THERE IS A plan afoot to convert a part of Boston’s historic Franklin Park into a commercialized space to host the forthcoming, privately-owned Boston National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) team. The plan would grant a 30-year lease of public property to a professional for-profit sports team; build dedicated private facilities like offices, corporate box suites, restaurants and shops; and displace Boston Public School students and the general public from the publicly-owned White Stadium for 20 professional soccer games and 20 practices each year, including on the majority of warm-weather Saturdays.
White Stadium has been held in trust for over 74 years for the beneficiaries of the White Fund Trust — the residents of Boston. A citizens’ lawsuit alleges that the proposed redevelopment of the stadium by Boston Unity Soccer Partners, LLC (the ownership group of the new NWSL team, or BUSP), violates both the terms of the White Trust Fund and Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution by transferring public recreation land to private use without the required state regulatory, legislative, and judicial review.
Neighbors have also expressed concerns about inadequate parking, noise, trash, traffic, security, and how the soccer team’s use of the stadium would limit the public’s ability to enjoy the park. But in evaluating the proposal, we should also ask: Is it a good financial deal for Boston?
Although full details haven’t been released to the public and the financing plan appears to be incomplete, the White Stadium project will place a substantial financial burden on the City of Boston. The city intends to spend $50 million on its portion of the project: the East Grandstand, which will include Boston Public Schools athletics facilities; a new grass field; and an 8-lane track.
It is illogical for Boston to be on the hook for $50 million. A brand new high school soccer and football stadium should cost between $5 million and $20 million, depending on the specifications.
Consider the City of Lowell’s ongoing $8 million renovation to the city’s historic 6,000-seat Cawley Stadium, which has a similar footprint to White Stadium. The renovation includes a $2.9 million turf field; $4.3 million to construct an athletic training center for Lowell students; and $1 million to expand the track.
It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that Boston taxpayers are subsidizing a professional sports stadium on public recreation land in Franklin Park to the tune of $30 million or more, at a time when municipal revenues are under strain.
Also, beware: Stadium construction budgets are legendary for experiencing massive cost overruns. After political approval is attained, bells and whistles get added to the plan. Unforeseen bottlenecks pop up. Prices rise. The cost of the nation’s first professional women’s soccer stadium, in Kansas City, rose from $70 million to $120 million by the time construction was complete.
The limited plans that have been released publicly leave many unanswered questions. Who will pay for construction cost overruns? How much will it cost the city to operate and maintain an overbuilt professional-grade East Grandstand?
When non-soccer commercial events like musical concerts are held at White Stadium, who will receive the ticket and concessions revenue? Who will get the revenue from advertising and signage at the facility? Will BUSP pay property taxes or PILOT payments to the city? How much rent will BUSP pay?
BUSP’s May 2024 filing claims that there will be 500 jobs generated during construction and another 300 permanent jobs to operate the stadium and its appendages. Consider first the construction jobs. If the city spent its $50 million on road improvement, school additions, or a cultural facility, it too would generate jobs in the short run. The problem is that the city would incur $50 million in debt that it would have to service going forward. That debt service leaves fewer funds for other projects or it requires higher taxes, either of which would deter job growth.
Consider next the projected 300 permanent jobs. Really? What jobs? Field maintenance, ushers, ticket takers, team front office? These jobs would occur wherever the new team played in greater Boston. Moreover, as has been shown by one scholarly study after another, when citizens spend $100 at a sporting event, it is $100 they don’t have to spend at local restaurants, bars, movie theaters, bowling alleys, and so on. This spending by itself does not generate new jobs, it just transfers them from some parts of the city’s economy to another, the soccer team.
The biggest question, though, is why does Greater Boston need two professional soccer stadiums? All but one of the US professional women’s soccer teams currently share their stadium with a professional men’s team.
I have long been an avid supporter of women’s sports and women’s soccer in particular. I believe that Boston should host a professional women’s soccer team. But there are many good — indeed better — stadium options. There’s Nickerson Field at Boston University. There’s the soccer facility at Boston College. There’s Harvard Stadium. And there’s the most advantageous and rational outcome: for the NWSL team and the New England Revolution to share a field.
The Krafts have been trying for a decade to build a soccer-only stadium for the Revolution. They seem to have found a location for a stadium in Everett. The Krafts, as they did at Gillette Stadium, have a plan to privately finance the new facility. Wouldn’t the NWSL team be better off playing in a new, fully professional and modern stadium than in a hybrid one in Franklin Park?
Sure, there would be some details to arrange with regard to scheduling of games and cost/revenue sharing, but the challenges here would be far fewer and more manageable than those at Franklin Park.
It’s time to go back to the drawing board.
Andrew Zimbalist is the Robert A. Woods Professor Emeritus of Economics at Smith College. He has published 28 books and dozens of articles, and consulted widely in the sports industry.
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