THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 8, 2023 Page 5 Future unclear for proposed professional soccer stadium in Everett Legislative budget compromise leaves out key zoning provision needed By Steve Freker T he future of a proposal to site a 25,000-seat professional soccer stadium at a prime waterfront parcel in Everett is unclear at best, following a recent passage of a late-in-the-year spending bill. A budget deal between the Mass. House and Senate resulted in Gov. Maura Healey signing a $3.1 supplemental budget bill Monday after weeks of legislative delays, debates and disagreements. The primary need for the bill was to address the heavily-challenged and underfunded — due to the infl ux of new migrant families— Mass. emergency shelter system and public employee raises. Left out of the bill was a provision which would have streamlined zoning for 43-acre Everett land parcel where a closed power plant now sits. to move forward on 25,000 seat stadium near Encore At present, the area is considered a "Designated Port Area," limiting what can be built on the waterfront. An amendment that was considered as part of the supplemental budget bill had requested the Senate to remove that designation, for the purpose of converting the parcel into a professional soccer stadium and a waterfront park. The stadium, if built, would be the new home of the New England Revolution, owned by The Kraft Group, which also owns the New England Patriots, for a number of years has expressed wanting to move from Gillette Stadium to a site closer to Boston. For several years they have worked on a proposal to build a stadium on land directly across Rt. 99/Broadway from the Encore Boston Harbor casino in Everett. Wynn Resorts owns the 43acre land parcel in question, having purchased it from ConEverett city and state offi cials were disappointed this week that language that would have removed a zoning designation from a 43-acre Everett land parcel, paving the way for a 25,000seat soccer stadium for the New England Revolution MLS professional team, was left out of a $3.1 billion supplemental budget bill signed Monday by Gov. Healey after months of legislative turmoil. (Courtesy Photo) stellation Energy for $25 million in March, this year. Wynn Resorts operates Encore Boston Harbor on behalf of the owner of the casino, Realty Income. The Mass. House had approved language addressing the zoning in a measure last year, but it did not advance. It appeared the zoning language would be included in the budget agreement reached Thursday by top Democrats in the House and Senate, but the spending bill was delivered without the stadium language. In an online report this week, State Rep. Aaron Michlewitz of Boston—the House’s lead person on the spending bill—said he opposed moving ahead with the zoning change at this time due to unanswered questions about the proposed soccer stadium’s impact overall. STADIUM | SEE PAGE 11 SABATINO INSURANCE AGENCY 519 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 Auto * Home * Boat * Renter * Condo * Life * Multi-Policy Discounts * Commercial 10% Discounts * Registry Service Also Available Sabatino Insurance is proud to welcome the loyal customers of PHONE: (617) 387-7466 FAX: (617) 381-9186 Visit us online at: WWW.SABATINO-INS.COM
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