It is not a rare sight to see thousands of seats covered over by tarps at a New England Revolution game at Gillette Stadium. In a stadium that sits close to 67,000 fans, the New England Revolution averaged roughly 20,000 fans per game last season, leaving more than two-thirds of seats vacant each game. Ultimately, Revolution fans will never be able to pack the stadium like Patriots fans do, so what’s the point in playing at a venue that prohibits the chance of having a good atmosphere during games?
For this reason and many others, the New England Revolution need to get the hell out of Foxborough. ASAP.
Going to a New England Revolution game sucks. It really does. New England soccer fans barely chant––if they do it’s relatively quiet and nothing unique or fun––and they all seem too scared to make any noise. Celebrations after goals consist of mostly high-fives, rather than complete moshing (which you may have experienced at a Patriots game or any other sports game with fans that are really into it). The tailgates aren’t fun, as everyone is so spread out, nothing interesting is done at half-time, and most people in attendance leave early. As a fan, you’d have to pay me to attend one of their home games––it’s really that bad.
A fix to this? A new stadium that’s in closer proximity to a big city and can hold about 30,000, allowing for an easier commute for many fans, a superior atmosphere during games, and overall a better experience for everyone involved.
This idea is nothing new to the New England Revolution and our dear Mr. Kraft (who also owns the Revolution), but no actions have been taken. Kraft had toyed with the idea of giving the Revolution a new home a few years back but officially announced last spring that the new stadium plan had collapsed.
Currently, no notable efforts are being made by Kraft to give the Revolution a new home, which is problematic for the fans, the players, and the MLS, who has recently been pressing their teams to move to soccer-only stadiums.
In the recent months, rumours have surmounted that the Revolution could find a new home in Providence––a truly fantastic idea. While Boston would be a convenient place for a stadium, the Revolution would still live in the shadow of the Red Sox, Bruins, and Celtics. In Providence, a city without any professional sports teams, the Revolution would stand as the alpha dog, attracting all of the attention. This would be ideal for a team that is towards the bottom in the MLS with regards to coverage levels and attention.
If a stadium in downtown Providence were to be built with no more than 30,000 seats, the Revolution would be able to maximize both the attendance and the atmosphere. Setting a stadium up in Providence would also make attending Revolution games a real possibility for many new fans, expanding the fan base.
A smaller, more compact stadium would also increase the noise level, keep the tailgates more concentrated (making them more fun), and provide an overall better experience for the fans.
In an interview with Golocalprov.com this past January, Kraft stated:
“We are open to doing anything in Rhode Island with any of our businesses. The leadership of Governor Raimondo and Secretary Pryor who I have dealt with on some things has been exceptional from a business perspective. I think it is a great time for any business person to look at the state.”
Providence is only fifty miles from Boston and thirty-nine miles from Worcester. It is a great city, and would truly provide the New England Revolution with a platform in which they could thrive on.
It’s time to turn these thoughts into action. #RevolutionToProvidence
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