2014 MLS Cup
Revolution Players Eager to Change Perception of Team
Tom Brady wins Super Bowls. The Celtics have 17 NBA rings. The Red Sox have won three World Series since 2003. And New England Revolution players know they need to win to join that pantheon.
LOS ANGELES—The city of Boston is known as a great sports town in part because of its passionate fans, but also because so many of its teams have experienced an incredible run of success.
The New England Revolution have always struggled for its share of the spotlight when competing with the large and passionate following of the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins—and it doesn’t help that all of those clubs have won titles in their respective leagues this century while the Revolution have never lifted MLS Cup.
The Revolution players, especially those with pre-existing ties to the region, said they don’t talk about their perception in New England but are well aware of the Revolution’s place in the pecking order and what winning an MLS Cup would mean.
“It’s just one of those things you know," forward Charlie Davies said. “But when you win things tend to change, always for the best, especially for the franchise and the sport. We’ve seen that with the U.S. national team in the World Cup. They're winning and things start to pick up.
"So we know that we have to focus and concentrate on our game and winning and putting in a good performance (Sunday) and I think we know what comes with that which is hopefully a new stadium and the franchise will really take the next step to being a powerhouse year in year out.”
A New Hampshire native who went to prep school in Andover, Mass., and played soccer at Boston College, Davies said winning MLS Cup would inch the Revs closer to the other pro sports in town.
“It would be a huge step forward in New England and in Boston specifically,” he said. “You always have people talking about the Celtics and the Patriots and Red Sox and the Bruins, so for us to be mentioned with those unbelievable franchises, it would mean a lot,” he said. “It (would) go to show how much this sport has grown, not only New England but as well as Boston. Hopefully we can win a cup and the perception will start to change pretty quickly.”
While the Revs came close, making MLS Cup four times between 2002 and 2007, it fell short each time it had the chance. At the same time, the other four teams in the area combined to win their leagues eight times.
“I first came here in 2000 for college,” said veteran midfielder Andy Dorman, a Wales native who played at Boston University. “And since then I’ve seen every other team win a championship, some of them multiple times, and have that parade and see what it does for their fan base and how excited they get. I think if we get to have that parade, it would be great, not just for our fans who have been so loyal but also getting us more attention.”
The success of the other four teams in town has raised the bar for the Revolution, they say. “I think Boston is a great soccer market, but somewhat untapped,” said flank player Chris Tierney, a native of the Boston suburb of Wellesley. “But a result of the teams doing so well is the Boston sports fans are a pretty fickle bunch and they expect winners, they’ve proven that.”
Revolution reserve Diego Fagundez moved to suburban Leonminster as a child and went on to become the youngest player in team history when he signed while still in high school, a move that got him some notoriety in the local press. “But it’s not the same as what (the big four sports) get,” he said. “I think winning would definitely elevate our status and get us closer to that.”
As Davies mentioned, the Revolution have been on a seemingly endless quest for a soccer-specific stadium in urban Boston, with rumors coming out last month that Boston officials having identified—but not agreed to—a potential site off Interstate 93 on Frontage Road.
Winning MLS Cup would no doubt help create momentum for the Revolution’s stadium effort.
“That’s not something we can control,” said Fagundez. “The only thing we can change the perception of is who won the game on Sunday, so that’s what we’re focused on.”
Brooke Tunstall is an American Soccer Now contributing editor and ASN 100 panelist. You can follow him on Twitter.
“It’s just one of those things you know," forward Charlie Davies said. “But when you win things tend to change, always for the best, especially for the franchise and the sport. We’ve seen that with the U.S. national team in the World Cup. They're winning and things start to pick up.
"So we know that we have to focus and concentrate on our game and winning and putting in a good performance (Sunday) and I think we know what comes with that which is hopefully a new stadium and the franchise will really take the next step to being a powerhouse year in year out.”
A New Hampshire native who went to prep school in Andover, Mass., and played soccer at Boston College, Davies said winning MLS Cup would inch the Revs closer to the other pro sports in town.
“It would be a huge step forward in New England and in Boston specifically,” he said. “You always have people talking about the Celtics and the Patriots and Red Sox and the Bruins, so for us to be mentioned with those unbelievable franchises, it would mean a lot,” he said. “It (would) go to show how much this sport has grown, not only New England but as well as Boston. Hopefully we can win a cup and the perception will start to change pretty quickly.”
While the Revs came close, making MLS Cup four times between 2002 and 2007, it fell short each time it had the chance. At the same time, the other four teams in the area combined to win their leagues eight times.
“I first came here in 2000 for college,” said veteran midfielder Andy Dorman, a Wales native who played at Boston University. “And since then I’ve seen every other team win a championship, some of them multiple times, and have that parade and see what it does for their fan base and how excited they get. I think if we get to have that parade, it would be great, not just for our fans who have been so loyal but also getting us more attention.”
The success of the other four teams in town has raised the bar for the Revolution, they say. “I think Boston is a great soccer market, but somewhat untapped,” said flank player Chris Tierney, a native of the Boston suburb of Wellesley. “But a result of the teams doing so well is the Boston sports fans are a pretty fickle bunch and they expect winners, they’ve proven that.”
Revolution reserve Diego Fagundez moved to suburban Leonminster as a child and went on to become the youngest player in team history when he signed while still in high school, a move that got him some notoriety in the local press. “But it’s not the same as what (the big four sports) get,” he said. “I think winning would definitely elevate our status and get us closer to that.”
As Davies mentioned, the Revolution have been on a seemingly endless quest for a soccer-specific stadium in urban Boston, with rumors coming out last month that Boston officials having identified—but not agreed to—a potential site off Interstate 93 on Frontage Road.
Winning MLS Cup would no doubt help create momentum for the Revolution’s stadium effort.
“That’s not something we can control,” said Fagundez. “The only thing we can change the perception of is who won the game on Sunday, so that’s what we’re focused on.”
Brooke Tunstall is an American Soccer Now contributing editor and ASN 100 panelist. You can follow him on Twitter.
