Rumor: Kraft to Build Soccer Specific Stadium in Foxborough?

No danger of a Pulitzer Prize here.

 

These discussions and the angst they generate really make for good, uplifting reading.

The Revs organization is and intergral part of MLS.
MLS has made it clear that they recognize the future of MLS is dependent in part on all teams having a SSS.
The Rev organization has repeatedly said they are committed to building a SSS. No out of context quote in an article has changed that.
There are legitimate reasons why the Krafts have not yet broken ground for a SSS.
We are entering the third year of hard economic times and that is reflected not only in the Revs attendance figures but around the league.
To think that J.Kraft et al are not interested in expanding attendance and the fan base is just ridiculous.

Right now the Revs play at the Razor with it's poor atmosphere and it's going to be that way for the near future. Why can't we just accept that fact and move on?

 

now i am a SSS convert and zealot, but spending 100MM to get a 5k boost in attendance is a tough sell.

 

Yup, that'll do it.

 

Is a 50% boost in attendance a tough sell?

 

Jonathan Kraft saying that they're waiting for a "perfect situation" to come along, i.e. a municipality fronting them the money, sounds a little less than committed to me. They're waiting for someone to basically come along and give them a gift. That's nice. I'm committed to getting a Maserati, I'm just waiting for a situation where someone gives one to me.

Reading the Sun Chron article and listening to the audio, you hear Bilello claim the team has a "great fanbase" at Gillette. Now maybe he means the fans are great people (hey, as one, I'd like to think we are)...but if you're talking numbers, that's a total joke.

I have a problem accepting mediocrity and half-heartedness from people/organizations I know can do better. Blame my upbringing.

 

Actually, Bilello said they don't to build a stadium just to boost attendance by 10 percent.

So, yeah, spending $100m to get 1,300 more people would be a tough sell.

 

Where did Jonathan say that the Revs were looking for a municipality to front them the money?

 

OK, a little sarcastic there. They are waiting for the "perfect" private-public partnership.

Good luck with that, really.

Great fanbase at Gillette doesn't extend to the playoffs, apparently.

2004- 5,679
2006- 9,372
2008- 5,221
2009- 7,416

 

I have relatives all over northern/mid-Jersey (one of whom worked at the Meadowlands), so I've been going to Jersey since well before they started developing the swamp.

I know it's right next to Newark - but, are the RBs expecting Newark to be a big market for them or are they expecting a suburban market for all over NJ and parts of NY, or are they expected to draw from NYC, or ...

More to the point, is going to RBA more like going to Fenway than it is like going to Foxboro for most fans?

Yes, you can get there by public transportation. Yes, if you are one of the 280,000 people who live in Newark, there's a stadium right nearby, but, where are the fans coming from and are they "going into the city" for the game, or is it just another driving destination for most?

Okay, good point. But, do fans see them as a NJ team, a Newark team, a NYC team? Is the experience "going into the city" or "staying in the city" to see the game?

I haven't been there and don't know that fanbase, but I'm guessing, based on what I know of that area, that it more like going to a driving destination for most.

I never said they were the same. But I think the comparison is Foxboro->Gr. Boston to Harrison->Gr. NYC, not Newark, not Harrison itself.

 

From reading the RBNY boards after the first two games (Santos and Fire) it sounded like a good chunk of people were taking the train in from NYC.

 

I agree with you RKUPP; I bet its a driving destination for most and probably the comparison with Gilette is not too far off , except public transportation which they absolutely need to improve
Boston is not the biggest city in the world (its actually small in comparison to a lot of other cities) ; Which municipality will give the Kraft's prime property and land to build a stadium so that they can profit and line their own pockets? I really can't think of any at this point given that Boston and surrounding areas are congested as is and prime property is at a premium. If I lived in a municipality where land was just given to an already exceedingly rich owner, I may have a problem with that
Even the Red Sox can't seem to build their own new urban stadium
In the meantime, they need to do everything they can to rebuild their fan population to the point where maybe they can fill that lower bowl; that will go a long way in building atmosphere I think;
Its also interesting that some urban stadiums in Serie A are having a tough time filling their own stadiums (ie Juventus) which could be a for a variety reasons but mainly the product

 

Wow, this statement really shocked me and not in a good way.

 

ya Doc is falling over to the Dark Side

 

Can any of us answer this ?

No one has seen the pro formas on the stadium. We don't know the profit margin derived from each additional fanny-in-the-house. We don't know the profit estimates on concerts, high school sports, pro lacrosse, Breakers or any other events that might rent an urban 20 K stadium. We don't know how leveraged Kraft is on Patriot Place and what his loan terms might be.

Its easy to sit back and be pissed at the Krafts but the truth is, the Revs and MLS are business to them. Why should we be pissed that the Krafts (or any business) arent interested in frittering away $ 100 million ?

Assume for a second that the pro forma on a 100 million dollar 22 k seater stadium in Somerville sucks unless the attendance is 30K every match or unless $ 30 million in infrastructure is covered by a third party. Does anyone really believe that some deep pocketed potenital owner might be out there that looks such a pro forma and a possible outlay of $ 150 million to buy the Revs and build an urban stadium ands says "gee I love soccer so much, I don't mind losing 10 million a year (or whatever the figure)...where do I sign ?"

 

Missed the point of my reply to "only a 5k rise". That would be 50%.

There is no formula, and many people were wrong in thinking teams like Chicago and Colorado would always sell out because their stadiums were smaller.

 

Because as true fans, we only want what is best for our club, which apparently makes it OK to demand that rich people spend their money for our enjoyment.

 

That's part of the fun of being a fan, hypothetically spending someone else's money, whether it's on personnel, stadium, etc

 

A lot has been made of the "great fanbase" comment. What is he to say, "boy our fanbase sucks!?!" If he says this, he insults every fan who saves their money and makes their drive to attend the match. Yes, your fanbase is small, but from my experiences in NE tell me you have an awesome fanbase.

Yes, your fanbase was bigger in prior years. Most people can recognize the neglect that led to the shrinking of the size. But I think Biello was trying to be boastful of the fans he has when he said they are great. I don't think the management ever has sounded satisfied lately when reflecting on their progress.

 

Yes, I expect them not to fritter away $100 million coughpatriotplacecough, but shouldn't we expect them to manage this business to the highest standards of the league? I know I do. I'm not likely to settle for whatever works for the accounting department and be pleased with our we're-not-Dallas-yet status.

 

So what new have Brian Bilello and Jonathan Kraft stated this season about a SSS?

Not much on the surface... But I do not recall them ever mentioning a public / private partnership before. I wonder if this means anything... Maybe they have talked with MassDot about the Somerville site, and are trying to get the general idea for such a partnership out into the media.

The Greenline maintenance facility (and the full extension) is currently being reviewed by the feds for financing. The report sent to them includes several possible locations for the maintenance facility.

Could it be that the Krafts ride into brickbottom as knights in shining armor with MassDot by their side and help get the maintenance facility built in the location the neighbors and city of Somerville wants?

The new maintenance facility requires that a large area of privately owned landed is assembled and purchased... Large urban site near the T assembled: check.

The city and neighbors still won't want the facility to look like a maintenance shed and the MBTA would prefer the storage tracks be covered for security and to be out of the weather... Community support and interested public partner: check

Revs move to Somerville Stadium (built over train storage tracks) for the start of the 2015 season coming off great momentum for the sport after the 2014 world cup!

 

Perhaps not satisfied but not worried either.

$250 million for Patriots Place, all of which they're on the hook for. Hence my relutance to believe they'd want to move even an under-performing asset if it can help them bring people to the mall.