New England Revolution Stadium | 173 Alford Street | Boston-Everett
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Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium
I don't think it's foolish to suggest it never will be. The NHL (and the NBA, MLB, and NFL) represents the pinnacle of talent in the sport. The MLS doesn't. Semantics about "Major" and "Minor" league aside, it's extremely difficult to see a league that doesn't (and barring a collapse of the Premier League or La Liga - never will) play host to the best talent in the sport ever becoming more popular than an established league that does have the best talent.
Ever since MLS was founded, there have been conversations and reports that soccer was poised to surpass the popularity of the baseball, hockey, or basketball. It's impossible to ignore that MLS is growing and evolving in popularity. But it's also so easy for people to make the mistake of assuming that new growth trends will be sustained. You're talking about an extremely new league - one which doesn't have the top tier talents in the world - and comparing growth trends to firmly established leagues that, apart from the NFL, have a century (or more) of history and have the top talent in their sport.
Maybe in 100+ years MLS will surpass the others. But not in our lifetime. It's still going to be fun to watch it evolve, and I'm looking forward to soccer only stadiums all over the country. Hopefully Boston happens soon.
I don't think it's foolish to suggest it never will be. The NHL (and the NBA, MLB, and NFL) represents the pinnacle of talent in the sport. The MLS doesn't. Semantics about "Major" and "Minor" league aside, it's extremely difficult to see a league that doesn't (and barring a collapse of the Premier League or La Liga - never will) play host to the best talent in the sport ever becoming more popular than an established league that does have the best talent.
Ever since MLS was founded, there have been conversations and reports that soccer was poised to surpass the popularity of the baseball, hockey, or basketball. It's impossible to ignore that MLS is growing and evolving in popularity. But it's also so easy for people to make the mistake of assuming that new growth trends will be sustained. You're talking about an extremely new league - one which doesn't have the top tier talents in the world - and comparing growth trends to firmly established leagues that, apart from the NFL, have a century (or more) of history and have the top talent in their sport.
Maybe in 100+ years MLS will surpass the others. But not in our lifetime. It's still going to be fun to watch it evolve, and I'm looking forward to soccer only stadiums all over the country. Hopefully Boston happens soon.
JumboBuc
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Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium
As improbable as it might seem, I think "soccer vs. other sports" arguments on the internet are even stupider than political arguments on the internet...
I myself once used to get really worked up over this stuff. Then I, like, graduated from high school.
As improbable as it might seem, I think "soccer vs. other sports" arguments on the internet are even stupider than political arguments on the internet...
I myself once used to get really worked up over this stuff. Then I, like, graduated from high school.
Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium
It's not about soccer vs other sports. It's about the best league in 4 sports being compared to the 5th-10th best league in a 5th. It has nothing to do with soccer itself and everything to do with the level of competition.
It's not about soccer vs other sports. It's about the best league in 4 sports being compared to the 5th-10th best league in a 5th. It has nothing to do with soccer itself and everything to do with the level of competition.
Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium
Here's a question - if they do build a 22-25,000 seat soccer stadium in Boston/Cambridge/Newton/Somerville, how much parking do they allow for? One of the nice things about Gillette is the free parking plus plenty of space to tailgate before the games. Seems tailgating is very popular among soccer fans.
Here's a question - if they do build a 22-25,000 seat soccer stadium in Boston/Cambridge/Newton/Somerville, how much parking do they allow for? One of the nice things about Gillette is the free parking plus plenty of space to tailgate before the games. Seems tailgating is very popular among soccer fans.
dshoost88
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Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium
Cars don't attend sporting events. People do.
Cars don't add life to a tailgate party. People do.
Cars don't add vibrancy to a community. People do.
Cars don't sustain an economy. People do.
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If the Revs build a 25,000-seat stadium in Boston, Cambridge, or Somerville, parking for cars is a feature they do not need to account for. Build a place for the people, and the people will come.
Cars don't attend sporting events. People do.
Cars don't add life to a tailgate party. People do.
Cars don't add vibrancy to a community. People do.
Cars don't sustain an economy. People do.
----
If the Revs build a 25,000-seat stadium in Boston, Cambridge, or Somerville, parking for cars is a feature they do not need to account for. Build a place for the people, and the people will come.
statler
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Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium
Tailgating requires people AND stuff (coolers, food, drinks, grills, etc). Stuff is heavy. Stuff is difficult to carry on the train or by bike or foot. (unless you are young and healthy).
Cars are very handy for transporting stuff.
Tailgating requires people AND stuff (coolers, food, drinks, grills, etc). Stuff is heavy. Stuff is difficult to carry on the train or by bike or foot. (unless you are young and healthy).
Cars are very handy for transporting stuff.
Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium
Tailgating is fun but I'd far prefer some pints in pubs in town then a stroll to the stadium with the crowd getting heavier as streets merge closer to the stadium. That might just be nostalgia tho.
Tailgating is fun but I'd far prefer some pints in pubs in town then a stroll to the stadium with the crowd getting heavier as streets merge closer to the stadium. That might just be nostalgia tho.
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Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium
Tailgating culture at Gillette is born out of the opportunity & resources (ie. giant parking lots) to do so. The pregame culture at urban stadia typically doesn't involve tailgating because the opportunity isn't available as there are no expansive parking lots to do so. Instead, you just pregame at a bar and then march to the match™ while making a ruckus.
I'm a Revs season ticket holder and I drive down with my friends and tailgate in the VIP lot (included with my season ticket) out front before some games just because we have the opportunity to. I would absolutely abandon that for a stadium in the city. Others would too and those who can't get over the fact they can't tailgate, sadly might not decide to come anymore, but their seats will be more than easily filled by soccer fans within the urban core.
As I've said multiple times, the move to the city is going to cause some groups of fans to not come to games anymore, particularly those from RI & CT, and their seats will be filled by a shifted fanbase from Boston itself.
Tailgating culture at Gillette is born out of the opportunity & resources (ie. giant parking lots) to do so. The pregame culture at urban stadia typically doesn't involve tailgating because the opportunity isn't available as there are no expansive parking lots to do so. Instead, you just pregame at a bar and then march to the match™ while making a ruckus.
I'm a Revs season ticket holder and I drive down with my friends and tailgate in the VIP lot (included with my season ticket) out front before some games just because we have the opportunity to. I would absolutely abandon that for a stadium in the city. Others would too and those who can't get over the fact they can't tailgate, sadly might not decide to come anymore, but their seats will be more than easily filled by soccer fans within the urban core.
As I've said multiple times, the move to the city is going to cause some groups of fans to not come to games anymore, particularly those from RI & CT, and their seats will be filled by a shifted fanbase from Boston itself.
odurandina
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Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium
"Snowboarding will never be as popular as skiiing...."
roll that video....
https://www.coloribus.com/adsarchive/tv-commercials/american-express-jake-burton-716955/
"Snowboarding will never be as popular as skiiing...."
roll that video....
https://www.coloribus.com/adsarchive/tv-commercials/american-express-jake-burton-716955/
Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium
That looks like a nice stadium being proposed in Cincinnati and a smart move to have all of the stands be covered by a roof - it will create atmosphere and make the crowd sound loud. That's the reason those soccer stadiums in Europe sound so loud - almost all of the have large roof coverings reflecting the noise back down onto the field.
That looks like a nice stadium being proposed in Cincinnati and a smart move to have all of the stands be covered by a roof - it will create atmosphere and make the crowd sound loud. That's the reason those soccer stadiums in Europe sound so loud - almost all of the have large roof coverings reflecting the noise back down onto the field.
Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium
It's why the Seattle Seahawks have such a loud stadium.
It's why the Seattle Seahawks have such a loud stadium.
North Shore
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Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium
Everything Data said here and more. I love tailgating at Gillette (especially in warm weather), but if I have to give it up in order to have a downtown stadium with T access, count me in.
I LOVE the fact that tailgating at a soccer match is a uniquely American tradition that I was part of since it's advent with MLS. I can't tell you how many foreign fans I've met at international friendlies over the years who are blown away by the concept and/or experience (despite their frustration at a lack of public transportation). The tailgating experience has been one of the few things that keeps me and my group coming back when the team completely blows.
But I've also been to enough matches all over the country and abroad that tell me a pregame pub hangout and march to a stadium can be equally, if not more fun.
Everything Data said here and more. I love tailgating at Gillette (especially in warm weather), but if I have to give it up in order to have a downtown stadium with T access, count me in.
I LOVE the fact that tailgating at a soccer match is a uniquely American tradition that I was part of since it's advent with MLS. I can't tell you how many foreign fans I've met at international friendlies over the years who are blown away by the concept and/or experience (despite their frustration at a lack of public transportation). The tailgating experience has been one of the few things that keeps me and my group coming back when the team completely blows.
But I've also been to enough matches all over the country and abroad that tell me a pregame pub hangout and march to a stadium can be equally, if not more fun.
Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium
Yikes. Go diagnose yourself. My point stands - the Latino fans of soccer in Boston are located in (most of) the areas we're talking about building a soccer-specific stadium. Suggesting this wouldn't boost attendance and interest is, to my point here, quite short-sighted from a demographic perspective.
Yikes. Go diagnose yourself. My point stands - the Latino fans of soccer in Boston are located in (most of) the areas we're talking about building a soccer-specific stadium. Suggesting this wouldn't boost attendance and interest is, to my point here, quite short-sighted from a demographic perspective.
HenryAlan
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Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium
Nobody is arguing it wouldn't do that. There are essentially two arguments going right now:
- Is soccer more popular are at least likely to become more popular than other sports?
- Is this the best use of land in Boston proper?
fattony
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Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium
Are either Fenway Park or the Boston Garden a poor use of land in Boston proper?
Are either Fenway Park or the Boston Garden a poor use of land in Boston proper?
Re: Site in Hub top choice for a soccer stadium
Why would the necessary criterion be whether or not soccer will supersede the Red Sox or Celtics in popularity? What difference does that make? Who decided that four (4!!!!) is the magic number of sports, beyond which we simply must not go?
And most of the sites under discussion are not in "Boston proper" to begin with. Land in Everett, Chelsea, Revere, etc. would seem to be improved substantially from where it is now.
Why would the necessary criterion be whether or not soccer will supersede the Red Sox or Celtics in popularity? What difference does that make? Who decided that four (4!!!!) is the magic number of sports, beyond which we simply must not go?
And most of the sites under discussion are not in "Boston proper" to begin with. Land in Everett, Chelsea, Revere, etc. would seem to be improved substantially from where it is now.