urban.
Great Move! i used to live in somerville for 5 years and i think it would be a great sight for a stadium. Its easily accessable depending on where it is through I-93 or 95, cant remember, and there are multiple T lines that run or are planned to run through somerville. Great idea, go urban!
I'm all for it. I'm 1st in line for season tix. OBTW, Somerville, is not Chester, PA... not even close. Somerville is actually mostly a nice place already.
I live in NH and it is a pain in the butt getting to Gilette.. Building in Somervile will get me to buy season tickets.
I can just hop the train to North Station and the T from tehre..
Brilliant move if it goes through.
Please don't equate with Boston-area neighborhood pride and defiance with poverty. Somerville remains edgy BECAUSE of gentrification. There are still plenty of fully employed locals in Somerville who enjoy slapping around mouthy wannabees. There will be no shootings or stabbings but plenty of clean action...if people ask for it.
I hope this goes forward. I also hope someone builds an awesome pub outside it for away games, US Nat, etc... I want a bar where Revs games are more important than Sox / Pats games.
There are plenty of gin mills in the area. Trust me.
This has football special written all over it. Red Line in Braintree to Green Line in Somerville.
somerville is a solid working class city on the fringe of boston's skyline. great location to draw considerably more fans; families, college students, and ethnic groups alike. traffic might be an issue, but if ironed out i don't think somerville would suffer. the Krafts would have enough events (i.e. outdoor concerts in place of Comcast Center & Fleet, high school events etc.)to both pay for the stadum and make somerville a viable location for further re-development. quite possibly a win-win for most involved
If they build it in Somerville then we're looking at "Real Football Factories North American Edition" when you factor in Revs supporters going down to Chester, PA and Philly going up to Somerville, and Toronto going to both along with DC.
Yep.
Perfect. I'd love to see a Real Football Factories North America, see the football culture grow, and in 2010, you can say that things Will get nasty on the East Coast...
Perhaps the mayor of Somerville who is working hard to get a soccer stadium would let the residents of Somerville know about this. It is a big secret. Nothing like keeping your constituents informed about matters that will have a huge quality of life, revenue (probably negative)and traffic impact on the city. I am a big soccer fan, but I also would like to hear what my fellow citizens think about building a stadium. I am sure that the folks coming to the games won't be discouraged by the traffic jams on 93 going to IKEA in Somerville.
If it's real football factories then it should be real football factories USA and not the North America bollocks. My passport says United States of America not North America. People in this country should have some real pride.
Sign me up for two tickets! The T line would be perfect. A ton of us from Hanscom AFB will buy tickets if this goes through.
"If it's real football factories then it should be real football factories USA and not the North America bollocks. My passport says United States of America not North America. People in this country should have some real pride."
Hey bonehead the league is a NORTH AMERICAN league since it includes Toronto which is not part of the USA.
SuperLiga is called the NORTH AMERICAN SUPERLIGA because it includes potentially teams from the US, Canada and Mexico.
As for being a US citizen vs a North American citizen, why can't you be both? In reality you are. And the way the dollar is headed we'll all be in the same boat anyway.
hey
For what it's worth, Mayor Curtatone and local Somerville news sources have been discussing the possibility of a stadium in the Brickbottom area for well over a year, if not longer. That being said, bulldozers and front end loaders lined up on McGrath Highway or Washington St. at this point.
Considering how the Krafts went about pursuing a stadium for the Patriots in South Boston, they are likely to tread far more lightly and with less perceived arrogance when it comes to this effort. At this point it sounds like they're working to get the local government and businesses on board (see my earlier Herb Chambers reference), and at that time when they're ready to present their plan to the Somerville community they'll do so, hopefully working with the local citizens and businesses in a manner that's transparent, constructive, understanding, and fair.
Said "gin mills" might include any number of places in Union Square, which could be no more than a ten minute walk to the stadium:
The Independent
http://www.theindo.com
Sally O'Briens
http://www.sallyobriensbar.com
Precinct (which has outdoor seating)
http://www.precinctbar.com/
Tir na Nog might have been an option as well, but RIP.
While I'd hate to give up tailgating, I'd belly up to the bar with pleasure knowing my money would be going to a local establishment.
So, it's a North American league and not an American league. OK.
You have to love the guy who refers to someone as a bonehead and then reminds everyone that we're citizens of North America.
Yeah, really. That's the same guy who wants to renounce his citizenship just because we're going through a crisis. Oh, those tough,committed,loyal American soccer fans. I'd love to see that guy lay his rap on some of the locals FROM Somerville.
I can't wait to see this thing get built and enjoy the deafening roar of the heads of Curly-Haired Boyfriend, Tanguay, and the rest of dinosaur, insular, only-the-Sawx-and-Pats-matter sports media "figures" in the city exploding collectively.
Houston & DC are next... and these are critical markets. We need to get these ones right.
This plan has absolutely no chance of coming to fruition. Curtatone is desperate to leave behind some sort of legacy development to serve as a reminder of his tenure as Somerville's "Boy Mayor", but he's not going to get this one past the "not in my backyard" types. Plus, how much scrutiny do you think future projects like this one are going to have to undergo in the wake of this country's current financial meltdown? Nobody's going to be rushing to finance projects of this type. The Revs are stuck at Gilette for the forseeable future.
"Hey bonehead the league is a NORTH AMERICAN league since it includes Toronto which is not part of the USA."
the hell it is. MLB has canadian teams and it's an american league. MLS was founded by local american owners with aid of the USSF. the CSA had nothing to do with it, and canadian owners/teams that were asked to join in the begining, laughed at the idea.
a team or even three in canada, does not change the fact that MLS was born, and remains an american league.