Mass. Senate voting on fate of proposed Everett pro soccer stadium

Advocate Staff Report

The Massachusetts Senate was expected to vote on a $2.8 billion economic development bill this week, which includes plans to transform a 43-acre parcel in Everett into a state-of-the-art, professional soccer stadium for the New England Revolution. The vote was expected to take place yesterday (after Advocate press deadline).

A separate bill passed by the Mass. House in June – H.4804 – did not include plans for the stadium. If passed by the Senate, the measure would have to be resolved in a joint conference committee.

The 43-acre parcel, which is located at 173 Alford St., is considered a part of the Mystic River Designated Port Area (DPA). The DPA designation would have to be removed for the stadium project to move forward. Even with the removal of DPA designation, the proposal would still undergo state environment reviews. The project also includes a four-acre waterfront park. The bill stipulates that if the stadium and waterfront park are not permitted and constructed within five years, the DPA would be restored.

In an April hearing, Revolution President Brian Bilello testified before a State House committee that the Kraft Group had signed agreements with trade union Unite Here and the Teamsters to build the project.

Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria said during the April hearing that it would cost around $100 million to clean the site, and touted the economic and environmental benefits of building the stadium. “There’s no other industry that’s going to come here and spend that money to clean that up,” Mayor DeMaria testified in April.

State Senator Sal DiDomenico of Everett told State House News Service that “signing this bill will allow the public process to move forward on a project that will be an economic catalyst and environmental win for my constituents. This will open up the possibility for hundreds of millions of dollars in private investment, cleanup of a hazardous waste site, create good paying jobs and open our waterfront for the public to enjoy.”

The Revolution have played in Gillette Stadium since 2001. Before that, the team played in the former Foxboro Stadium from 1996, when the team was founded, until 2001.