Gillette Stadium

Mayor Menino's Crohn's

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There are many what ifs in life. One of them is what if Tom Menino had allowed Bob Kraft to build Gillette Stadium in South Boston, like he had originally planned.

Personally, for a "Boston team," I have always thought that it was ridiculous to have this team play thirty miles south in a town that is halfway to Providence. I don't care that the team is called the New England Patriots. With the acception of CT, they do represent a region. What upsets me is that this could've been a big economic boost to South Boston. However, Menino allowed his ego to get in the way. Kraft had to do what he had to do by trying to build without permission. Menino would've lost his NIMBY base had he allowed the building of Gillette. Being Mayor for life was more important to him. Seventeen years later, we have an empty wasteland that could've been Gillette. Three super bowls later, now we want to incorporate the Pats into Boston.

I don't buy any Proctor and Gamble products myself, but Gillette put up a lot a money for that stadium to be built there in SB. And the Mayor dropped the ball. What a waste.

The argument that "There would've been too much traffic" is flawed. It would've been located near routes 93 and 90. Plus South Station and Broadway would be close by. And if you've even tried getting back on 495 after a game, then you know how bad it is. Soooooooooooooooooooooo, would SB have been any worse than Foxboro?

As crazy as my rant sounds, my solution would be just crazy enough to work. Kill two birds. Rebuild/relocate Gillette to SB. Turn what's left of Foxboro and Patriots Place into the Commonwealth's first multi-billion dollar Casino. Because Showcase Live and Patriots Place is really a future Casino in the waiting.

I'm sure that this has been mentioned before, so mods, feel free to merge if so needed. Thank you.
 
I don't think there's a specific thread on this but the argument has been fleshed out before.

Wasting many acres of potentially very productive land on a stadium (plus presumptive parking) for eight home games a year, plus only a smattering of other activities, would not have been "an economic boon". At the very least, it was not the right choice of boon for an urban area, which presents better payoff for other types of investments.
 
I don't care to argue the rest of the points, but I would rather have my option of I-90, I-93, Red Line, Silverline or Commuter Rail to get to the stadium. Route 1 (and 140) is an absolute nightmare during game days. Also, there's not much to do after the game in Foxboro (unless you love CBS Scene).
 
I don't think there's a specific thread on this but the argument has been fleshed out before.

Wasting many acres of potentially very productive land on a stadium (plus presumptive parking) for eight home games a year, plus only a smattering of other activities, would not have been "an economic boon". At the very least, it was not the right choice of boon for an urban area, which presents better payoff for other types of investments.
Like a bunch of high-end residential and retail for NIMBY's. Otherwise known as the "Innovation District."
 
Yeah, I would see the traffic being better if it were built in Boston. If it were, I could take a bus into Boston.

Even if it were built north of Boston, it seems it may have been better. But clearly Boston, or a city at that, would have been the ideal home.

I have been there for a concert, the AC/DC, the stadium was not even full and traffic was horrible. The prices are high, and if you do not want to eat in stadium, the rest fo the area is horrible for stuff to do.

The stadium as it is holds many many events, all of which I wish I had my choice of transportation to get to.
 
It took over 3 hours to get to the U2 concert last September. Over 3 hours to get back. My starting point was Boylston and Tremont - not New Hampshire. Absolutely ridiculous. If I hadn't borrowed a VIP parking pass, it would have been 4 hours door-to-door and I would have been forced to pay the Kraft's $10 for every hour of my time I spent getting to the stadium.

I just won't go there anymore, and after hearing what happened last fall, a good number of my friends have sworn off the place for good.
 
I was going to go to the U2 but sold out.

Yeah, that road there they built for the stadium, but clearly did not do it right to handle the traffic. You would think they plan this kind of stuff out better.
 
Also, there's not much to do after the game in Foxboro (unless you love CBS Scene).
It's a football game. You're supposed to tailgate. Yes, even if it's cold.

It took over 3 hours to get to the U2 concert last September. Over 3 hours to get back. My starting point was Boylston and Tremont - not New Hampshire.
Don't they add a commuter rail stop there for games and concerts?
 
For the Patriots, yes. For the Revolution, no. For concerts, only sometimes.
 
Don't they add a commuter rail stop there for games and concerts?
Pats? Yes. Revs? No. Concerts? Not too often.



But one commuter rail isn't going to cut it for all of those fans. You need many different options. That's why I hope in 2030, they reconsider South Boston for the Pats. And being in Boston gives fans other options besides tailgaiting outside. Yes, that's part of the game. But there are other ways to pregame as well.
 
It took over 3 hours to get to the U2 concert last September. Over 3 hours to get back. My starting point was Boylston and Tremont - not New Hampshire. Absolutely ridiculous. If I hadn't borrowed a VIP parking pass, it would have been 4 hours door-to-door and I would have been forced to pay the Kraft's $10 for every hour of my time I spent getting to the stadium.

I just won't go there anymore, and after hearing what happened last fall, a good number of my friends have sworn off the place for good.

Amen to that. I had a similar experience. Can't even do it anymore.
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plumbing boston
 
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I'm willing to bet 95% of Pats fans wouldn't even take transit in any form, or only would if there were a lack of parking, which there wouldn't be, since there will be plenty of pressure to ensure the thing has plenty enough of its own parking by tailgaters, South Boston neighborhood activists fearful their streets will be overrun, and the Pats themselves, who I'm sure are aware most of their fanbase consists of truck-driving suburbanites.

Traffic? It would be just as bad, since you're talking about routing all these people into downtown Boston and comingling them with its everyday jams. Anyone doing anything else in Boston on game day will be severely inconvenienced, as opposed to the comparatively minimal traffic between Boston and Providence on 95.

Oh, and just imagine those who do take commuter rail in packing onto Silver Line buses. At least that might boost the case for making that line light rail...
 
Who's paying for all the infrastructure improvements and what's to be done with all the plans already proposed for the Seaport??
 
I'm willing to bet 95% of Pats fans wouldn't even take transit in any form, or only would if there were a lack of parking, which there wouldn't be, since there will be plenty of pressure to ensure the thing has plenty enough of its own parking by tailgaters, South Boston neighborhood activists fearful their streets will be overrun, and the Pats themselves, who I'm sure are aware most of their fanbase consists of truck-driving suburbanites.

Traffic? It would be just as bad, since you're talking about routing all these people into downtown Boston and comingling them with its everyday jams. Anyone doing anything else in Boston on game day will be severely inconvenienced, as opposed to the comparatively minimal traffic between Boston and Providence on 95.

Oh, and just imagine those who do take commuter rail in packing onto Silver Line buses. At least that might boost the case for making that line light rail...
Yes, and I'm sure that there's a bad side to it getting built in Southie as well...
 
Who's paying for all the infrastructure improvements and what's to be done with all the plans already proposed for the Seaport??
Ummmmmmm......The Krafts?


The Seaport plans would have no effect on Boston Gillette Stadium...None...If anything, it would add to the planned residential and retail in the "Innovation District."
 
Where would they put it exactly? Was there a specific site in mind at one point?
 
Where would they put it exactly? Was there a specific site in mind at one point?
At the time it was proposed, there was talk of it going near Gillette HQ...



But...


If I had my way as mayor, I would put it where the Boston Convention and Expo Center is now. Take a wrecking ball to the old girl. 1). The BCEC has been a huge waste of taxpayer funds, and 2). Gillette would be close to the Seaport District.
 
I'm not a fan of the massive size of the convention center or its cost, but at least it's almost constantly full with a diverse number of groups and activities. It's undeniably been a boon to the area around it, which, mediocre as it is, wouldn't exist without convention business. A stadium would not have generated the same amount of constant activity at all.
 
1). The BCEC has been a huge waste of taxpayer funds

And demolishing something that brings in attractions, shows, conventions, etc puts all the construction costs already paid and done for to better use?



I'm interested in what height restrictions are in all the different parts of the Seaport and what the height of Gillette Stadium is. I wonder if anything will have to be lopped off and have an effect on capacity.
 
I think you've failed to make any compelling argument for a stadium to be placed in the middle of Boston; is it really the "best/highest" use of the space?

"I don't want to have to drive so far to see a concert ..." is not enough.
 

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