Where would they play? It costs a truck-load of money to build in Boston, and I'd assume they wouldn't want to play in the BU stadium (as everyone in the world plays there all the time). As everyone has said, if there is an owner who doesn't mind losing money for 4-5 years it might work. But that is a big risk to take.
The WUSA Breakers played there. Horrible place. Old baseball field converted into a field turfed college football stadium with one 5,000 seat concrete stand on one side.
Nickerson hasn't had football lines since at least 2008, when it had new turf installed (with soccer lines). But as we've discussed, it's no place to see a game. It's got a special little place in my heart, but creating a game-day experience would be next to impossible. The concrete stands are crumbling and in need of considerable repair, and the stadium itself blends too quickly into West Campus. And even with the new parking structure going in under the new New Balance Field, nobody in their right mind wants to drive or park in the area. There are two reasons it has been floated as a possible location: 1) it can, at the very least, and with a degree of accuracy, be called "a stadium," 2) it's easily accessible from the T.
I remember taking photos of Jack Warner there. Now I remember, I was in town for the Gold Cup. A couple double (or maybe even a triple header with an MLS game) headers, and there was a WUSA game on an off day. The WUSA game was the nationally broadcast game of the week, and they had a VIP tent set up next to the field just outside the field house. Did all 5,000 fans have to walk through the field house to get to the stands? Honestly, it really is one of the worst "stadiums" I have ever been to. And I've been to quite a few.
I think I'd be more pessimistic, I think that public success in Boston requires a winning record in a major league... Recent past results for lower division soccer seem to have been disappointing to their owners - 3 of the last 4 PDL sides and both recent NPSL sides from greater Boston have folded - sounds like Rams will be back, but I did not see a big groundswell of public support... I hope you are right, but even a good NASL side playing New Cosmos and Ottawa Fury seems like a tough sell in this area, I'd like to hear more of your thinking....
Never really got into their food. Maybe its because as a franchise, its a little too salty and/or watered down when it gets to the West coast.
To say or believe that there no options in Boston is not true. Here are the real options for a potential start: White Field Nickerson Field Jordan Field (expanded) Ohiri Field (expanded) Ellis Oval (expanded) Bello Field (expanded) Hormel Stadium (expanded) Jack Bury AstroTurf Field (relocate tennis courts, and place seats) Dilboy Stadium (expanded) Edgerly Sports Complex (expanded) Charleston Community Center (expanded) Joe Moakley Park Stadium (expanded) Boston College HS Stadium (expanded) Harvard Stadium Alumni Field A team can play at anyone of the these places. The ones needing expanding can support temporary seating for two to three years. In the process, a team can focus on building a SSS in the Boston area.
Don't misinterpret my remarks, I wish there would be a thriving NASL club in Boston... I will spare you a breakdown of the venues suggested above, maybe there are some good possibilities there - after all Breakers use Dilboy, Harvard let the Revs in for Open Cup last year, etc. But I believe that a SUCCESSFUL franchise would need to control their own grounds, rather than rent per game from a school or municipality - I think one would need to control concessions (and be permitted to sell beer) to succeed - I see Western Mass Pioneers/Lusitano Stadium as a model, albeit on a (slightly) smaller (PDL) scale. They draw 1000-1500 at Ludlow, I believe that NASL use venues with 7000-10,000 seats and generally half fill them. We can get back to the stadium discussion, but there are a couple of other points to raise: One is that the current NASL seems to be a mostly South/Southeastern league - I think that it would dramatically increase the travel costs of those teams to come to Boston for matches, even if they scheduled trips to Cosmos + Boston together, I am not convinced they'd welcome a Boston franchise. Also, I don't think you had a natural rival in NASL - except NYCosmo, who desperately want to get out of NASL to be MLS NY3 (I doubt that works either, but that's another thread). And we have seen, rivalries matter.... Also, I think you have to consider your competitive situation - obviously you'd be in a dogfight with the existing MLS side. I do think the likeliest occupant of a hypothetical SSS (maybe getting slightly less hypothetical with Mayor Walsh as a booster and possible linkage with one of the casino-schemes) would be the Revs... And if the Revs get their own Stadium I'd expect them to end their relationships with Rhinos and RBRams to bring their Reserve Team/ USLPro and PDL/post-Academy operations in house, using more dates in the new building - for example, Timbers host their U23 (PDL) affiliate in Jenn-Wald (forgotten what they do with Reserves); but I think this is the trend... I think that's a tough row for NASL to hoe... Hope I'm wrong tho...
I don't think the travel to Boston will be an issue at all, the league wants/needs to grow out west, that will be more expensive, but something the league would have to deal with if they want to be a National league. Who knows what the Cosmos wants, I do not see them in MLS anytime soon, also Ottowa is coming to the league, not sure how far that is from Boston. I doubt that Boston will use any public funds to build an S.S. But if they do, you are right it would be for MLS and/or the Revs.