Ok, let me warn yall that i'm an outsider and i understand this topic has probably been beat to death by you guys. Also, i did search for it but couldn't find a thread so forgive me for bringing this topic up. And, know i mean no offense if it is taken that way... Anyways, i want to say that i have throughout the years enjoyed the Revolution yet it scares me that Revs are perhaps the least settled MLS team next to maybe DC United. Therefore, what is the plan for your future? Do y'all have a SSS plan? if so, would it be closer to Providence or Boston? What does Kraft plan on doing? are there any other potential owners that may step in and help get you guys back to the glory days? Inform me... because i know very little about the future of your club and i hope that you guys can keep your team. Also, please don't ever change your name from Revolution. I love it. Good luck.
Well, you can start by reading the nearly 3,000 posts in: Revolution Stadium Groundbreaking "12-24 Months" Parts I, II, III, IV, V and VI. Link to Part VI is here.
As crappy as the situation is, the Revs are actually one of the best settled teams in the league. They play in a stadium their owners privately finances and next to a development they benefit from the team's foot traffic. Lack of ownership interest in the way they view their other team? Yup. Going anywhere? Nope. And I live in RI, Providence would be worse. A lot of fans come from north of Boston, its another 20 minutes south.
Least settled club in MLS? LMAO that is probably the exact opposite of this franchises problems. They are the most settled and complacent team in MLS. They will continue to exist in near obscurity after our bodies are decayed....and they will still be in Stinktown USA (aka Foxboro, Ma.) playing in the most overrated sports stadium in the country.
Lemme add some perspective for our far flung friends, KO calls Foxboro "Stinktown" because it doesn't have brownstones and a subway. Actually, if most people traveled to Foxboro from other parts of the country they would probably find Foxboro, especially the town center, quite charming. I think if you are going to call a town Stinktown, it has to be well deserved, like, Bayonne, NJ, or Jersey City. His reference to Stinktown has to be more because it's not ideal for locating a soccer team; that much is true.
Two words: FILL DATES That's what the Revs were/are/will always be meant to do for Kraft & Co. In that sense, I'd agree with most here, they are very settled. Kraft has no economical reason to spring for a SSS unless it's some sort of state-of-the-art concert venue as well. There are no advantages otherwise. Sometimes the obvious truth of a situation is difficult to digest, so there are many flights of fancy about moving inner belt, but Kraft already controls the revenue stream at Gillette and he's not a soccer fan or a gambler. The Revs are staying put.
Everyone says there's no economic reason, but aren't property values near their lowest in 10-20 years? I'd imagine the investment on the property alone over a 20-30 year period would be beneficial, even after expenses.
Here's my dirty secret - from a selfish perspective, I really enjoy going to Foxboro for Revs games. It's a long-ish drive, but a really easy one. I have stuff to do before the game thanks to the Man Mall. I have the easy option of a "morgue seat" or Fort seat depending on what atmosphere I feel like having (IMO if you're in the Fort you pretty much get the "passionate fan" gameday experience you want - it's just a question of numbers) and ticket prices are really affordable. I even like having lots of open seating available if the people near me are being obnoxious. A Boston-area stadium, especially if located on a more remote T outpost like Somerville, would make going to games a lot harder for me. I love bypassing the city entirely to get to a game and don't feel like long trips on the commuter rail/T lines to get my Revs fix - I do that enough during the week for work. Plus, an influx of the "new target demo" = more of the people that annoy the expletive out of me at Bruins games (drunk, aggressive and rude loudmouths.) So yeah, *selfishly* I hope they're in Foxboro for a long time, even though I realize a new stadium is absolutely in the best interests of the team, long term. I also think as deprived Revs fans our idea that we have the worst atmosphere is overblown - I still think it's about 50/50 across the league. When I went to Red Bull Arena, I didn't really see a marked difference in "atmosphere" other than their Supporters' section is larger. For every Seattle/Portland/SKC/(now) Houston - there's still Columbus/Colorado/(for now) San Jose/FCD
I call Foxboro stinktown because it is in the middle of nowhere and it sucks. Might as well be in Satan's asshole.
I hear you on ease of access but there's a significant need to cater to the (mostly imaginary today) urban revs fan. Suburban folks like us gotta put up or shut up, that's just a fact of life. Comparable teams like NYRB be damned, when a beautiful new urban stadium is built these urban MLS fans that are mostly fictional today will materialize out of thin air and ride the T en mass, scarves up, singing, to every revs game. Whether it's the inner belt, Revere or somewhere else, as long as there's T access, Revs home games will be boisterous and constantly sold out. This team will be relevant, popular and respected by mainstream Boston sports fans and the once anti-soccer media will be onboard. It's gonna happen, an urban stadium is our ticket to glory, we just have to wait for Krafty to finish measuring and make that precise cut.
The organization is one week away from missing its self-declared timeframe for a solid stadium update it promised its supporters back in March. "How many more times...treat me the way you wanna do?" When San Jose is cemented in their own digs and DC is under construction at Poplar Point...what then? There's nowhere to hide the ugliness of how the Revs are presented. When you look at what KC or Houston have, the Revs might as well be playing in the parking lot. A DC stadium announcement would be the last straw up here for a tolerance which is already worn to the bone.
I think at this point, when the organization gives some sort of timeline for such an announcement, they're trying to be either funny, ironic, or both. They can't be expecting anybody to take such timelines seriously any more. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...
Well my post was dripping with sarcasm but I mainly agree with you. The way I look at it: our current stadium situation is neither as good or as bad as revs fans make it out to be. You're one of the best informed posters on here so you probably don't need me to remind you that RFK is a condemned building. Would you want to support a team in a stadium where concrete could literally fall down on your head at any time? Neither would I. As bad as Gillette is -middle of nowhere, overrated venue, what have you, it's still a better stadium situation than DC United has currently. That said, longterm I'm well aware a suburban stadium won't work and share the same sense of urgency you and everyone else does. But in all honesty I'm kind of sick of whiny, spoiled Boston people in general (no one here, just generally) who can't go 10 feet off the god damn red line without bitching it's too far. They'd better come out to support this team when it moves to a city-ish location - but there will be some who won't and I can't wait to hear the excuses. For me personally, it's more convenient today than it will be when they move but of course, there's a lot more of them than me so it doesn't matter what I think. I want the greater good for the revs or whatever the local first division club is called. Until the stadium is built, we all need a bit more collective patience. They're working on it. The silence is deafening and apparently no one who works for KSG passed PR or Marketing 101 but the team still needs to be supported in the mean time. I genuinely hope people who really want this team to succeed longterm will not act like petulant children and continue to support the revs. Being loyal isn't always convenient but it's important the majority demonstrate loyalty. I hope folks either suck it up for now and (if possible) hitch a ride with a buddy or rent a zip car to support the revs in person - or go support a club like Montreal.
That was my point--when DC announces at Poplar Point, there's no one else to point to as being in a clearly inferior situation. At least Chivas USA plays on grass in a SSS in a semi-urban location, even if it's rented. No one else at that point will have the combination of bad location, bad surface and bad field presentation (smeared Patriot and Fall football lines) that the Revs do. A trifecta, but not the kind you want.
My elementary school teacher once told me, "if you don't like something change it; if you can't change it change the way you think about it." For now, nothing I do will make the revs move faster so I'm going to focus on enjoying the game I love rather than bear management's cross. More relaxing that way.
Very excellent post. It speaks volumes to the way I truly live my life in all aspects. From Love to politics to Religion. To the way I interact at work. My motto is truly "Don't sweat the small stuff"...and I had a similar elementary school teacher, although she was a centenarian Nun, of the most bitchy order, LOL...but she told us the same thing! and I swear she was telling only me! However! LOL...It's so hard for me to do this with this team/ownership. Glutton for punishment as they say..but I go back to the same old thing and this is where YOU ALL HAVE FAILED ME! Just like in Platoon, when Sargent Hartman tells the recruits..It was their fault for not motivating "Pyle" - you all have clearly not motivated me in believing that Kraft cares! And honestly, the Jelly donut just keeps revealing itself in the Apathy. I truly wish I could have your understanding and compassion for all that Kraft is doing/tried to do. My incessant complaining must seem worse than a broken record. But, I can't help it. I see new and old teams making the commitment to improve. See, SKC, for example. I know, I laughed at the brand change...But, Epictetus said it best. If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid. And we know how Sporting ended up..so far. We, however, never go that extra little bit to show commitment to the game. We've been doing the same damn things for 17 years. And in my psyche, I have this image of Kraft at the board of Governor's meeting for MLS, always voting against each and every little thing that has made this league what it is today. Whereas in the nfl he's been the champion of ending the strike that would have ended their season...and that's where my fury lies.
Ain't that the truth. Anyone who still pays (with time and/or money) for this awful product is a total sucker.
I've changed the way I think about the Revs and their stadium situation. It's even worse than ever, so I (as well as plenty of other New England area soccer fans) chose to stay away in earnest. Plenty of soccer fans across New England have changed the way they think about the Revs. They use to think they were a joke. Now they know they are a joke.
As Zippy the Pinhead's opposite twin Lippy once said, "We are all just unwilling passengers on a runaway train to doom and anihilation. Brief spasms of joy are only there to point out the total hopelessness of all human endeavor." It could always be worse--we could be Chicago Fire fans...
So true. What a sucker I am. I paid $245 for my season ticket!!! Outrageous! And the amount they charged me to park.... $0. Sheese, what a ripoff. And, what a terrible time I had last Saturday. I mean, Matt's clean sheet, Rowe being subbed in, almost scoring, and then scoring and Benny's goal.... It was all so lame. What a terrible time I had.
Sounds pretty awful to me when you factor everything in. I had a great time spending last Saturday, too. Spending $0 and wasting zero time on a shitty product that is only getting shittier with each passing second. Actually, come to think of it, I had a great day last weekend, cuz I didn't have to waste anytime with the shitty Revs.
lmao, you really think it's worse to be a Chicago Fire fan? hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha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