Revs to Revere?

Are the Revolution looking north of Boston for a new home?

According to The Boston Globe, the Revolution have entered discussions with the City of Revere about a possible soccer-specific stadium targeted for the site of the former Wonderland Greyhound Park.

“We are in discussions with the City of Revere, which offers the proximity to urban centers and access to transit that we are seeking for a future Revolution stadium,” Revolution president Brian Bilello said in a statement to the Globe. “But talks are preliminary at this stage.”

Revere Mayor Dan Rizzo is pushing to revitalize the site of the former dog track, a 34-acre plot valued at $10.8 million which has been shuttered since 2010.

Suffolk Downs, which owns the Wonderland site, is also in negotiations with Revere and Boston in an effort to get municipal approval for its proposed $1 billion dollar gambling resort, which would stretch into both cities. Rizzo is lobbying for the purchase of the land from Suffolk Downs with the hopes of building a soccer specific stadium there.

“It’s a very important property to the future of the city of Revere,” Rizzo told the Globe. “It’s definitely something I’d like to see in play as we consider mitigation.”

If the city reaches a deal with Suffolk Downs on the gambling resort, it’s likely to draw possible mitigation payments and use the money to lure the Revolution to Revere. He believes that the city “has to be right in the wheelhouse in terms of soccer fans.” More to the point, Rizzo told the Globe unequivocally that he would “love to see a full-blown professional soccer team here.”

However, Suffolk Downs, which is currently the only applicant for the sole casino resort license for the Greater Boston area, not only has to reach a deal with both Rizzo, but will have to agree to terms with Boston Mayor Thomas Menino before it can move forward with its billion dollar proposal.

While Rizzo may have visions of a soccer specific stadium at Wonderland, Suffolk Downs Chief Operating Officer Chip Tuttle told the Globe that his company isn’t presently committed to any particular redevelopment plan for the Wonderland site.

“We want to develop Wonderland in a manner that complements the ongoing revitalization of the Revere Beach area,” Tuttle said. “We don’t have specific plans for Wonderland yet.”

Moreover, Tuttle told the Globe that the city has not “broached” Suffolk Downs about acquiring the land.

A Sept. 20 report had the city contemplating a 15,000 capacity stadium, but it’s likely the Revolution will push for a 20,000 seat venue. The Revolution are currently drawing an average of 13,281 fans to Gillette Stadium this season, the lowest in MLS.

The Revolution are one of two teams in MLS that do not play in a soccer specific stadium or have one in the works. D.C. United, which play in RFK Stadium, are looking for a soccer-specific venue as well.

Revere is the latest municipality to throw its hat into the ring to build a soccer specific stadium for the Revolution. In 2010, the City of Somerville were reportedly in talks with the club, but discussions have not advanced beyond the preliminary stages.

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