The Kraft Group is looking to build a new home for the New England Revolution in Everett, Massachusetts. But not without pushback from some Boston leaders.
The proposed 25,000 seat stadium would sit along the Mystic River, right over the Charlestown line, and advocates say more needs to be done to address the impacts a project of the scale would have on the surrounding communities.
“Traffic is already a nightmare,” said Marty Kane, a Charlestown neighborhood advocate. “And then you’re gonna put 20,000 people trying to get over there?”
Charlestown residents and local officials are expressing frustration over the Kraft Group’s stadium proposal.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said the city has yet to receive sufficient details regarding traffic, economic and climate impacts.
“Since February, the City of Boston and Kraft Group have met six times to establish a fair mitigation agreement as required by law,” she said at a press conference Monday morning. “To this day, the Kraft Group has provided little to no technical info.”
Before breaking ground, the Kraft Group must sign a mitigation agreement with the City of Boston.
Wu said the city expects to see four things — a clear transportation plan, commitments to noise and climate mitigation, a workforce plan focused on local hiring and supplier diversity and a neighborhood level analysis showing who stands to benefit and who will bear the costs.
The Kraft Group has offered a $750,000 mitigation fee.
“That is a non starter,” Wu said. “It is an unserious proposal. Seven-hundred-and-fifty-thousand is just 1.1% of the $68 million mitigation package that was paid for by Encore casino years ago.”
“This is a chance to revitalize this area,” state Rep. Dan Ryan, of Boston, said. “You only have this chance once every 100 years or so, and we need the New England Revolution to be a part of that revitalization.”
Josh Kraft, who is running against Wu for Boston mayor, is a pre-approved owner in waiting of the Revolution. A spokesperson for his campaign said he would recuse himself from any matters involving the Kraft Group.
“He swears up and down he’s gonna stay out of it,” Kane said. “How do you do that? There’s two edges to that. Are you with your family or are you with your city?”
The Kraft Group and Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria are scheduled to hold a press conference of their own at 4:30 p.m.
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