New England Revolution Stadium Project Clears Legislative Hurdle

After months of discussion, language for a soccer-stadium in Everett has been included in MASS Leads Act.

Photo Courtesy of The Kraft Group

The New England Revolution are a step closer to getting their own soccer-specific stadium.

According to The Boston Globe, the nearly $4 billion economic development bill, dubbed the “Mass Leads Act,” features language that could lead to the Revolution getting their own stadium.

It was unknown if the soccer stadium language would be included in the final bill. This was the third time the project has tried to secure approval to remove the 43-acre stadium site from being classified as a designated port area, where only industrial uses are allowed.

The stadium language appears to have made the final cut. The latest language to remove the power plant land from the DPA now includes a provision requiring the Krafts to secure a community benefits agreements with Everett and Boston according to The Globe. If an agreement can’t be reached with city, the issue would be resolved by an independent arbitrator.

The bill also includes language restricting how much state money officials can spend on infrastructure improvements related to the stadium project according to The Globe. According to Boston Herald reporter Chris Van Buskirk, the soccer stadium language bars public funding for construction and funding for public infrastructure improvements associated with the stadium would require matching private funds.

“I am proud to share that language I have been working on to allow for the development of a transformational soccer stadium in Everett for the New England Revolution has been included in the final Economic Development bill,” said Senator Sal DiDomenico. “This language paves the way for the public process to move forward on a project that will help my community clean up a power plant site that has been a health and environmental hazard for decades. This will result in hundreds of millions of dollars in private investment, cleanup of a hazardous waste site, creating good paying union jobs, and opening our waterfront for the public to enjoy. I want to thank Senate President Spilka for her long-time support and the members of the conference committee for including this language that will bring an economic catalyst and environmental win for our residents.”

This is just the first step of a long path towards New England getting a stadium of its own. Even with the Legislature’s approval, the stadium proposal will need to undergo extensive state and local permitting, in addition to the mandated negotiations with Boston officials.

House and Senate leaders will have to vote to officially approve the bill but it seems like the Revolution have taken a giant step forward in their goal of one day having a soccer-specific stadium that they can call home.