Is it time to tear down Fenway? - Page 2

**BCWWF** · 05-05-2009, 01:29 PM

They need to build a stadium for the New England Revolution that's not an hour away from Boston is what they need to do.

**Jesus Shuttlesworth** · 05-07-2009, 02:05 PM

I don't know about all that.

They could built a smaller location in that area, places like Fall River have huge international populations that would be interested in soccer. Building one in the Boston/surrounding suburbs would be a way more expensive than south eastern Mass.

**BCWWF** · 05-07-2009, 06:00 PM

Just looked that up and it's considerably further away than even Foxboro. The only reason the Patriots work that far out is because they have either games per season. There had been talk of putting a Revolution stadium in Somerville, but I've heard that's pretty much dead now.

**VonErichLives** · 05-08-2009, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCWWF

Just looked that up and it's considerably further away than even Foxboro. The only reason the Patriots work that far out is because they have either games per season. There had been talk of putting a Revolution stadium in Somerville, but I've heard that's pretty much dead now.

Somerville would be a good area except there is no where to put it.

The other issue is a stadium to be profitable needs other uses... a Rev only stadium wouldn't be nearly as big as foxboro and wouldn't have any other real uses.

Yes, I know int'l soccer comes her and plays, but if the new revs stadium holds 30K and foxboro holds 60K where do you think Brazil v. Argentina will play? Foxboro... it's a huge party in the lots for tailgating and the game sells out.

Many decades ago the Patriots played at Fenway... so a soccer field would fit...

They could play at BC's stadium... BU has a great soccer field, but doesn't hold enough people, plus no place to tail gate.

The other issue we're all forgetting is Robert Kraft owns the Revs... make no sense for him to have them not play at foxboro.

Do they run the trains for Revs games like the do Patriot games?

**BCWWF** · 05-08-2009, 11:52 AM

You're mainly right with all of that, but the one element that soccer stadiums have in this country is that they often hold concerts as well, which is a good source of revenue. The team is Dallas is profitable almost entirely because of that.

But again, you're right in that Kraft gets the gates from the games at Foxboro (a main reason a lot of other MLS teams left NFL stadiums). That gives them little motivation to move.

I am speaking clearly from the opinion of a fan though. New England currently has one of the worst atmospheres and some of the lowest attendance in the league. Next year New York moves into its own stadium, so only New England and Seattle will still play in NFL stadiums. But Seattle has an awesome setup with flashy coverings on the upper deck and sellout crowds for every home game. I'd love to see New England plant a nice stadium somewhere (google Dick's Sporting Goods Park or Rio Tinto Stadium) centralized, because I feel like the league overall suffers with a weak Boston product.

**VonErichLives** · 05-09-2009, 01:21 PM

I'm not sure how moving the stadium, unless as Stima pointed out you move it to a more "soccer friendly area" such as fall river area, I don't know how you'd increase attendance by building a new stadium.

and yeah, where Kraft owns the team and the stadium and they do concerts there already... I can't see him spending the money on a soccer stadium...

If there was a spot closer to Boston to put a stadium I don't think it would really help attendance here, plus a location near the City would probably be a parking garage setup which would take away tailgating which is the big factor of Foxboro football and soccer.

Somehow they're making money though... if not, I'm sure Kraft would eventually get rid of the team and let someone move them.

**BCWWF** · 05-11-2009, 12:00 PM

Foxboro is on the outer ring of Boston, more than 20 miles from the city's center (according to Google maps) and seemingly probably an hour or more of a drive for about half of the city's population.

You don't think having a centralized stadium as opposed to one way on the outskirts would affect attendance? NFL football is a different breed, they could put the Patriots in Maine and they'd probably still sell out every game because that's just how it is.

But technically the revolution are not operating in the black right now. Most MLS teams that are losing money can make more by building their own stadium and getting their own revenue, but the Revolution already have their own stadium, it just happens to be 5x bigger than what they need and well out of the way.

**VonErichLives** · 05-12-2009, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCWWF

Foxboro is on the outer ring of Boston, more than 20 miles from the city's center (according to Google maps) and seemingly probably an hour or more of a drive for about half of the city's population.

You don't think having a centralized stadium as opposed to one way on the outskirts would affect attendance? NFL football is a different breed, they could put the Patriots in Maine and they'd probably still sell out every game because that's just how it is.

But technically the revolution are not operating in the black right now. Most MLS teams that are losing money can make more by building their own stadium and getting their own revenue, but the Revolution already have their own stadium, it just happens to be 5x bigger than what they need and well out of the way.

Actually depending on traffic it takes no where near that long to get there from Boston.

Also, the place bangs out when Brazil plays, so clearly there are soccer fans willing to travel for certain products...

dunno, I just think there are so many good pro sports teams here with big followings the revolution will always be the sisters of the poor so to speak.

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05-05-2009, 01:29 PM	#41
BCWWF The People's Member Posts: 18,092	They need to build a stadium for the New England Revolution that's not an hour away from Boston is what they need to do.

05-07-2009, 02:05 PM	#42
Jesus Shuttlesworth Posts: 42,765	I don't know about all that. They could built a smaller location in that area, places like Fall River have huge international populations that would be interested in soccer. Building one in the Boston/surrounding suburbs would be a way more expensive than south eastern Mass.

05-07-2009, 06:00 PM	#43
BCWWF The People's Member Posts: 18,092	Just looked that up and it's considerably further away than even Foxboro. The only reason the Patriots work that far out is because they have either games per season. There had been talk of putting a Revolution stadium in Somerville, but I've heard that's pretty much dead now.

05-08-2009, 11:52 AM	#45
BCWWF The People's Member Posts: 18,092	You're mainly right with all of that, but the one element that soccer stadiums have in this country is that they often hold concerts as well, which is a good source of revenue. The team is Dallas is profitable almost entirely because of that. But again, you're right in that Kraft gets the gates from the games at Foxboro (a main reason a lot of other MLS teams left NFL stadiums). That gives them little motivation to move. I am speaking clearly from the opinion of a fan though. New England currently has one of the worst atmospheres and some of the lowest attendance in the league. Next year New York moves into its own stadium, so only New England and Seattle will still play in NFL stadiums. But Seattle has an awesome setup with flashy coverings on the upper deck and sellout crowds for every home game. I'd love to see New England plant a nice stadium somewhere (google Dick's Sporting Goods Park or Rio Tinto Stadium) centralized, because I feel like the league overall suffers with a weak Boston product.

05-09-2009, 01:21 PM	#46
VonErichLives DU's illegitimate brother Posts: 3,685	I'm not sure how moving the stadium, unless as Stima pointed out you move it to a more "soccer friendly area" such as fall river area, I don't know how you'd increase attendance by building a new stadium. and yeah, where Kraft owns the team and the stadium and they do concerts there already... I can't see him spending the money on a soccer stadium... If there was a spot closer to Boston to put a stadium I don't think it would really help attendance here, plus a location near the City would probably be a parking garage setup which would take away tailgating which is the big factor of Foxboro football and soccer. Somehow they're making money though... if not, I'm sure Kraft would eventually get rid of the team and let someone move them.

05-11-2009, 12:00 PM	#47
BCWWF The People's Member Posts: 18,092	Foxboro is on the outer ring of Boston, more than 20 miles from the city's center (according to Google maps) and seemingly probably an hour or more of a drive for about half of the city's population. You don't think having a centralized stadium as opposed to one way on the outskirts would affect attendance? NFL football is a different breed, they could put the Patriots in Maine and they'd probably still sell out every game because that's just how it is. But technically the revolution are not operating in the black right now. Most MLS teams that are losing money can make more by building their own stadium and getting their own revenue, but the Revolution already have their own stadium, it just happens to be 5x bigger than what they need and well out of the way.