Current:Home > MarketsMassachusetts lawmakers to consider a soccer stadium for the New England Revolution -VitalWealth Strategies
Massachusetts lawmakers to consider a soccer stadium for the New England Revolution
View
Date:2025-04-13 14:26:07
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts lawmakers are planning to vote this week on a bill that would clear the way for the construction of a new soccer stadium for the New England Revolution in Everett, within sight of Boston and across the street from a casino and hotel complex.
The 43-acre (17-hectare) site is currently the location of the now defunct Mystic Generating Station along the Mystic River.
The team has been sharing Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of Boston, with the New England Patriots. Both teams are owned by Robert Kraft, CEO of the Kraft Group, which has been searching for space closer to Boston to build the stadium.
A representative for the Revolution declined to comment until after lawmakers vote.
Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka said Wednesday that the stadium deal was part of negotiations between the state House and Senate on a larger $4 billion economic development bill. The bill prohibits the use of public dollars for construction of the stadium.
The project has several upsides including helping clean up a toxic waste site, opening up the coastline for more recreation, creating jobs for building and maintaining the stadium and helping boost tourism, according to Spilka.
“Sports is really big in Massachusetts,” she said.
Officials in Everett, including Mayor Carlo DeMaria, have backed the proposal as a way to help boost the economy of the city of about 50,000.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has remained skeptical of the project, saying she’s concerned about how traffic to and from the stadium may clog city streets in the nearby Boston neighborhood of Charlestown.
Spilka said part of the language in the agreement focuses on helping address the traffic issues near the new stadium and the existing Encore Boston Harbor casino, which opened in 2019.
As part of the deal, the site would no longer be considered a “designated port area” — a designation where only industrial uses are allowed.
House and Senate leaders are expected to call members back into the Statehouse to pass the bill.
While the deal bars the use of public money for construction of the stadium, it does allows for public funds to be used for infrastructure work related to the project provided there are matching private funds.
The bill also would pump money into key economic areas primed for additional growth in Massachusetts, including the life sciences, climate-tech and artificial intelligence sectors, lawmakers said.
The bill would also rename the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center after former Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and set aside up to $7 million in tax credits for live theatrical productions, similar to those for the film industry.
Among the ideas that failed to make it into the final bill was a proposal to end the state’s ban on “happy hour” discounts on drinks.
veryGood! (2)
Related
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- Bengals sign former Pro Bowl tackle Trent Brown to one-year deal
- The history of Irish emigration, and the pride of the Emerald Isle
- Conservative social media influencer charged for her role in Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol
- Michigan lawmaker who was arrested in June loses reelection bid in Republican primary
- Alito extends order barring Texas from detaining migrants under SB4 immigration law for now
- 2024 NIT begins: Tuesday's first-round schedule, times, TV for men's basketball games
- What the 'mission from God' really was for 'The Blues Brothers' movie
- Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
- Massachusetts moves to protect horseshoe crabs during spawning
Ranking
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- MLB 2024: Splashy Ohtani, Yamamoto signings boost Dodgers as teams try to dethrone Rangers
- Tennessee nurse practitioner known as ‘Rock Doc’ gets 20 years for illegally prescribing opioids
- Unilever is cutting 7,500 jobs and spinning off its ice cream business
- Carolinas bracing for second landfall from Tropical Storm Debby: Live updates
- 'Who Would Win?': March Mammal Madness is underway. Here's everything players need to know
- Gannett news chain says it will stop using AP content for first time in a century
- US men will shoot for 5th straight gold as 2024 Paris Olympics basketball draw announced
Recommendation
From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
Clemson University sues the ACC over its grant of media rights, exit fees
Arizona lawmaker resigns after report of sexual misconduct allegation in college
US marriages surpass 2 million for first time in years as divorce rates decline: CDC
PHOTO COLLECTION: AP Top Photos of the Day Wednesday August 7, 2024
The average bonus on Wall Street last year was $176,500. That’s down slightly from 2022
Selling Sunset's Bre Tiesi Looks Unrecognizable With New Blonde Transformation
TV is meant to be watched together. Your guide to Apple SharePlay, Amazon Prime Watch Party