The Dorchester Reporter scores on talks between UMass Boston, which now owns what's left of the expo center, and the Kraft family, which owns the soccer team.
Neighborhoods:
Free tagging:
Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!
Ad:
Comments
Excellent! The Kraft's brand is GOLDEN-Let them build it now!
By Joey
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 6:41pm
Public/Private development with a privately built World Class Soccer Stadium is perfect for this location. We won't mention what happened the last time the Kraft's got screwed trying to put a stadium in Boston. Let's hope the new locals and Mayor Walsh can make this happen to quicken the pace of redevelopment at Columbia Point. This is a win-win for both sides. The pols of course should posture for input but this is going to be an excellent positive development for Dorchester and Boston.
No Thank You
By Arthur
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 6:44pm
The city doesn't need professional soccer here. It won't be just soccer. Monster car, concerts, traffic. No thank you, we're all set.
This is a perfect location for all of those things.
By Ron Newman
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 8:51pm
Red Line, commuter rail, I-93 -- it's all there. No infrastructure changes needed at all. And far enough from any residences not to be a major problem for them.
Not too good for driving
By Waquiot
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 10:34pm
From I-93 to the proposed stadium, the Thaddeus Kosciuszko rotary, a noted bottleneck that was supposed to be solved by the Boston2024 people, stands as a hindrance.
And yes, the Red Line is right there, but you did tout the proximity to the Southeast Expressway.
"perfect location"....what?
By anon
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 7:10am
I completely disagree. Yes there is public transportation. But let's not fool ourselves into thinking people wont drive. The entire area has highly problematic traffic problems on a good day and no parking except for the parking lot in question. And in the mid afternoon , when UMass students start going home, the intersection of the parking lot and Columbia Rd is at a standstill.
"No infrastructure changes needed". That's sarcasm, right? Even without the stadium, infrastructure changes to the existing roads and traffic patterns are badly needed.
And "far enough from residences not to be a problem"?? I take it you are unfamiliar with the area or that's sarcasm too. Some of the residences at Columbia point are within spitting distance of the proposed stadium, and there are thousands of people who live within a stone's throw. It would be highly disruptive to local residents.
Did you just blow in from podunk?
By anon
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 8:52am
Or are you forgetting that this is the location of the BAYSIDE EXPO CENTER!
Sheesh - short memory.
Podunk?
By anon
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 9:39am
Nope. I've lived in Dorchester since the mid 70s. Not sure what you mean by your reference to the "BAYSIDE EXPO CENTER!!' means. I can guess you are saying that there is an established precedent for large crowds and lots of crowds at that location.
The Revolution games typically attract 15000 to 20000 people, 17 or more times a season. Plus you can count on the stadium attracting many other events.
That's a much bigger impact than the Flower Show or any other event ever held at Bayside.
There is no such thing as a "perfect location"
By GoSoxGo
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 11:11am
Somebody will always be unhappy.
But as far as choices go, this location is pretty good.
Sure, the rotary and off- and on-ramps on Columbia Road can use some work. Hopefully UMass or the Krafts pitch in for it.
The T is the T (unfortunately). The entire system needs improvements, but if they can help get crowds of 35,000+ in and out of Fenway on an almost-daily basis, they can handle the Revs crowds of 20-25K.
As for the area being a bottleneck before/after school, that's pretty irrelevant as most games take place on Wednesday nights or on weekends.
I live in Southie, and welcome a soccer stadium here. I don't get to go to any games now at Gillette as there is no T service to the games, and the few charter buses from Boston are always sold out.
Traffic
By anon
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 11:35am
I made the comment about student related traffic that you think is irrelevant. I made the original comment as an example of how the area can not handle traffic.
UMass has 16000 students. I dont know how many of them drive, or are at the university at any given time, but when that lot where they want to build the stadium empties out, it is a clusterfxxx.
Revolution average attendance was around 20000 in 2015. I dont know how many people will drive, but all 20000 of them will be coming and going at the same time. It stands to reason that the traffic will be even worse.
You say you live in Southie and support the stadium. There are parts of Southie that I presume wont be affected. There are other parts of Southie that will be greatly impacted by increased traffic and parking.
Of course there will be traffic
By GoSoxGo
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 12:48pm
And yes, the area around Mt. Vernon Street will be the most affected area.
But at least event-associated traffic will not be an everyday occurrence, and most of the time will not coincide with UMass traffic.
People in the Fenway and around the Garden have adapted, as will Columbia Point. Times change and new projects get built and eventually dismantled. Look at the Seaport (although don't look at it in terms of good transportation planning).
Perhaps the rotary and area benefits will benefit from transportation improvements related to the stadium, if it is built. In fact, I'm OK if they (the city and UMass) make it a requirement in order to proceed with construction.
Brighton Landing
By hux
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 12:12pm
I know Boston is not very good about extracting public benefits from private developers, but make it a condition that they improve the disaster of the Kosciuszko rotary. If you want a drop a huge stadium there, that intersection desperately needs improving. It's one of the most accident prone intersections in the state.
kinda like Fenway
By neuroboy
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 2:27pm
echoing the Fenway thoughts. . . there are 80ish Red Sox games a year that each bring in at least twice the Revs crowd (not counting how busy that area is to begin with) and they do just fine--and that's a more densely populated and arguably more difficult to navigate part of town.
But...
By Jared Fijalkowski
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 9:35am
The area could use a LOT of improvement transportation-wise. Have you been to JFK/UMass station? It's a horrible public space, inefficient, and much of it is a huge waste of valuable land. Kosciuszko Circle is also very bad, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists. I hate to bring the Olympics back up, but there were some interesting ideas for improving transportation in this part of Dorchester which may apply to this and other development in Columbia Point.
And ...
By SwirlyGrrl
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 9:23pm
So?
I'm happy to go to all of those, using the MBTA of course.
I'm sure you take the MBTA to
By JPHipster
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 9:38am
I'm sure you take the MBTA to tons of monster truck shows.
I have!
By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 10:03am
Worcester has train service.
Although that may have technically qualified as a tractor pull - there were monster tractors, though!
If they had these monstrosities at the Bay Stadium, I would certainly bike or take the redline from Davis.
Be still my trailer trash heart!
Ok
By anon
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 2:30pm
Let us hear from all the liars who don't live in Boston and have never been to a soccer match on how they are going to take the MBTA to Dorchester.
I live there, so you're right
By TCcc
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 7:42pm
I live there, so you're right. I won't be taking the MBTA. I'll be walking.
Monster Car? I thought they
By anon
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 10:53pm
Monster Car? I thought they only held that at The Centrum Centre.
On Sunday.
By erik g
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 5:55am
Sunday Sunday [sub]Sunday[/sub]
Crafty Kraft
By BullDetector
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 7:12pm
He has seen the future and its name is Fùtbol.
Perfect spot, Great Idea
By Worcester T
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 7:12pm
There should absolutely be a soccer stadium here in Boston. With the huge Salvadorian, Brazilian, and every other population here; this place will be rockin!
In my short time I spent in LA and the couple Galaxy games I went to, it was such a great experience to have a rockin soccer game with fans chanting and singing and throwing lawn darts ( err).
It will be cool and should be.
Americans, too
By SwirlyGrrl
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 9:29pm
Well, Americans, all, but soccer is definitely a thing in the US.
Drive by most parks in most towns in the evening and on spring and fall weekends - soccer, soccer, soccer.
Six years ago, I was hanging around in an airport brewpub in PDX and grabbing lunch before my flight took off. An older couple was seated near me, ranchers from central Oregon headed to visit family (like, hat and all!), and they asked the server to switch the TV to World Cup action. I chatted with them a bit - seems they have grandkids who play and they liked to be there for some of the games. They soon learned what the rules are, how plays are made, and, well, they got hooked.
They probably aren't alone, either. When I made my connection in Salt Lake, it wasn't Latin Americans who were screaming at the TVs.
Eh
By boo_urns
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 9:41pm
Youth soccer, sure, and college programs, but historically the US hasn't cared too much for pro soccer. I think some attitudes are starting to shift, but not in any capacity to overtake even hockey for popularity, let alone football.
It doesn't have to
By SwirlyGrrl
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 9:58pm
One reason Kraft wants to bring it into the city is to get it on the MBTA.
Another is to build a much smaller stadium than he has in Foxboro.
already taken over hockey..
By Beckenbauer
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 11:25pm
...so says the broadcaster of a recent Copa America game. Don't know if he was accurate or what metric he used (tv ratings? live spectators? participation) and he was definitely biased towards soccer, but he def. said soccer is currently the fourth most popular sport in the US.
More than twice as popular
By Sock_Puppet
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 5:52am
Soccer is more than twice as popular as hockey in the United States (the favorite of 8.2% of people, versus 3.8% for hockey), and it has more participants than football (13.6 million versus 8.9 million - hockey has only 3.1 million). Soccer is played at the high school level in 50 states, and hockey only in 15.
The most-watched sports events in the US since 2005, in order, were: 2015 Super Bowl, 2013 NBA Finals Game 7, 2011 World Series Game 7, and 2014 FIFA World Cup Final. The 2014 World Cup was the most streamed sporting even in US history, more than the Olympics, the Super Bowl, and the NBA playoffs.
History isn't the only thing business thinks about. There's also future. When the kids who are now five - and whose default sport is soccer - are all grown up, soccer may be the top sport in America.
The US hasnt cared too much for pro soccer.
By anon
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 9:54am
because even at the MLS level it is an inferior product compared to the top level soccer in Europe, Mexico, and several South American countries.
Well, the funny thing is,
By R Hookup
Thu, 06/23/2016 - 6:35pm
Well, the funny thing is, those teams, except for an occasional money-making exhibition tour, don't play in the US. Some people want to go watch live soccer, so MLS attendance has been growing steadily over the last decade.
Yes, those other leagues (at least England and Mexico) are far and away more popular on US TV than MLS, but MLS is doing okay.
Guess who goes to see MLS teams
By SwirlyGrrl
Thu, 06/23/2016 - 6:52pm
I mean, outside those cities where they are already massively popular?
KIDS and their TEAMS!
I've got some great pictures from the times we went with Medford Soccer. They idolize Messi and James, sure thing ... but they are oh so excited to see MLS, too!
Remember that soccer does not
By R Hookup
Thu, 06/23/2016 - 6:31pm
Remember that soccer does not equal just MLS. The Copa America is being played in the US and drawing pretty big crowds, despite high ticket prices. Yes, many of those are fans of Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Chile... living right here in the US. That money is being spent in the US and it is part of the US soccer economy.
This summer a number of big Euro clubs will come over for friendlies and probably draw decent crowds as well. Last year, 109k fans filled UMichigan's stadium for a match.
The USWNT & USMNT also draw pretty decent crowds.
There are more hours of live soccer available in the US than in England, where it is far and away the most popular sport.
Latino fans
By anon
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 7:21am
Several posts here seem to think that Latino fans will flock to the new stadium. But the fact is that MLS is regarded as mediocre minor league soccer and not a very good product.
The Central Americans and Brazilian soccer fans that I know don't like the MLS product and don't go to MLS games, and dont watch the team on television either. Also the Revolution roster historically has been a mediocre team lacking in star power, and lacking in Latinos.
yeah....
By Marco
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 9:29am
they lost in the Championship like 5 years in a row. Total shite team.....
Other reasons Kraft wants his team in Boston:
-More fan base, better access to Stadium
-Providence is pining for a team and Foxboro is too close, splitting the fanbase.
-Foxboro Stadium is too big for them, they play to a half empty house and they still have to power and staff the place.
Not about the MLS
By John-W
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 9:35am
Realistically this isn't (currently) about MLS games. They just hosted Copa America games down at Gillette Stadium and they would probably do far better if they were in the Greater Boston area - T accessible. The Latinos, and the international students from all over, would show up for those games as well as qualifiers for the World Cup. And give it a generation or two and MLS games will eventually draw 30,000 - 40,000 (they're currently about half that).
Of course give it a generation or two and that area will probably be under water at high tide, but whatever.
Underwater
By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 10:10am
If the facility is built property (critical amenities above the cat 2 in 2050 surge line), it will survive flooding events just fine. Tide line won't reach it until the 2100s.
That said, one large facility surrounded by open unbuilt zones will do a hell of a lot better given the coming conditions than putting housing in that area.
Copa America
By Sock_Puppet
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 10:16am
70,858 fans showed up in Houston to watch Team USA get spanked by smirking Argentines.
and 1 1/2 days prior
By Imma Dork
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 10:31am
Hundreds showed up to watch the Argentine team eat lunch at Tango restaurant in Arlington (yes, it's an Argentine restaurant).
To be fair
By Waquiot
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 11:07am
45,000 of the people on Houston and most of the people in Arlington were there to see Messi.
Just chatted with a Brazilian friend
By anon
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 9:57am
He's a huge soccer fan and he thinks MLS is a joke, and that the Revolution is even more of a joke.
He has attended a few Revolution games, only because he has a source for free tickets. He told me he would never pay for "that crap"
Remind your friend...
By Imma Dork
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 4:40pm
....how Brazil got eliminated from the Copa America.
That does. Stop the stadium
By R Hookup
Thu, 06/23/2016 - 6:50pm
That does. Stop the stadium immediately!!!!
Where to Park?
By In The Know
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 8:21pm
That land is now parking for Umass while the rest of the campus remains under construction. Even if the plan were to go through it is still years off because Umass construction will be several more years at the very least.
Does that even matter?
By Ron Newman
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 8:52pm
This is so close to the Red Line and commuter rail that people should just use those.
Exactly!
By JeffT
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 9:25pm
If you have to drive, park at Ashmont or Braintree and red line it in!
Unless
By BostonDog
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 10:25pm
Unless the red line is broken or too overcrowded. A lot of new development is banking on the T yet the state is doing little to prepare for the expected ridership in 5-10 years let alone the current deficiencies.
Need a new plan for the T
By EM Painter
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 10:43pm
How do you hire drivers for peak times and not lose money on them the rest of the shift?
Red Line will be fine
By Red Line Rider
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 11:28pm
I doubt you take it. It's crowded and gets delayed (esp. Braintree line) during rush hours (and brutal winters) but it works.
I'd def take it to an event at Bayside over trying to drive, weekday or weekend.
Then...
By lbb
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 9:39am
Then I guess we'll have to shut down Fenway Park for the very same reason, no?
YES
By RoseMai
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 9:46am
With the amount of stress on the T (and my blood pressure) that Red Sox fans bring to town, I've found myself wishing they'd move Fenway out of the city on several occasions. To heck with all the benefits it brings.
Although if they actually invested in improving the T it might not be an issue. But I'm far too jaded to believe that that will ever happen.
Park at Ashmont, you say??
By anon
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 7:23am
Wtf are you talking about? There is zero parking at Ashmont.
Exactly
By In The Know
Thu, 06/23/2016 - 10:32am
This is what happens when pro-transit people, or people who have no clue about what actually exists around stations, comment in a vacuum. For the record... I'm pro-transit.
If you want to be pro-public transit you need to look at the whole picture and not just take a position of idealism. Also keep in mind that not all environmentalists are pro-transit.
There is no garage or parking anywhere along the Dorchester branch of the Red Line between JFK/UMASS and Ashmont. There is also none along the Mattapan-Ashmont trolley line save for a few token spots at a few stations. And forget Mattapan. The former parking lot is up for development.
BTW - No one at UMASS on staff knew about any of this... at least the rank-in-file. Certainly no students. Sort of amusing watching them sharing the link to this UHUB story and the one at Dot Reporter with each other and including a WTF with each.
Also consider
By GoSoxGo
Thu, 06/23/2016 - 6:35pm
That the poster meant Alewife, but inadvertently typed Ashmont. People use the Red Line north and west of Boston as well.
That's nice dear
By SwirlyGrrl
Thu, 06/23/2016 - 7:20pm
Did it ever occur to you that everybody driving everywhere is what got you in the predicament of feeling entitled to parking on space that was considered temporary at best?
(and, YES it is considered TEMPORARY pending redevelopment of the Bayside Expo site! Where were you sleeping that you missed that part? The Commonwealth NEVER intended to give you infinite free parking that employees of less t-friendly universities do not have just because you are special. You will be extremely lucky if the site is used for a stadium and you get to use the parking lot for that - any other redevelopment might take away your precious entirely.)
TAILGATING! Sadly it's the
By anon
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 10:56pm
TAILGATING! Sadly it's the best part of going to MLS games because it sure isn't their high quality of play.
It will take some years to build
By SwirlyGrrl
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 9:30pm
Also, UMass doesn't need so much parking at the times that events would take place.
Agreed
By Waquiot
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 10:57pm
Having events on the week-ends and during the summer maximizes the use of the campus parking lots. Charge $10-$15 a car and you have a good revenue stream.
What campus parking lot?
By anon
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 9:28am
The biggest campus parking lot is where they want to build the stadium<
Go vertical
By Waquiot
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 7:45pm
The previous parking area was 2 floors, so it is doable.
Also, it should be noted that the "lot", until recently, had a building on it, and is currently home to debris of said building.
As someone who takes uber or
By Muerl
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 10:57pm
As someone who takes uber or the Green Line to these events, Where do people park for Red Sox Games or Bruins/Celtics games. In small lots where they are extorted or take the train from somewhere far away.
Or like BC does, and bans parking on the Streets for non locals and has everyone park miles away and ride a bus.
Wonderland
By Dj
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 10:55pm
How about the old wonderland dog track site? Right between the blue line and commuter rail, plenty of parking, and the right footprint. And Latino population close by.
My thoughts (and others) exactly
By Beckenbauer
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 11:27pm
Wonderland makes more sense for the reasons you mentioned but i'd def. settle for Bayside Expo.
or two stops down...
By John-W
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 9:40am
...at Suffolk Downs. Or over in the Inner Belt, Somerville/Cambridge/Charlestown no-man's land.
These have all been possible locations explored by the Krafts through surreptitious conversations with land-owners and municipal authorities who secretly want it, but fear the community blow-back. And at this point May-uh Mahty should be tremendously aware of that dynamic. Unless he's rewriting the old saw and it's now "once bitten twice as clueless."
Build it if it's privately financed
By anon
Tue, 06/21/2016 - 11:21pm
Kraft can help pay to reconfigure the rotary and for Morrissey improvements. Plenty of UMass parking on weekends.
Orient it facing the bay and it could be a stellar venue for summer concerts as well.
And UMass and BC High and others could use it for athletics.
Doubt monster trucks would draw but WTH? Not a deal breaker
"Kraft can help pay to
By PeterGriffith5
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 1:17am
"Kraft can help pay to reconfigure the rotary and for Morrissey improvements. "
Linkage, Baby, Linkage!
You are all delusional
By anon
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 7:51am
MLS sucks.
Revolution sucks
Latino fans dont like MLS because it sucks.
Soccer kids grow up and dont go to MLS games because MLS sucks.
This location for a proposed stadium sucks. Even if it is close to the T, many, or most people will want to take their cars. Why do so many people on this website pretend that cars dont exist, and ignore that Boston traffic in general, and specifically in this location, sucks.
Somone woke up
By Waquiot
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 8:59am
On the wrong side of the bed.
Have some coffee or whatever.
Correct and incorrect
By anon
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 9:32am
I did in fact post my tirade before my first cup of coffee. I did not wake up on the wrong side of the bed.
My comments, however, are reality based, as opposed to most I see here on this subject.
citations please
By anon
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 2:21pm
I know that the Patriots have issues with pressure reduction in their area, but I'd love to see you cite a source that proves in reality that the Revolution sucks.
Done
By anon
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 3:44pm
It is an established fact that MLS sucks. And the Revs are part of MLS. There you go.
Seriously, ask anyone who is a soccer fan, even a Revolution fan, and they will tell you.
The MLS
By Waquiot
Wed, 06/22/2016 - 7:50pm
Has but one less franchise than the NHL did in 1991, a mere 25 years ago. Since the Tampa/Miami contraction, they have been a model of stability. No, they are not as good as the top flight leagues in England, Spain, Italy, Germany, or France, but they do okay for themselves.
Pages
Add comment