Why New England Revolution Fans Should Be Thankful

Reasons for Revolution Fans to be Thankful this Holiday Season

Photo By J. Alexander Dolan

Let’s not sugarcoat it. This season sucked. Full stop. No notes, no excuses, no fake optimism. The 2024 campaign was one of the worst, if not the worst, in New England Revolution history. And yet, despite the season we all just want to forget, I believe there are still things we can and should be thankful for as Revolution fans.

Home

To start, it is seemingly more and more likely that the future is on the horizon. There has been great coverage by the Blazing Musket’s Seth Macomber and Sam Minton on the politics and news surrounding the potential site for a soccer-specific stadium in Everett. A bill has been passed by the Massachusetts Legislature that would open up land for zoning that could allow for the construction of a stadium by the Kraft family.

It is by no means a done deal; things are still early in the process, but this feels different. It feels real, a step further than the club has been in securing their own home in a long time, maybe ever. Club President Brian Bilello has provided even more detail about their plans, including the $500 million dollars it would cost the Revs to build the stadium, the seating capacity of 24,000, and the potential transformational impact on the club.  

In my opinion, a move to Everett would transform the club. The team would be playing in the urban center of the greatest sports town in the country. The visibility, potential for growth, and accessibility to fans in Boston and the surrounding area would be exponential.

The Krafts would complete their long-awaited promise of moving the team to Boston and remove one of the last MLS 1.0 stadiums from the league. Who knows what the impact of the soccer-specific stadium would have on the energy behind the fanbase and the caliber of players that could be signed?

The sky is the limit.

Now, despite all of the positives, I do think it is important to acknowledge that there would be problems with the potential stadium in Everett. The parking situation would be problematic, limiting the number of fans that would be able or willing to drive from outside the metro area to watch a game.

The season ticket holders that have followed the club for years may see themselves being phased out for fans in Boston that could not travel down to Gillette to catch a game. This would result in the game-attending fanbase changing in a significant way. That is something that I hope the club acknowledges if these plans move forward.

The possibility of the Revs changing their home is complicated. It is exciting and yet emotionally charged in a profound way. There will be an era of change, beyond anything seen before, including the controversial rebrand to the current logo. There will be growing pains, difficult decisions for fans to make, and emotions to work through.

But I hope we can all agree that a move to the Boston area would be something positive for the future of the club. The move could help usher in a more successful era where the club is put on the map and challenges for trophies.

Community

This holiday season we also have reason to be thankful for our community. For instance, the efforts of the Midnight Riders and their Build-a-Bed event in partnership with A Bed for Every Child. The Midnight Riders and Rebellion supporter groups have been active all year long with charitable efforts, fundraising, and volunteering in the New England community. Their efforts to give back to others should be celebrated and inspire others to get involved in their own communities.

On the club side of things, assistant coach Pablo Moreira has taken on the responsibility of the New England Turkey Club, a partnership with the Providence Rescue Mission to help families in the Providence community for the Thanksgiving holiday. Moreira stepped into the role previously held by DeJuan Jones and Teal Bunbury and is working to raise money for this year’s Turkey Club. You can find out more information about the fundraising effort here.

The Revolution have also been supportive of the Olivia Knighton Foundation. Named after the daughter of Brad Knighton, Olivia, who tragically passed away in 2023, their mission is to “honor Olivia’s short but beautiful life by spreading her light, love, passion, and kindness. It is our goal to enable children to follow their dreams and make the world a better place by providing scholarships and grants, spreading acts of kindness, and supporting the causes that were most important to Olivia: children’s welfare, protection of animals, and education.” More information about the Foundation, including their 2024 Toy Drive, can be found here.

Brad Knighton was also recently named the Goalkeeper Coach for Revolution II after a successful stint as the coach for the Revolution Academy Under-15 team. The Revs also re-signed club legend Andrew Farrell to a one-year contract for 2025, but not just as a player. Farrell will also work as an Assistant Coach for the Revolution Academy. Former Revolution Striker and current broadcaster Charlie Davies has also been involved with the Revolution Academy, holding his inaugural soccer camp this past summer.

The work and dedication of these club legends to the Revs and soccer community of New England will pay dividends for years to come. As a kid who grew up in New Hampshire and dreamed of playing for the Revs, it brings me genuine joy to see Davies getting involved and sharing his wisdom with future generations. I am thankful that his work, alongside the work of Farrell and Knighton, will keep the DNA of the club alive and strong throughout all of the levels in the organization, from the academy to the first team.

Commentators

Speaking of Charlie Davies, there was a great article written in the Blazing Musket by Jake Catanese this past week. The article looked at the MLS Cup Playoff Coverage by Apple TV and brought up some great points about how the paywall is restricting the growth and promotion of the game in this country.

I am incredibly thankful that we have Charlie Davies and Brad Feldman in the commentator booth for Revolution games. One of the things I was wary of when the Apple TV deal was announced, was the potential loss of the best booth in the business.

The chemistry and knowledge of Davies and Feldman are second to none. They are part of what makes the Revolution great. It would not be the same without their voices on the call.

As someone who always syncs up the Apple TV broadcast to their radio call for home games, and listens to the 98.5 Sports Hub App for the radio call for away games, I cannot imagine the Revs without them.

I am thankful for all of their work over the years, especially when they held their Outside The Booth program during the pandemic. Their dedication to the fans is palpable and appreciated. The fact that they tell the truth about what they see on the field is not only refreshing but necessary. They helped make this past season a little bit more bearable. For that, I am thankful.

Davies and Feldman were also constants on the Soccer Show, a show and podcast on the 98.5 Sports Hub. Their weekly Saturday podcasts were always something I looked forward to this season.

I am thankful and appreciate the work of DJ Bean and Jeff Lemieux, who at times struggled for words just like the rest of us fans. Their contrasting perspectives of a newer soccer fan and someone who has worked for the team for over a decade were interesting and a joy to listen to. Their ability to highlight the team and engage with the soccer community in New England plays a part in our soccer community.

I am thankful for their coverage and the other Revolution coverage that we have, including at the Blazing Musket and Revolution Recap podcast.

So, to sum everything up, two things can be true. On the one hand, 2024 was a disaster. And yet, on the other hand, there is a lot to be thankful for as a New England Revolution fan.

This holiday season I am going to be thankful for the good things we have and look forward to the good things to come.