Boston-Area MLS Stadium Takes Step Forward With Passage Of $2.9B Economic Development Bill
The dreams of a professional soccer stadium in Everett are one step closer to becoming a reality.
Massachusetts senators voted 40-0 Thursday night in favor of a $2.86B economic development bill, a wide-ranging package that included an amendment to remove barriers on an Everett waterfront parcel to make way for a new soccer stadium, 10 Boston reported.
The policy provision for the stadium would remove a parcel of land at 173 Alford St. from the state's designated port areas, a protection that bars the land in its jurisdiction to be used for anything other than water-related industrial uses.
The amendment for the stadium wasn't included in the House's version of the economic development bill, so it must be passed in a conference committee between the chambers before the governor can sign it into law.
Language in the Senate's bill states that the land can only be removed from the designation “for the purpose of converting the parcel into a professional soccer stadium and a waterfront park," MassLive reported.
The Kraft Group, owner of Major League Soccer's New England Revolution, had long been rumored to be eyeing the site as a way to bring the team closer to Boston. They first discussed the plans publicly at a hearing in April, where residents and public officials also discussed the potential impacts on the area.
"We welcome the opportunity to explore if it's feasible to develop what has been a rundown, unused site for a long time and turn it into an economic driver for the region," Revolution President Brian Bilello said at the hearing.
At the moment, the Revolution share a field with Kraft's New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, just over 28 miles south of the city. The Senate bill would give Kraft five years to build the stadium in Everett before the original designation is put back on.
There were also attempts in 2022 and 2023 to bring this legislation forward, but that fizzled out due to disagreements between the two chambers over language in the final version of the bill, Boston.com reported.
Wynn Resorts, the owner of the nearby Encore Boston Harbor casino, acquired the 45-acre Alford parcel for $25M, the Boston Globe reported.
“Our goal for the purchase is to ensure that future development in the area is synergistic with our existing investment at Encore Boston Harbor, our planned development on Lower Broadway and the broad planning of the Lower Broadway District by the City of Everett," Wynn spokesperson Michael Weaver said about the deal.
The stadium amendment was just one of many provisions in the economic development bill.
It included an amendment to revoke the state's 40-year ban on happy hour drink discounts, a move meant to improve the state's perception among young people who have been moving away. It also included substantial investments into the life sciences, climate tech and artificial intelligence sectors intended to make the state a leader in those areas and boost the wider economy.
"We must now act to remain competitive in a changing global and national economy," Economic Development Committee co-Chair Sen. Barry Finegold said during the session. "This bill modernizes strategies for statewide economic growth and includes support for workforce development and talent retention."
