New England Revolution Stadium | 173 Alford Street | Boston-Everett

[Equilibria]

Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium

It's amazing to me that the Olympic Exploratory Committee has been keeping business interests, which would be greatly affected by their site proposals, out of the loop. It's really bad form and bad politics.

It might be bad form, but it's not bad politics. Telling them sooner would have risked them leaking the Widett site earlier in the year (which the Globe did anyway) and fomenting neighborhood opposition before Boston 2024 had a chance to make their case. Given the history on the site, there's no incentive for the landowners to keep anything they're told to themselves.

Honestly, the best political strategy was probably what they did - get the stated support of Walsh, Patrick, and the moneyed and intellectual elite, present the project as an effective fait accompli, and then present the landowners at Widett as obstructionists. If this is the stadium site and if Boston is selected, I don't think they'll have much of a choice about whether this land is for sale. It's also important to remember that the Widett site was leaked all the way back in the Spring - the landowners' claim that they didn't know about it until October is bit misleading.

FWIW, the MBTA probably would have taken the land at some point anyhow. It's not like they were going to be there forever.

 

[F-Line to Dudley]

Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium

I don't blame the Food Market for getting spooked because they've been under threat to outside interests lusting after their space ever since they first got evicted from Faneuil Hall by Kevin White's BRA. First it was MassDOT, then Menino, then MassDOT again, then a conga line of private developers taking runs at them on the replacement site. Survival for those merchants means keeping their guard up.

Kraft isn't going to mess with them. They supply the raw meat for most of Boston's best restaurants. The food prices across town would skyrocket without those mom-and-pop vendors. Kraft already knows this and would never do anything to jeopardize the last outpost of Boston's meat-packing district because it directly and negatively impacts all the surrounding development he hopes to put here. If the pols bollixed it by not talking to the Food Market first, I bet Kraft shows up onsite himself to give those vendors his reassurances. It's smart business.


The recycling center/cold storage warehouse is a different matter. Those owners are disruptive irritants waging war on their neighbors, and if anything's going to seriously disrupt things it's them pulling an Operation Chaos. If anyone needs to be shut up, bottled up, and/or given a godfather offer to leave, it's Kaiser. Because he and his partners have been hostile to everyone from Day 1.


If Kraft does have a train yard air rights under his parking garage rabbit to pull out of the hat, that will make the Food Market feel better about their ability to fend off future threats. The BTD parcel was what would've kept the T and/or Amtrak at bay for another 30 years. They'd be justifiably nervous if ritzy development claimed that and sent the T back out on the hunt...but like I said a few posts up, underneath the potential garage stilts is 12 tracks and 12 nine-car trains' worth of potential storage. The size of 1 Readville tucked in there totally out-of-view. Beacon Park + that handles expansion space that covers every conceivable service expansion fantasy proposal until the N-S Link is built (in which case "southside" and "northside" separation ceases to be and extra space can go anywhere in Boston metro).

 

[HenryAlan]

Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium

I was out in Portland, Oregon earlier this summer. I rode the TriMet. First off, THEIR red line is above and beyond our red line. Sorry MBTA nut riders. And it goes right to Providence Park which is where the Portland Timbers play. Transit friendly 2.0.

That stadium is a converted AAA baseball facility. It reminds me that Nickerson Field (neé Braves Field) is also a baseball stadium conversion. Perhaps with some reconfiguration/expansion, that would be a solid option for the Revs.

 

[davem]

Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium

You know what IS for sale? 201 Rover Street out in the tank farms of Everett, near the Everett Terminal produce warehouses.

Rail, Water and quite good road connections.

http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/17948826/201-Rover-Street-Everett-MA/


How much do you wanna bet the foodmart would have no issue moving to this place if it was bought for them, especially considering it's near existing wholesale food business already?

 

[underground]

Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium

I can only imagine what the soil's like.

 

[Equilibria]

Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium

You know what IS for sale? 201 Rover Street out in the tank farms of Everett, near the Everett Terminal produce warehouses.

Rail, Water and quite good road connections.

http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/17948826/201-Rover-Street-Everett-MA/


How much do you wanna bet the foodmart would have no issue moving to this place if it was bought for them, especially considering it's near existing wholesale food business already?

All rail connections aren't created equal. How many deliveries per day do we want sent down GJRR to get to Everett?

 

[Suffolk 83]

Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium

I work in Widett circle and am familiar with some of this action behind the scenes. Just for clarification, my company doesn't use the rail at all for any purpose (somebody said everett would be good because of rail access) and I'm pretty sure no other companies in the park do either. My company is content here because of the proximity to others we do business with. I know we would be perfectly content in another Boston location with similar distributors that exists already. Moving to Everett would be disruptive to us as its further than we would like to be away from our partners in Boston.

I agree with F line that the recycling center is a different issue. The owners here say it doesnt match with our food processing/housing when in reality my company is next to a food processor who's sanitation is highly suspect and produces smells I suspect would be far worse than a building materials recycling center.

I think some of the business owners here are just trying to get top dollar for their property and they ultimately dont care where they are as long as it is close by. There are some options for that for most

 

[F-Line to Dudley]

Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium

I work in Widett circle and am familiar with some of this action behind the scenes. Just for clarification, my company doesn't use the rail at all for any purpose (somebody said everett would be good because of rail access) and I'm pretty sure no other companies in the park do either. My company is content here because of the proximity to others we do business with. I know we would be perfectly content in another Boston location with similar distributors that exists already. Moving to Everett would be disruptive to us as its further than we would like to be away from our partners in Boston.

I agree with F line that the recycling center is a different issue. The owners here say it doesnt match with our food processing/housing when in reality my company is next to a food processor who's sanitation is highly suspect and produces smells I suspect would be far worse than a building materials recycling center.

I think some of the business owners here are just trying to get top dollar for their property and they ultimately dont care where they are as long as it is close by. There are some options for that for most

Food Market does get rail deliveries. Happens wee hours of the morning about twice a week when CSX comes in from Readville with a couple refrigerator cars, parks on Widett Loop, and the good are unloaded by forklift on the side of the road. Happens like 2:00am when commuter rail and Amtrak are totally idle.

It's not very much rail in terms of yearly carloads...I'm sure CSX wouldn't even bother if they weren't a longtime legacy customer. Most of their loads are from trucking.


Problem there is there are too many truck bans elsewhere around the metro area for them to move to. Last time the T proposed taking the space it was a land-swap out to Readville. Well...DCR has a truck ban on the parkways, Dedham has a truck ban on W. Milton St., and Dedham only allows trucks on Sprauge St. from 8:00-5:00. No way in or out otherwise except Hyde Park Ave. So Food Market's trucking rates would've skyrocketed from the access problems, the smallest vendors would've gone out of business, and food prices at city restaurants would've risen sharply.

There's not a lot of sites where they could've been land-swapped to where truck restrictions on any nearby roads wouldn't have hurt their rates. It's here, Marine Terminal on the Haul Road, and maybe Eastie...if you found an uncontaminated site for a sanitary operation, of which there aren't many out there.

Basically, you have to treat them as sacrosanct as far as private developers lusting over that space goes. And you have to pull out all the stops to meet the transportation needs at other parts of the site or other similarly nearby and operationally convenient places for the Food Market to be protected from future T intrusion. The problem the last time MassDOT sought to evict them 12 years ago was that it was a manufactured crisis: Menino wanted the T facility in Readville evicted hell or high water, and there was no other acceptable place except to bunker in at Widett. Food Market faces no threat from the T if they get taken care of and don't have otherwise easily achievable solutions cockblocked by a pissy mayor and/or the insensitive clods at the BRA.

 

[shawn]

Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium

Just a quick follow-up to my last post about Patriot Place being busy on regular week days: looks like my experience was atypical, according to my parents. From what they say, the place sees a steady stream of low-volume traffic throughout the week and standard mall-level traffic on the weekends. Maybe I went during a Christmas Tree Shop sale or something. Either way, any location in Boston would see more traffic than Foxboro does.

 

[datadyne007]

Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium

Just a quick follow-up to my last post about Patriot Place being busy on regular week days: looks like my experience was atypical, according to my parents. From what they say, the place sees a steady stream of low-volume traffic throughout the week and standard mall-level traffic on the weekends. Maybe I went during a Christmas Tree Shop sale or something. Either way, any location in Boston would see more traffic than Foxboro does.

If you went on Columbus Day itself, then the kids were not in school and likely out with their parents shopping and such.

 

[kingofsheeba]

Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium

That stadium is a converted AAA baseball facility. It reminds me that Nickerson Field (neé Braves Field) is also a baseball stadium conversion. Perhaps with some reconfiguration/expansion, that would be a solid option for the Revs.

BU wouldn't go for that shit, but now that you mention it, your idea makes sense. I would be down.

 

[coleslaw]

Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium

http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/...ston-future/usV7QdFFz9mBBpVOOteqBP/story.html

 

[Shepard]

Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium

And also http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/...-done-right/4PYvDWNO5Ce2xH9ZPddxfI/story.html

Should the discussions go forward, the Krafts and the city should aim higher than a single-use, suburban-style stadium surrounded by acres of surface parking. The proximity of the long, narrow site to the Broadway T stop sharply reduces the amount of parking that’s needed — and would provide more room for stores and restaurants that front on West Fourth Street and draw people there year-round. Incorporating commercial or even residential development into a stadium project could make financing it easier.

 

[coleslaw]

Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium

^ I agree with that so much.

 

[datadyne007]

Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium

This popped up as suggested on my feed this morning. There's a lot wrong with this editorial (the sheer ignorance to the fact that Southie and the South End are a stone's throw from Boston's site as well as the weak "Providence won't be the worst media market" argument), but it's yet another person trying to find a place for the Revs:

EDITORIAL: Bring the New England Revolution to Providence - We Know the Perfect Spot
Wednesday, November 26, 2014

http://www.golocalprov.com/business...d-revolution-to-providence-we-know-the-perfec

 

[HenryAlan]

Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium

Presently, the Kraft family, who owns both the New England Revolution and the Patriots, is in some level of discussion for a facility outside the city of Boston for a soccer only-venue. The location proposed is out on I-93 near the MBTA storage area walkable for no one and with no existing community - no restaurants, shops or bars. The location is a no mans land.

Oy so much cluelessness in this statement. The other thing is that the article is entirely based on what soccer can do for Providence, not what Providence can do for soccer.

 

[datadyne007]

Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium

Boston, Providence Top Improved TV Ratings for MLS Cup Final 2014
The viewership ratings for the 2014 MLS Cup Final were the biggest in 17 years, and the Boston and Providence markets lead the way.

http://www.thebentmusket.com/commen...op-improved-tv-ratings-for-mls-cup-final-2014

--
Apologies for no stadium news, but this is some great media market news to round off a record breaking season on all accounts.

 

[shmessy]

Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium

This popped up as suggested on my feed this morning. There's a lot wrong with this editorial (the sheer ignorance to the fact that Southie and the South End are a stone's throw from Boston's site as well as the weak "Providence won't be the worst media market" argument), but it's yet another person trying to find a place for the Revs:

EDITORIAL: Bring the New England Revolution to Providence - We Know the Perfect Spot
Wednesday, November 26, 2014

http://www.golocalprov.com/business...d-revolution-to-providence-we-know-the-perfec

Absolutely hilarious! Delusionarily provincial. I bet CommutingBostonStudent wrote that.

 

[datadyne007]

Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium

I'm sorry to bump this, but the Roxbury Crossing stadium was pretty serious.

The Revs almost built a stadium in Roxbury in 2007 across from the BPD HQ. It was the Tremont Crossing parcel.

http://www.thebentmusket.com/2015/2...dium-in-2007-according-to-nicol-frontage-road

Jonathan Kraft has been stepping out of his father’s shadow
By Bob Hohler GLOBE STAFF FEBRUARY 01, 2015

...

Yet his political problems persisted. As co-owner with his father of Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution, Kraft has been stymied for years in trying to build a soccer stadium in Boston. The most recent defeat, in 2007, involved a site across from Boston Police headquarters.

Kraft was angered that Menino approached the family about building there, then withdrew his support because of community opposition, after the Krafts had heavily invested in the project.

Now the Krafts are trying again to build in Boston under a new mayor. But their inability to deliver on a stadium continues to dog them. Last year, Boston Magazine declared the Krafts “the worst owners in Major League Soccer,’’ partly because of the stadium issue.

Not so, said former Revolution coach Steve Nicol.

“They don’t know what they’re talking about,’’ Nicol said of the critics. “I saw all the models and the plans in 2007 when it looked like the Krafts were going to get a new stadium. I assure you, it wasn’t for lack of effort.’’

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/02/01/kraft/aqGBtdrqDWbacvpa1YCjKO/story.html

--
Edit: I forgot how old this thread is. Here's the original announcement in 2006: http://www.archboston.org/community/showpost.php?p=24096&postcount=47

 

[datadyne007]

Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium

Revs and Olympic stadium plans creating an awkward situation at Widett... Rumor is that Kraft is advancing plans for the Revs stadium!!

Kraft soccer stadium push complicates Boston 2024 plans for Widett Circle
Mary Moore
Boston Business Journal

With timing a key concern, the Kraft family has advanced negotiations with key stakeholders to build a soccer stadium in South Boston’s Widett Circle.

http://bizjournals.com/boston/news/...ates-boston-2024.html?ana=twt&page=all&r=full