Why the Revs should consider a match at BU's Nickerson Field

Last night, the New England Revolution beat the New York Red Bulls, 4-2, in front of 2,500 at the small football pitch adjacent to Harvard Stadium. It was the club's first true foray inside the Route 128 belt, and by all indications, it was a rousing success: the club sold all of the tickets available, and the match was a W. The Revs move on to the fifth round in the US Open Cup, where they'll play DC United at, you guessed it, a small pitch outside of the Beltway on June 26.

Supporters have always wanted a soccer-specific stadium a little closer to Boston instead of playing in cavernous Gillette, a stadium that would have access to the T; this little SSS carrot is usually dangled in front of the supporters around season ticket renewal time, then disappears the rest of the season. Gillette doesn't have the access, and the MBTA doesn't extend Revs supporters the same courtesy as they do to Pats fans in the way of Commuter Rail service from South Station. There are always the logistical issues that come into play--where would they play in a cramped, nearly 400-year-old city?--and, in this typist's eyes, are used as excuses. Last night's "sell out" should show the Revs' front office that there is interest in the club inside the 128 belt, and that the time has come for the excuses to stop.

There is one stadium that could handle a Revs crowd, and would make a sell out much more palatable to the eyes.

It's called Nickerson Field. Perhaps you've heard of it?

Nickerson, on the BU campus, seats 10,419 or so: Four times as many as the little pitch off Soldier's Field Road, and if temporary seating is installed behind the goals, could be even larger. Has Green Line access--stop complaining about the Green Line; it's the line with the most character in the T's system--and isn't far from downtown. There is bus access. Parking sucks, but then again, parking sucks all over Boston. And right now, with the kids gone until Labor Day, it would be a perfect time to bring the world's game deeper into the city.

If the Harvard experiment was a test, the Revs and Revs' supporters passed it. It's now time to experiment further with a stadium that has held big games, and has easy access for the supporters.