Boston Mayor Wu Criticizes Kraft Group's Everett Stadium Proposal Over Infrastructure Impact

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has strongly criticized the Kraft Group's $750,000 mitigation offer related to the proposed 25,000-seat New England Revolution stadium in Everett, calling it an "unserious proposal" that fails to address significant impacts on Boston's infrastructure, transportation, and neighborhoods, particularly in Charlestown and Sullivan Square. Wu emphasized the lack of detailed technical information from the Kraft Group regarding traffic, noise, jobs, and climate impacts, despite multiple meetings since February, and insisted on a comprehensive mitigation agreement before construction can begin. In response, Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria and Revolution President Brian Bilello defended the Kraft Group, highlighting cooperative negotiations and planned infrastructure improvements such as a new Commuter Rail stop and footbridge to ease traffic concerns, while noting that tax revenues would benefit Everett, not Boston. The dispute underscores tensions between Boston and Everett officials over who should bear the costs and responsibilities of the stadium's regional effects, with Boston demanding a far higher financial commitment than that offered. Additionally, political dynamics are at play, as Josh Kraft, son of the Revolution's owner and a mayoral candidate opposing Wu, has pledged to recuse himself from stadium-related decisions if elected. If no agreement is reached by December, the matter will proceed to binding arbitration.