A majority of readers who responded to the Boston.com poll support the deal.
Boston’s Major League Soccer team New England Revolution is slated to receive a new stadium and other improvements per a deal struck last week between its owner, the Kraft Group, and the cities of Everett and Boston — a move Boston.com readers largely support, albeit with some concerns.
A majority of readers who responded to the poll — 59% of the more than 100 respondents — support the deal, often citing the need to revitalize the surrounding neighborhood and improve the environmental conditions at the shuttered power plant site. Others expressed concern about traffic and transit impacts (17%), while another 16% said they opposed the stadium altogether. Another 8% need more details before forming an opinion.
On Dec. 31, the Kraft Group announced it had struck two separate but similar deals — Everett officials valued the agreement “at more than $90 million over a 20-year period,” and Boston at “nearly $48 million” over 15 years.
The Boston funds will go toward improving infrastructure around the Charlestown neighborhood, particularly the Sullivan Square area, while the Everett funds will be used for other infrastructure investments and community benefits.
Reader Jay K., formerly of Brookline, said Sullivan Square “has been a disaster for years” and could use the cash infusion from the deal — not to mention “the money the spectators will bring in,” he added.
Mike B. from Boxford was equally enthusiastic about the new stadium: “It’s about time! While there are challenges, especially due to the lack of parking, this is a win for Everett, Boston, and New England sports.”
Others, however, weren’t so optimistic.
“It’s already nightmare traffic for any day of the week,” Vis P., Malden lamented. “It will be a commuters’ nightmare,” he added.
Below, readers share their reactions to the Kraft Group’s deals for the Revolution stadium in Everett.
Responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
What’s your reaction to the stadium deal?
I support it — the benefits outweigh the challenges
“Having wealthy investors build a stadium is a great use for such a polluted site. Having another professional sports team in metro Boston will help continue to make our city one of the best for sports. As long as they actually build the proposed bridge it shouldn’t be a problem getting there from the Orange Line.” — Michael, Roxbury
“You’ve got someone who wants to take a blighted, contaminated, former industrial zone and turn it into something beautiful with public access to the waterfront at no cost to the taxpayers.” – J.D., Easton Boston
“Boston needs a stadium that is easily accessible to residents by public transportation without needing to drive 20 miles each way for an event.” – Peter F., Cambridge
“I have bias, as a Revs supporter, however looking beyond my desires for the team to get a home, this is huge for the area. Traffic is always going to suck, and public transit is available to get around that. This project cleans up a mess, adds more interest in the area and will provide new outdoor space for the public to enjoy. This will also create more jobs and generate additional tax revenue. I don’t see how you can oppose this. This is huge for any metro area.” – Kris V.
“As a major U.S. city, Boston needs to have a centrally located soccer specific stadium. Soccer is the world’s game and a beautiful game and it’s about time Boston catches up with other major U.S. cities.” – Cesar, Brighton
“I grew up around that neighborhood, and I support the plan, but I would like to see what plans to mitigate traffic will be in place. Much like North Station, direct access via the Orange Line is ideal, maybe with a tram that runs between Sullivan Station and the stadium, as well as the casino.
A dedicated tram will take some traffic off the streets and make it more appealing to use public transportation. Expensive, yes, and expensive to maintain. But with the very limited parking and very congested roads around, I believe more needs to be done to improve the infrastructure of that whole neighborhood.” – David L., Salem, New Hampshire (formerly of Somerville)
“I’m not against the stadium … [and] I’m not worried about traffic and transit. But I am worried about how the stadium can host events with so little handicapped parking, so little regular parking, and making thousands of people walk almost a mile from the T station. Oldsters and the handicapped may as well forget ever stepping foot in the place.” – J.K., Danvers
I’m concerned about traffic and transit impacts
“I’ve lived in Everett for six years and the traffic is currently abhorrent. My parents live in Charlestown, where I also used to work; it took at least 30 minutes to drive less than 3 miles, even longer if there’s construction, an accident or an event at the casino … Everett residents were promised multiple infrastructure improvements when Encore was built, such as a Commuter Rail stop and walkway to Wellington Station per the Host Community agreement, neither of which came to fruition … We will be moving out of Everett prior to completion of this stadium. The lack of advocacy for Everett residents in the past does not inspire confidence in their future projects.” – A.G., Everett
“The stadium is on the wrong side of the river, it will be too difficult for those existing fans who supported and travelled to Gillette to now travel through Boston to get to Everett — assuming the majority of fans were more geolocated to the previous stadium.” – Matt D., Taunton
“I’m not sure if the deal makers have been to Everett and Charlestown. The infrastructure (roads) in that area is not accommodating now. Once thousands of people go to the games in the new stadium the traffic will be horrendous. I would 100% support the stadium if there was a T stop within walking distance to the stadium, but there is not.” – Ben W., Lynn
“There needs to be a more direct transit option to get to the stadium. The easiest would be a Commuter Rail stop behind the casino with pedestrian access across Broadway. A more long-term goal would be either an Orange Line branch returned to Everett or Green Line branch via Charlestown and a redesigned Rutherford Ave. The transit upgrades would benefit the people of Everett and Boston and others and not just stadium events. With the amount of money being thrown around, couldn’t some be invested by the state, T, cities and Krafts?” – S.B., Dorchester
I’m opposed to the stadium
“I live in Everett and on weekends it takes me 45 minutes to get from there down to the Fenway area — 25-30 minutes of that is just to get to Sullivan Square. Once I make it past there you fly. Point being, traffic congestion in Everett is already a nightmare. Utilizing the giant Yankee buses as a ‘shuttle’ from Sullivan will only add to the traffic problems. I’ve talked to Revolution season ticket holders that have no interest in coming to Everett to see games and I’ve talked to local residents that have no interest in the traffic congestion increasing in what is already a major problem. Who does this benefit besides Kraft?” – Dan, Everett
“An outside safety expert should analyze the siting of a large public sports facility near such dangerous energy facilities. The ramifications could potentially be disastrous.” – S.L.B., South Shore
“There is no good way to get to Everett from the South Shore, parking is atrocious, and it isn’t worth the effort. Gillette is easy for Rev games, has easily accessible parking, restaurants and other stores right there. They would have been better off building a soccer stadium on Gillette grounds.” – Jim, Brockton
Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.