New England Revolution fans got some details about the club’s plans for a soccer-specific stadium in Everett.
Club president Brian Bilello spoke to Jon Chesto and Michael Silverman of The Boston Globe about the potential SSS in Everett, discussing why the club would want to move closer to the city and downsize.
The Globe states that the Revolution will likely have to spend $500 million for its stadium. The club will also need to reach community-impact agreements with the cities of Everett and Boston.
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Part of the reason for the desire to be closer to the capital is relevance. Bilello believes that moving the Revolution closer to Boston and in a stadium built for the beautiful game will finally get the club on the same footing as the New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, and Boston Red Sox.
“The biggest thing from a sort of big-picture perspective, is, frankly, the relevance in Greater Boston for Major League Soccer and for the Revolution,” said Bilello. “I’m still seeing articles and stories as recently as this month talking about the four sports teams in Boston. It’s understandable, but also still disappointing that with our attendance levels and how long we’ve been around, that we’re still somehow seen as a junior professional sports team to the other ones.”
New England’s club president also revealed what plans for the stadium in Everett might look like. Bilello mentioned that while plans can change, the stadium will seat up to 24,000 fans. Additionally, he stated that the earliest stadium construction could be completed is 2027.
With a new stadium would come a rise in ticket prices and operating costs. Also, the naming rights for the stadium would be a valuable source of income.
“It’s beyond just the economics,” Bilello said. “It’s giving our fans [a] more authentic experience.”
According to The Globe, the stadium would be utilized around 40 days a year with the possibility for concerts or other events to be hosted inside. Parking for these events will be limited with the site of the stadium having less than 100 sports according to Bilello. This would put increased stress on public transportation.
While the journey to New England having its own stadium is in its infancy, these details show the commitment level from ownership and the organization. But for many Revolution fans — words are not enough — they need shovels into a ground or a whistle to be blown before the dream has come true.
