Revolution fans get a taste of an urban home to call their own
With plans for a potential downtown Boston, soccer-only stadium still up in the air, New England Revolution fans got to see what the game experience could be like if their long-awaited dream comes to fruition.
The Revs hosted a round of 32, U.S. Open Cup clash against the Charlotte Independence at Harvard’s Soldiers Field soccer stadium on Wednesday night, and many Boston-area fans made the trip to watch their local MLS team from a little closer to home.
That the Revolution lost to Charlotte, 1-0, and were eliminated from the tournament certainly dampened the evening, though fans said watching a game in an urban setting had its benefits.
“Any Revs game is a good game, but having it here certainly has its pluses,’’ said Michael Rosenbaum of Melrose, who attends Revs games in Foxborough roughly twice a year. “You’re not constantly bombarded with Patriots logos and you don’t have to trek so far. You’re literally right behind downtown Boston.’’
Though it was a week night and most spectators had to contend with a rush hour commute, the stadium was near its capacity by the game’s 7:30 p.m. kick-off time, with most fans teetered into the grounds between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Revolution’s official supporters groups, the Midnight Riders and the Rebellion, crossed the Charles River after meeting up in Harvard Square and entered to their trademark “When the Revs go marching in’’ chant.
The experience had a lazy, chill dose to it in the sense that fans casually walked by Revolution and Independence players and coaches throughout the night.
The feeling was also boosted by being so close to the action. Much like a European setting — and, increasingly, in other MLS cities — fans were right on top of the action, only feet away from the playing surface. The premium view, and in many cases, being within earshot of the players conversing on the field, is something that’s not possible at Gillette Stadium.
Indeed, the ambience did not disappoint.
“We get a decent crowd at Gillette,’’ said Heather O’Neil, a season ticket holder from Marlborough. “But because the capacity is over 60,000, when you get between 15 and 20 thousand, it looks minuscule and it doesn’t have the same sound as in stadiums that are just built for soccer.
“I think the Revolution feel like the ugly step child of the Patriots, kind of like they’re renting a house.’’
Season ticket holders, especially members of the Midnight Riders and the Rebellion (of which O’Neil is a member), come to the games rain or shine.
But what about the casual fan?
Chris Gifford is an East Boston resident who hadn’t been to a Revolution game before or since last fall. He said he’d consider becoming a season ticket holder if the team moved downtown, a sentiment which has been echoed by many fans who feel that the Foxborough commute is too much of a barrier. Gifford took the blue line and red line to Wednesday’s game.
“I got into it last season because of the World Cup and I went to one game in Foxborough last October,’’ Gifford said. “Tonight was an easy commute to come over and watch them. You commute during rush hour, but it’s not nearly as annoying as having to go to Gillette.’’
“You want to build the stadium in the center of population,’’ said Sean Hansen, a first-year season ticket holder from Oxford. “I’m from the Worcester area, but I have no issue coming into Boston. It’s easier to get to Gillette for us fans from western-Mass, but we’re not going to gripe about it too much about coming up to Boston.’’
“It’s not too bad getting to Foxborough, but the ambience is a little more generic,’’ added Pat Mungovan of Wellesley, who attended the game with his two sons, Daniel and Finn. “I would 100 percent support a soccer-specific stadium in Boston. The commute would be easier and the experience would be much better.’’
Some fans, however, don’t mind making the trek to Foxborough to see the Revs.
“I like it at Gillette Stadium,’’ said Rachel Vick of Watertown. “The games are on weekends typically and we usually get there earlier and hang out in Patriot Place because there are Revs fans all over. I like the area; it’s more homey, whereas downtown Boston is more touristy. The true fans will go to the games…tons of people from New Hampshire coming all the way to Foxborough.’’
Fourteen of the 20 MLS clubs now have their own, soccer-only stadiums. Not all are built downtown in their respective cities, as is the case with franchises in Colorado, Dallas and Chicago. But teams that do have an urban venue, like Houston, New York and Portland have booming attendance that averages more than 20,000, a stadium size that would best suit the Revolution.
Building the stadium has gone from idea, to a talking point, to seemingly within reach. The Kraft family, which owns the Revolution and the Patriots, has been in talks with city officials, including Boston mayor Marty Walsh, about the concept. A proposed location for the stadium is a parcel of land on Frontage Road near the South End.
Club president Brian Bilello wouldn’t go as far to call Wednesday night’s game a prototype, though he did note the benefits of being so much closer to Boston.
“For people who live up here and don’t have as much public transportation to get down to Gillette, I’m sure it [builds excitement],’’ he said. “You maybe get a slightly different demographic from a young adult standpoint, and that’s a cool thing.’’
Revolution fall to Independence 1-0
[bdc-gallery id=”317526″]
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com