Major League Soccer to seek proposals in New England for soccer-specific stadium sites
Search begins for New England Revolution's new home
MLS will soon issue a Request For Information (RFI) from communities in the greater Boston area and New England in order to identify an appropriate site for a new stadium. The RFI is the first step in determining the interest and capability of local communities and their governing bodies to enter a public-private partnership in building a world-class soccer stadium and youth soccer complex. A similar RFI process successfully secured partnerships with the city of Bridgeview, IL and the City of Frisco, TX for current MLS soccer-specific stadiums, which serve as economic engines in their communities and centers of youth sports activity.
"We're thrilled to work with the Kraft Family to secure a soccer-specific stadium for the Revolution that will provide fans the same intimate environment other supporters enjoy in many MLS markets," Commissioner Garber said. "Soccer-specific stadiums are a key driver in our business, and we have many examples in MLS of how these venues positively impact a team's performance both on and off the field. We recognize that while Gillette Stadium is probably more conducive to soccer than any other NFL venue, the Revolution and their fans deserve their own soccer stadium. Our goal is to have every MLS team playing in a stadium that is built or reconstructed for soccer."
Among the information requested will be: An overview of the community and its interest level; a thorough description of the potential sites; possible sources of public funding; community and surrounding area demographics and demonstration of community support for soccer.
Stadiums built specifically for soccer and owned by MLS teams are a driving force behind the League's continued growth and permanence in the United States. Four soccer-specific stadiums have been built for Major League Soccer teams since 1999 and two more are scheduled to open next year.
These modern facilities usually hold between 20,000 and 30,000 fans, include suites and club seating, and share design concepts with some of the finest soccer venues in Europe. While the look of each stadium varies, all of them generate the atmosphere and intimacy that the game of soccer deserves. Fans are closer to the action and everything from the field -- dimensions, lighting and entry ways, etc. -- are created with soccer in mind. MLS teams playing in stadiums they own and operate have distinct advantages in scheduling, sponsorships and ancillary revenue streams.
For communities where these stadiums are built, the benefits can include: new jobs, new business for hotels, restaurants and retail, community unification, improvements to public transportation, economic growth and community development. They become a place for diverse sectors of the community to gather together, and they serve as a focal point for soccer activity throughout the region. As an example, The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., helped create 1,000 construction jobs during the building process and another estimated 500 permanent jobs. The Los Angeles Galaxy has led the league in attendance each of the three seasons since The Home Depot Center opened, averaging 24,204 fans a game last year. Pizza Hut Park, with its 17-field complex, has become the hub of youth soccer in Texas. It is the headquarters for the U.S. Youth Soccer Association and the site of one of the world's largest youth soccer tournaments, The Dallas Cup, which draws more than 150,000 spectators during the week-long event.
The Revolution currently play at the spectacular 68,756-seat Gillette Stadium, which opened in 2002 and also serves as the home of the three-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. Gillette Stadium has hosted several marquee soccer events, including MLS Cup 2002, attended by 61,316 fans.
Soccer-specific stadiums for the Colorado Rapids and Toronto FC are due to open in 2007, and plans are underway for stadiums in Salt Lake City, and Harrison, New Jersey for 2008. Another proposed site for an MLS stadium, to be completed in 2009, is Glassboro, N.J., near Philadelphia, PA.
Five MLS teams currently play in soccer-specific stadiums. The existing soccer stadiums in MLS are:
