THE stadium that was once meant to house the New England Patriots is now causing grief for the people of the area.
White Stadium, an arena in Boston, Massachusetts, is planning to undergo a massive renovation.
Completed in 1949, White Stadium is a 10,000-seat arena that is used for Boston Public Schools athletics.
In 1970, a renovation was proposed to bring the stadium’s seating up to 50,000 for the New England Patriots to call it home.
However, the stadium had fallen into disrepair by the 1980s and renovations were shelved.
A $45 million expansion was once again planned in 2013, but was later shelved by Boston mayor Marty Walsh due to budget concerns.
2023 brought the most recent renovation proposal.
To prepare for the new NWSL team, BOS Nation FC, a $30 million renovation was planned to fix up White Stadium and increase its capacity to 11,000 seats.
However, the budget for the project has since swelled, and Boston taxpayers are now on the hook for nearly $100 million.
Dion Irish, Boston’s chief of operations, testified at a Wednesday City Council hearing that he doesn’t expect the mayor’s office to pitch in much more money.
Last week, City Councilor Erin Murphy called for the city to delay demolition while Councilor Ed Flynn wants the project scrapped entirely.
“We have now said we can come up with $100 million,” Murphy said via the Boston Herald.
“Just like any responsible person, anyone who runs their home budget, at some point you have to say, that’s great but I can’t afford it, so I’m going to have to say no.”
Mayor Michelle Wu have faced criticism for saying that the city would pay its half of the project “no matter what it costs” to taxpayers.
The new cost of the project was shocking to the community and councilors, and there is a lawsuit attempting to shut down the project.
“Boston taxpayers are being asked to pay through the nose to build an oversized professional sports complex for the benefit of a few millionaire sports investors,” Jean McGuire, a 93-year-old community activist said.
“The fact is, we were never asked if we wanted a professional sports and entertainment complex in our park.
Just like any responsible person, anyone who runs their home budget, at some point you have to say, that’s great but I can’t afford it, so I’m going to have to say no.
Boston City Councilor Erin Murphy“Community members’ concerns about public access, transportation impacts and countless other issues are being ignored, all in a mad rush to demolish White Stadium in order to meet the soccer stadium’s desired opening date.”
Critics of the project have suggested the NWSL team should share a stadium with MLS team New England Revolution.
That plan would allow White Stadium to undergo a smaller, less expensive renovation as a high school exclusive stadium.
“In the long run we would have the operational costs to bear on our own,” Irish said.
“We would not have the rent payments or the revenue sharing as well as the community benefits fund as well as the money contributed towards the Franklin Park Action Plan.”
GettyThe new NWSL team BOS Nation FC is supposed to play in the renovated stadium[/caption] Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Abandoned stadium which was almost home of New England Patriots causes storm over $100m taxpayer cost ahead of NWSL move )
Also on site :
- Here are 12 ‘No Kings’ protests against Trump set for June 14 across Southern California
- Trump Steps Out for Rare Date Night With Melania Amid ICE Protests
- Country Icon Is Nearly Unrecognizable Returning From Years-Long Hiatus