Dive Brief:
- The Kraft Group, owners of the New England Revolution soccer team, reached an agreement with the cities of Boston and Everett, Massachusetts, to move forward with construction on a new 24,000-seat stadium, according to a statement.
- The project will cost an estimated $500 million, according to the Boston Globe. It also includes a new 4-acre waterfront park along the Mystic River in Everett, according to a Kraft Group project sheet.
- The greenlight to proceed follows months of debate on whether Boston and Everett would approve the project, which sits on the site of an environmentally contaminated decommissioned power station.
Dive Insight:
The Kraft Group has long been pushing for a new home in the area, as the Revolution are one of the only MLS teams operating without a soccer-specific stadium. The team currently shares Gillette Stadium in Foxborough with the NFL’s Patriots.
Plans include $80 million for the demolition of the decommissioned power station and subsequent remediation of the site. That includes elevating the site for coastal flooding resilience, according to the project sheet.
Another $20 million will go toward the development of a waterfront park on the Mystic River adjacent to the Alford Street Bridge, which will include the construction of a waterfront pedestrian and bicycle path.
“Under the agreements, we will undertake significant environmental remediation and demolition of the long-vacant powerplant, invest in extensive traffic and transportation improvements, and deliver substantial community benefits, including millions of dollars towards infrastructure improvements,” the Kraft Group said in the statement. “The project will open the waterfront with the creation of a new public park, strengthen pedestrian and bicycle connectivity, and enhance access to public transit.”
The waterfront park will be open to the general public year round, according to the project sheet. The construction of the stadium and waterfront park will be privately funded.
The earliest the stadium could be ready for use is 2027, Brian Bilello, New England Revolution team president, told the Boston Globe.
