The Kraft Group just pulled off a buzzer-beater that could reshape Boston’s sports landscape. After months of tense negotiations and public sparring, the ownership behind the Patriots and Revolution hammered out separate deals with Boston and Everett on December 31st—literally hours before the state-imposed deadline that would’ve triggered binding arbitration. No drama there.
A Waterfront Vision Takes Shape
The agreements clear a major hurdle in the Krafts’ yearslong push to move the Revolution out of Gillette Stadium and into a soccer-specific venue along the Mystic River. We’re talking about a 25,000-seat stadium on 43 acres of waterfront property in Everett, where an old power plant currently sits collecting dust. The team has been sharing Gillette with the NFL franchise in Foxborough—not ideal for an MLS club trying to build its own identity.
Boston mayor Michelle Wu wasn’t shy about her concerns earlier this year, calling a previous $750,000 offer from the Krafts “unserious.” She worried about traffic choking nearby neighborhoods and felt frozen out of the conversation. The tension even spilled into Boston’s mayoral race when Josh Kraft—Robert’s son—launched a campaign against Wu, while simultaneously opposing her support for the new NWSL team’s stadium deal as city costs ballooned.
Show Me the Money
The final numbers tell the story of how this got done. Boston secured $13 million in direct payments for infrastructure and community projects, plus an estimated $34 million in ticket revenue over the first 15 years. Wu called it a fair fight that produced a fair result—addressing Charlestown residents’ concerns while transforming “a blighted site on our doorstep.”
Everett’s 20-year deal with outgoing mayor Carlo DeMaria lands the city $20 million for a public park (plus maintenance money), $17.5 million for transit infrastructure, and its own slice of ticket revenue. The Krafts also committed to environmental cleanup of the contaminated site, pedestrian and bike access, local job creation, and even fundraising for Everett Public Schools. The stadium and park will be available for community events.
What Happens Next
Don’t start tailgating just yet. These agreements don’t mean construction starts tomorrow. The Krafts still need to secure local and state permits before any shovels hit dirt. But MLS commissioner Don Garber is already calling this an “incredible milestone” for the club and the league.
For Revolution fans who’ve watched their team play second fiddle in an NFL stadium for years, this represents hope that Boston might finally get the urban soccer venue other MLS cities have enjoyed. The only question now: Can the Krafts navigate the permit process faster than they closed this deal?
