This could be a truly pivotal moment for the club, though I will be holding my breath until the shovel hits the ground. In fact, I will probably be holding my breath until the proposed stadium opens, as you just never know with these things.
As Revolution fans, we have been down this road before. Every time there has been a potential stadium, we would hope. Renderings would be released, anticipation would build, but inevitably, something would go wrong. We would be left with nothing, our belief dwindling that one day we would have a home of our own.
This time seems to be different. This time seems to be for real. The Kraft Group has reached agreements with Everett and Boston. The proposed site is a rundown power plant, a place that brings no value to the communities of the greater Boston area. Now, the Revolution can start the process of cleaning and developing the site, pending that everything moves through the required community and government procedures.
I don’t think it is an overstatement to say that the Revolution playing in the Boston metro area, accessible by public transportation, will supercharge the club. We know the fanbase the other professional sports teams in Boston have. We are the best sports town in the country. I put our fan support up against any city in America. Now, many fans that have not been able to access Revolution games in Foxboro may finally be able to attend games for their local team.
The potential is enormous. If the support and atmosphere is anything like I imagine it could be, the Revs should become one of the premier teams in MLS.
All of this assumes that the Krafts will invest in the players and infrastructure at the level required to win championships. I have been critical of the ownership the past couple of years, which I think has been deserved. They still need to prove to the fans that the Revolution are not the little brother of the Patriots.
Securing the stadium site and building a world-class soccer specific stadium is a large step in that direction. In a couple years, the Revs may be kicking off their inaugural game in Everett. Now, more than ever before, we can dream about that moment. We can start daring to believe that the days of playing at Gillette Stadium will be a thing of the past. That the future of the club will be bright, not stagnating in the days of MLS 1.0.
Don’t get me wrong I have a lot of love for Gillette Stadium and the history the Revolution have there. It has been our home for most of our existence these past 30 years. We have watched one of the best regular-season teams in MLS history, seen some spectacular sides during the mid-2000s, and watched the Revs take on international competition in tournaments like the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
It has historically been Fortress Foxboro for a reason.
Despite all the good, I think we all know about the drawbacks of playing at Gillette. The limited accessibility and lack of public transportation. The lower attendance rates during midweek games.
The turf, that dreaded turf field.
Everything about Gillette screams Patriots and the NFL, because it is the Patriots stadium. The championship banners, Tom Brady’s retired number. The surrounding area is called Patriots Place for heaven’s sake.
Inherently, there is nothing wrong with two professional sports teams sharing the same venue. While not perfect, it has worked for the Celtics and Bruins for generations. The TD Garden is built for both teams.
The issue with Gillette is that it is not built for the Revolution. They just happen to play there during the times when the Patriots’ season is over, or the team is out of town.
Revolution fans may finally have a soccer cathedral in New England worthy of a team fighting for glory and trophies. A place we can build our own history and call our own.
I am hopeful that our time is coming. If it is, look out MLS.
This time it may be for real.
Nice post. I have mixed feelings about the proposed stadium. I get that it would be a positive for the team and will certainly improve the atmosphere. Playing on real grass would also be a plus. I've been going to Foxboro for Revs games since the very first one and have been a season ticket member for many years. I rarely miss going to a Revs home game. Getting to a stadium in Boston with no parking is going to be a major hassle for me. That, combined with the change in the timing of the season, will probably limit my attendance at Revs games to a couple of times per year. I'll probably end up going to Pawtucket for my live soccer fix instead.
Nice piece, John....well written, thanks!