Ponderous thoughts I was pondering ...

Proposed site of a soccer stadium in Everett, near the Encore casino at left.

Ponderous thoughts I was pondering while continuing to live the leisurely life in retirement (before the telecasts start up again in September) ...

** I read in the Boston Globe today that the Massachusetts legislature has cleared the way for Robert Kraft to build a soccer-specific stadium in Everett adjacent to the Steve Wynn-built Encore casino property -- although they did so in a typically sneaky way that's so commonplace in this state's politics.

According to the Globe story, the lawmakers added language to a wide-ranging, multibillion-dollar economic development bill Thursday evening that would exempt the 43-acre industrial property straddling the Everett and Boston line from a slew of environmental requirements so it could be developed as a “sports, recreation or events center.”

The property, like much of the site upon which the casino and hotel complex was built, has environmental concerns after decades of use by manufacturing that left toxic deposits in the earth bordering the Mystic River. Right now, it's the site of a power plant. An adjacent oil tank farm owned by ExxonMobil is also being considered for further development.

Needless to say, reaction has been immediate and mixed.

Some applaud the Krafts for finally zeroing in on a development plan for the smaller soccer stadium they have sought for their New England Revolution MLS team practically since its founding in 1996. Others decry the development of what would probably be a 30,000-seat venue in an already congested area that's even more challenged by the casino development and would likely be further beset upon if the tank farm is developed for commercial and residential use. And, of course, the plan has been met with objections from those that decry another "wink-wink, nudge-nudge" move by the legislature without the benefit of public discourse.

A quick look at the comments under the story revealed the usual saucy comments about Kraft's visits to an Asian "massage spa" in Jupiter, Fla., as well as outrage over how another entitled billionaire is getting unworthy assistance from his politician buddies on Beacon Hill. And so on, and so on.

This all comes without even an artist's rendition of what a soccer stadium would look like on the site (which is pictured above courtesy of Google Earth) -- although I suspect that the wheels will move quickly if indeed this bill makes it possible for Kraft to realize his dream of getting a soccer stadium built in a metropolitan area filled with potential fans that fit the MLS demographic.

Fewer empty seats in a soccer-specific stadium.

Yes, there are eyebrow-lifting aspects to this plan (if there is a plan). As the stadium would be neighbors to the Wynn-built casino, it would give Kraft the long-desired opportunity to become a quasi-partner with the 80-year-old gaming mogul, although Wynn stepped down from his role as CEO of Wynn Resorts in 2018 amid accusations of sexual misconduct. You may recall that Wynn originally wanted to build a casino complex across the street from Gillette Stadium before meeting with staunch opposition from residents of Foxboro and South Walpole that would have been directly impacted by the development. The NFL also was not pleased at the time by the potential presence of legal gambling across the street from one of its stadiums -- although I'd bet that today, now that the NFL is in bed with gambling sites such as Draft Kings and whatnot, Wynn's plan would be welcomed with open arms.

There's not a lot of public transportation leading to the potential stadium site, either, but that's not our problem down here in the boonies. There's a T station a little less than a mile away from the site, I'm told. When money talks, people walk. In any event, let the folks in Everett take note of what's happened down here if they're expecting the state to fix their traffic woes. There have been two stadiums on US 1 since 1971, each of them seating more than 60,000 people and selling out year after year, and yet it's still one road in and one road out, and one rickety spur railroad line that is about as useful to the area as teats on a bull.

Not discussed at all in this matter is, "what about Foxboro?"

It's my understanding that the town still gets a share of ticket revenue from the sale of Revolution tickets, which is rarely more than 20,000 per game (although that has been trending gradually upward in recent years). But I'm not sure how much of that is affected by the attendance cap that stops revenue collection after a certain number is reached for all revenue-producing events within the stadium.

Currently, the Revs are averaging 18,600 per game, which is starting to approach the pre-pandemic high average of 22,175 in 2016. But that still looks lost in a 66,000-seat facility in which two-thirds of the seats are covered with tarpaulins. And in the scheme of things for MLS as a whole, the Revs are the 14th best draw among all 28 teams, right in the middle of the pack. Even if they bang out a 30,000-seat venue in Everett, they are still likely to reach no higher than fifth or sixth if current numbers can be used as a guide.

Kraft will make the ultimate decision.

I'm sure there is some concern about trading a relatively loyal fan base from south of Boston to the unknown potential of the metropolitan area, and whether losing the Revolution crowds will negatively impact commercial traffic within the Patriot Place development. But I don't have demographic breakdowns of either situation. I'm sure the Krafts do, and they wouldn't have been trying for 20 years to get a soccer-specific stadium built if they didn't think they could take the hit.

It should be noted, too, that this is not a precursor to eventually moving the Patriots away from Foxboro. If it was, the Krafts would not be investing $225 million (just about $100 million less than the original construction price) to renovate the north end zone of Gillette Stadium. It's a significant move because the stadium is now 20 years old -- by some estimates, about half of its anticipated lifespan -- and the improvements indicate an ongoing commitment to Foxboro as home base.

I'll admit, I'm ambivalent to the whole Revolution experience. I've attended one game by choice since 1996, the first game played within Gillette Stadium (then called CMGi Field) in 2002. I don't care one way or another personally -- although I do understand and respect the enjoyment that local fans have derived from their presence. The Revs have been extremely accommodating to local youth soccer organizations that benefitted from the stadium's close proximity. I'm not sure how many of them will follow the team to Everett without the ease of accessibility they enjoyed in the past.

But then again, this project could end up mirroring the vagaries of New England weather. Wait a minute, and it will change.

Still mustard color, but not Heinz.

** Speaking of stadiums, you may have noticed that the naming-rights merry-go-round has finally stopped in Pittsburgh, where Heinz Field is no more. The mustard-yellow seats and the big ketchup bottles will still be there, but the stadium at the confluence of those three rivers will now be known as "Acrisure Stadium," after a Michigan-based insurance company. The Kraft Heinz Company (the former name not belonging to the local Krafts) determined that the cost of extending its deal wasn't worth the exposure it would gain. After all, do we need to be reminded more of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese or Heinz Ketchup? 

So Acrisure will shell out $10 million a year for the next 15 years for its name on the stadium. Heinz, based in Pittsburgh, paid about $2.85 million a year over the 21 years it held naming rights. Fans of the Steelers and the Pitt Panthers, who call Acrisure Stadium home, are livid. Petitions are circulating and outrage is being voiced, but it will all be to no avail. 

Heinz will remain a prominent sponsor within the stadium, but again, money talks. Ketchup walks.

In case you're wondering, Procter & Gamble (owners of Gillette) will own the naming rights of Gillette Stadium at least until 2031, having extended the original deal 15 years beyond its original expiration date of 2016. The Kraft Group reportedly receives $8 million a year for those rights.

** And no, I have never called Gillette Stadium "The Razor." I always thought "Foamy Field" would have been a funnier nickname for the place. 

But on your next visit to training camp, cast a glance at the field house adjacent to the practice field and you will notice yet another new name for it. It's now called the "Socios.com Field House," after a relatively new international company that has created apps that promise users (presumably pro sports fans) will have some sort of special access to the teams they follow, as far as claiming their participation in polls will give then an actual say in a team's decisions for marketing or their "fan experience."

Yeah, right. All I know was that I went to their website and was immediately greeted by the image of Aaron Rodgers holding a cellphone. No, thanks.

** I may have mentioned this in passing some time ago, but it appears that local high school basketball will see a change this coming December.

The National Federation of High Schools, which dictates the rules of play to almost every state in the nation, has recommended the use of a basketball shot clock for all of its state associations, limiting possessions to 35 seconds. Massachusetts currently has a 30-second shot clock and would have to add five seconds to the possession under NFHS rules.

Get used to seeing 35 seconds.

In addition, states have the option to consider resets on offensive rebounds to a lesser amount of time, such as 20 seconds (as is done in the WNBA), so teams cannot use missed shots late in possessions to kill time. It's not clear if Massachusetts will go in that direction, although shorter resets to 15 seconds are now in effect for kick balls or intentionally fisted balls out of bounds with less than 15 seconds showing on the shot clock when play is stopped.

I'm not certain why 35 seconds is the time of choice; 30 seconds works just fine and keeps the game moving. But even more amazing to me is that at the close of last season, Massachusetts was just one of 11 states or districts that required high school shot clocks (the others being California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Washington). Idaho, Minnesota, Montana and Utah were also about to adopt shot clocks, and Florida, Nebraska and South Carolina have them in place on a limited basis.

Some traditionalists are screaming bloody murder about the change in the game or the cost of adding shot clocks, but given that Massachusetts adopted the clock in 1998-99, I can honestly say that I would never again want to see the game played without one. It's just better basketball -- and it does prepare athletes for playing at the next level.

** One last note of appreciation, as Mansfield High athletic director Mike Redding has turned over the reins of the department to his former assistant, both in football and the department, Tim Selmon. 

As expected, Redding was organized, efficient and very helpful during his tenure, which coincided with the very worst that the COVID-19 pandemic had to offer. And don't fret, Hornet football fans, because Mike's still the football coach. Selmon has been learning the ropes recently as an assistant AD, and I'm sure he'll keep things moving positively as Mansfield enters a new era in the Hockomock League's Davenport Division this fall.