IDLE CHATTER: A new Revolution stadium in RI?

[Dan]

growing the fanbase for MLS in a less congested market where it will get tons of media attention.

The tone of the article at the top of the thread suggested that a Boston stadium would likely be built in the suburbs, because there's nowhere in the city for it to go. Do they want to build a new park in the 'burbs? They're already there, in Foxboro! The more I think about this, the more it seems to make sense. And I like watching soccer, so let's do this!

Let's ask Ciccilline to write a letter to MLS. Providence Tomorrow?

[JimmyGreaves]

My vision is that promotion and relegation become a part of soccer in America. That way, Rhode Island Stingrays (our "hometown" club in United Soccer League's Premier Development League) eventually become a home-grown, top flight club that move up to the higher leagues by finishing 1st or 2nd in the lower leagues. The organic growth of the club would inspire more passion amongst Rhode Island fans and help sustain it long-term. Rhode Island Stingrays would also compete against New England Revolution in a local "derby" as the English call it, further stoking passion as the clubs compete for local bragging rights.

Regarding a prospective stadium, MLS soccer is simply a inferior product vs. other countries' professional leagues (let alone American sports), and I feel using public money to build a ground in Rhode Island would not be a sustainable investment due to a foreseeable waning interest in the club after a few years should they relocate to the state. Interest in soccer by Americans needs to grow larger before public money can even be considered for this type of development. Can it happen? Absolutely. But now is not the right time.

[HartfordTycoon]

My vision is that promotion and relegation become a part of soccer in America. That way, Rhode Island Stingrays (our "hometown" club in United Soccer League's Premier Development League) eventually become a home-grown, top flight club that move up to the higher leagues by finishing 1st or 2nd in the lower leagues. The organic growth of the club would inspire more passion amongst Rhode Island fans and help sustain it long-term. Rhode Island Stingrays would also compete against New England Revolution in a local "derby" as the English call it, further stoking passion as the clubs compete for local bragging rights.

Regarding a prospective stadium, MLS soccer is simply a inferior product vs. other countries' professional leagues (let alone American sports), and I feel using public money to build a ground in Rhode Island would not be a sustainable investment due to a foreseeable waning interest in the club after a few years should they relocate to the state. Interest in soccer by Americans needs to grow larger before public money can even be considered for this type of development. Can it happen? Absolutely. But now is not the right time.

That sounds good, but it sounds very complex and would require entire new leagues be created. I say go for MLS now. This is what we have in the states as far as pro soccer, it may be all were going to get and the quality should improve with increased interest in soccer. I think the support would be there in PVD just for bragging rights, you'll be playing teams from larger metro areas and could end up being a showcase team, stadium, and market for MLS.

[DaveRPI]

http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articl...ies_to_kick_in/

ask yourself, would these fit in or around Providence?

a stadium used for major league soccer, est. 25,000 seats

a stadium used for extreme sports events, i.e. X-Games, Gravity Games, etc

a stadium which could be used as a top-tier concert or outdoor performing arts venue

a stadium [that i would push to dual as a professional tennis tour destination]

a stadium used for high school, college, other amatuer, and professional soccer tournaments

a stadium used for other high school, college, other amatuer, and professional sporting tournaments

a stadium used for outdoor college and professional hockey games, similar to the ones hosted in Edmonton, Canada and Lansing, Michigan

a stadium used for high school, college, and business gatherings such as commencements, speeches, conventions, etc

a stadium which is surrounded by or accompanied by a large amateur sports facility that could also be used for all sorts of events such as: fairs, festivals, circuses, carnivals, camps, civic events and gatherings

Where could this be located? Suggestions?

Off the top of my head, in Providence, I would say: Roger Williams Park, the Port of Providence, and

Off the top of my head, in Rhode Island, I would say: GW Highway, Lincoln Park, or Lincoln Woods in Lincoln, RI... EP Waterfront at Bold Point or off the Wampanoag Trail [Rt 114] in East Providence, RI... and/or across from Smithfield Crossing bordering Rt. 295 in Smithfield, RI...

[Mij]

Port of Providence would be my first choice.

But then i would have to wonder about parking. The reson I like Port of Providence is b/c of the Conely Warf project and the exspanding JWU campus, and of course the "Providence Point" projects that are underway...

I dont think Providence has a prayer, nor do i think the city would pony up the funds to bring a team here. It's a shame...

[Lone Ranger]

To seal the deal, Bridgeview, located just south of Chicago, agreed to fund the entire stadium -- $100 million -- with public funds. It sold bonds to raise the cash.

Bridgeview Mayor Steve Landek said he adopted a simple strategy to persuade the Fire to pick his town: ``Sell, sell, sell."

``I ran it like a political campaign," he said.

Part of what had communities so excited: The soccer stadiums can be converted into outdoor concert venues, bringing in additional money. Villages such as Bridgeview, with an aging industrial base, envisioned the stadium as a catalyst for a broader redevelopment effort -- one that would bring hotels, retail stores, and restaurants to town. With its 20,000 seats, the new Fire stadium holds more than the village's 15,000-person population.

OK, if a village of 15,000 people can afford a project like this, why couldn't we?

I'm not arguing either for or against, although I love the idea of MLS in Providence. But I'm asking because I'm honestly curious here. The question almost begs to be asked: if a puny little burg of 15,000 people can afford this, what's stopping us?

[CtownMikey]

would this stadium further treaten the dunk for big concerts??

[brick]

OK, if a village of 15,000 people can afford a project like this, why couldn't we?

I'm not arguing either for or against, although I love the idea of MLS in Providence. But I'm asking because I'm honestly curious here. The question almost begs to be asked: if a puny little burg of 15,000 people can afford this, what's stopping us?

We have other vehicles for the kind of development he is talking about, and many other things to spend money on.

That's a hell of a bond for such a small town, though.

I think we should make the Harrahgansetts buy a stadium in exchange for their casino deal!

[Lone Ranger]

That's a hell of a bond for such a small town, though.

Exactly.

[runawayjim]

would this stadium further treaten the dunk for big concerts??

only for about 6-8 months. and the dunk offers rain protection that a stadium cannot, which is important for some... but places like the dunk don't usually hold late spring, summer, or early fall concerts anyways... those are usually in open venues or small clubs and theatres depending on the type of artist.

We have other vehicles for the kind of development he is talking about, and many other things to spend money on.

That's a hell of a bond for such a small town, though.

I think we should make the Harrahgansetts buy a stadium in exchange for their casino deal!

yes we should! that's a great idea... too bad the general assembly wouldn't do that because it'd mean no casino.

[CtownMikey]

actually if the stadium were only a 15k seater.. then it wouldnt really compare with the dunk since the dunk is indoor and has hotel, CC attacthments right there.

[Dan]

I think the support would be there in PVD just for bragging rights, you'll be playing teams from larger metro areas and could end up being a showcase team, stadium, and market for MLS.

It certainly wouldn't hurt Providence for the exposure. I think the area would be able to support a team, but we are talking soccer and this is America. I was at the MLS Cup game in 2002 and even though it was a league final, all the red club seats were completely empty.

I wish the team wasn't called New England Revolution. You know if they built a park in Dedham and moved the club they'd change the name to Boston Revolution, which sounds crisper.

How does FC-Providence sound?

If we turned the Revolution franchise into a showcase team with a signature made-for-soccer stadium, that would be very noteworthy for our city.

[Garris]

I'm really split on this. Certainly Providence has other things to spend its money on (like, oh, say, our decaying public schools), but as an anchor to a formalized "club and entertainment" district near Providence Piers and a major adjunct to the Piers itself, I think it would have promise to define that part of the city and give it a more focused mission. And certainly, if multiuse for Bryant or URI football, concerts, special events, etc, the utility and attraction goes up even more.

I think that's the only scenario that would work.

That said, I'm cateloging this in the "not going to happen" file, despite how much I'd like to see it. I just can't see the Revolution folks wanting to be an hour or more from metro Boston...

- Garris

PS: Stupid Question: Could an arena of that capacity theoretically fit in the area where the Fleet Skating Rink is?

[runawayjim]

PS: Stupid Question: Could an arena of that capacity theoretically fit in the area where the Fleet Skating Rink is?

doubtful. the field itself would have to be quite larger than the area where the ice goes. soccer fields are pretty big (bigger than football fields).

[mental757]

Maybe Brown (who has the ability to put money towards this) could upgrade thier football stadium to this multi-use facility for MLS soccer, Brown football, and local uses to cities and towns for football and soccer. The Stae and City could simply extend a tax break to Brown for building materials and supplies, etc. It would be a nice partnership and the city would still benefit on having the masses of people come into the city and they surely would get tax income from concession sales, etc. Brown would offset part of the cost to do this by having a major 'tenant' (the Revolution) and get a cut of the concesion sales as well. In the end, they would have a really nice facility for thier athletics basicaslly paid for by the MLS use, the associated sales, parking, the tax breaks from the State/City for building it, and rental income from other events (concerts, ceremonies, etc.). If the Ivy League ever had a 'post-season' for football (yet another discussion), this would arguably be one of the best places to hold the 'title game.' The best part is, it alleviates the State and City from actualy having to build and manage it - which would save time, money, and a lot of public bickering. MLS would like it since they would be in acity full of college students (with public transport) as well as a densely populated metro area still only an hour and 6 dollars away from Boston. NB and FR fans would surely come here as well. We could have 'special event' trains to PVD like they do for the Pats' games.

If not Brown, maybe PC (or Bryant?) could do the same??

[runawayjim]

Maybe Brown (who has the ability to put money towards this) could upgrade thier football stadium to this multi-use facility for MLS soccar, Brown football, and local uses to cities and towns for football and soccer. The city could simply extend a tax break to Brown for building materials and supplies, etc. It would be a nice partnership and the city would still benefit on having the masses of people come into the city and they surely would get tax income from concession sales, etc.

If not Brown, maybe PC could do the same??

PC doesnt' have a football team... and i think they'd be more interested in bringing baseball back before football. they used to have a baseball team but canned the program right after they won the big east championship because of title IX issues.

i think brown would be the best situation for this... but they already get a ton of tax breaks and probably have tax breaks on their current stadium.

PC actually was planning to use that valueland property on smith st for a sports field or complex. but i guess the property needed too much cleanup to make it worth their while, which is why it's back on the market now (although supposedly, PC is gonna make some money off the sale).

[mental757]

I know PC doesn't have football or baseball, but they don't necessarily need to in order to 'front' the stadium. I do agree that Brown is best suited for this though. - Was simply being 'fair' to PC and Bryant. How about Roger Williams College - they seem to fly below the radar - maybe they could be the dark horse for this project?

[runawayjim]

I know PC doesn't have football or baseball, but they don't necessarily need to in order to 'front' the stadium. I do agree that Brown is best suited for this though. - Was simply being 'fair' to PC and Bryant. How about Roger Williams College - they seem to fly below the radar - maybe they could be the dark horse for this project?

PC doesn't have the money to front for this, nor do i think they would considering they wouldn't use it much. althoguh i wonder how their soccer program is... currently, their soccer and lacrosse teams play on a field on the corner of huxley and eaton that has very few bleachers...

[Claremorris]

PC doesn't have the money to front for this, nor do i think they would considering they wouldn't use it much. althoguh i wonder how their soccer program is... currently, their soccer and lacrosse teams play on a field on the corner of huxley and eaton that has very few bleachers...

PC just built a new state of the art turf field on their campus that the lacrosse teams use, complete with an underground parking garage. I find it doubtful that they would be interested in supporting a stadium downtown. In regards to the Value Land property, I heard that they sold it to help fund the cost of a new four story glass encased gym that has recently begun construction.

[runawayjim]

PC just built a new state of the art turf field on their campus that the lacrosse teams use, complete with an underground parking garage. I find it doubtful that they would be interested in supporting a stadium downtown. In regards to the Value Land property, I heard that they sold it to help fund the cost of a new four story glass encased gym that has recently begun construction.

PC would definitely not be interested in the stadium. They actually have owned Valueland for quite some time and it was being used as a remote lot with a shuttle for the construction workers during construction of the suites and smith center. it's still on the market, so they haven't used any money from the sale to fund anything. it may have come into play for planning and how they'll pay off debt, but other than that, it's still owned by PC.

as for RWU, do they have a providence campus? i'm not sure they'd want to build a stadium in providence since it's not exactly close to them. bryant would be a better bet, and it'd be really cool if they did...

[Garris]

Maybe Brown (who has the ability to put money towards this) could upgrade thier football stadium to this multi-use facility for MLS soccer...

Have you ever seen Ivy League football?? It's a level (a small level) above club football. Nope, definitely not going to happen for several reasons:

1) Brown Stadium: In the middle of a residential neighborhood on the East Side. Where would everyone park?

2) If you move it somewhere else in the city, it would be farther from campus than their stadium already is. Who would go?

3) Why would Brown which, while hardly financially strapped but nevertheless is at the bottom of the Ivys endowment-wise, spend a cent on this when they have huge capital commitments upcoming (several new buildings, "The Walk" on campus, and a huge athletic center upgrade) and a few they're probably holding back for in the future (possibly part of the 195 land)?

It was a nice suggestion, but this isn't the path to the MLS. Next idea...

- Garris

[DaveRPI]

OK, if a village of 15,000 people can afford a project like this, why couldn't we?

I'm not arguing either for or against, although I love the idea of MLS in Providence. But I'm asking because I'm honestly curious here. The question almost begs to be asked: if a puny little burg of 15,000 people can afford this, what's stopping us?

they floated bonds, which really isnt the twon paying for it, its investors

[DaveRPI]

Have you ever seen Ivy League football?? It's a level (a small level) above club football. Nope, definitely not going to happen for several reasons:

1) Brown Stadium: In the middle of a residential neighborhood on the East Side. Where would everyone park?

2) If you move it somewhere else in the city, it would be farther from campus than their stadium already is. Who would go?

3) Why would Brown which, while hardly financially strapped but nevertheless is at the bottom of the Ivys endowment-wise, spend a cent on this when they have huge capital commitments upcoming (several new buildings, "The Walk" on campus, and a huge athletic center upgrade) and a few they're probably holding back for in the future (possibly part of the 195 land)?

It was a nice suggestion, but this isn't the path to the MLS. Next idea...

- Garris

lol, dont knock ivy league football garris! more and more players are being given chances to play professionally, especially as more and more minor leagues for american football open up all over the globe

ivy league football is I-AA, one level BELOW I-A, which is the elite teams level

there still remains II and III which can be very competitive football, which they are one and two levels above

some would argue that II and III are also segemented into more competitive vs less competitive

club level lies somewhere between intra-fraternity flag teams and basket-weaving 101

ive been to games, they do not get the support they should, i guess its a question of options at hand for students in their leisure time and the loss of stature of ivy league football from dominance 60-75 years ago

of course i say all this because i played college football so I guess I know more or Im just more biased!!! lol

[DaveRPI]

I'm really split on this. Certainly Providence has other things to spend its money on (like, oh, say, our decaying public schools), but as an anchor to a formalized "club and entertainment" district near Providence Piers and a major adjunct to the Piers itself, I think it would have promise to define that part of the city and give it a more focused mission. And certainly, if multiuse for Bryant or URI football, concerts, special events, etc, the utility and attraction goes up even more.

I think that's the only scenario that would work.

That said, I'm cateloging this in the "not going to happen" file, despite how much I'd like to see it. I just can't see the Revolution folks wanting to be an hour or more from metro Boston...

- Garris

PS: Stupid Question: Could an arena of that capacity theoretically fit in the area where the Fleet Skating Rink is?

about BoA skating center

not for soccer or football

prolly not for anything but high school hockey games

[runawayjim]

ivy league football in new haven and cambridge is big. of course those also happen to be the 2 most widely known ivy league schools (yale and harvard). while the players might not be the best, it's still a big draw, at least at yale. but i don't see brown relocating their stadium.

about BoA skating center

not for soccer or football

prolly not for anything but high school hockey games

it was used for the women's frozen 4 two years ago (that's the final 4 of college hockey). i remember seeing signs and being in blake's when a bunch of hockey coaches were there.