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Boston's Morning Newsletter
Will Lionel Messi play on Saturday at Gillette Stadium? 'Knock on wood'
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TGIF! Take a break from listening to (and unpacking) Taylor Swift’s new album and let’s bolt through the news:
Messi-chusetts: The Bruins and Celtics postseasons begin this weekend in Boston, but another big game around the corner is promising to draw triple the number of fans that can fit into TD Garden. The New England Revolution are hosting Inter Miami and worldwide soccer icon Lionel Messi next Saturday, April 27, at Gillette Stadium. Thanks to Messi, it’s slated to be the most-attended game in the Revolution’s 28-year history. Ticket sales have already surpassed 60,000, and the few thousand seats still available start at over $200 and run into the thousands. But there’s a big question on the minds of those shelling out to see one of soccer’s all-time greats: Are we sure he plays? It’s no guarantee, as fans from Atlanta to Montreal have learned the hard way. But for now, Revs officials are feeling cautiously optimistic about Messi’s highly anticipated Foxborough debut. “Knock on wood,” stressed team spokesman Adam Klionsky.
- The man: While a recent hamstring injury forced Messi to miss several games, the Argentinian returned to action on April 6 and looks like his young self. He just won the MLS’s player of the week award, thanks in part to this stunning goal. “He’s been not just playing, but in top form,” said Klionsky.
- The field: Gillette is one of a handful of MLS stadiums with an artificial turf surface. That’s led previous international soccer stars to sit out games at Gillette due to injury concerns. But Messi has said he has no problem playing on turf, since he grew up playing on the surface. (Messi played a full game last summer in Charlotte, which has the same turf surface as Gillette.)
- The schedule: Even when healthy, the 36-year-old has sat out some games for rest, especially when the schedule gets busy. The good news — or, depending on your perspective, bad news — for Revs fans is that Inter Miami recently got knocked out of a mid-season tournament. So Messi has a full week of rest on both sides of the Revs game. “If he gets through this Saturday’s game against Nashville healthy, I think fans should have no reason to doubt that he’ll be in the building and available to play,” Klionsky said.
Stretching shelter spending: Massachusetts lawmakers adjourned for the weekend yesterday with no deal reached on a bill to keep the state’s strained emergency shelter system funded through June. Read more here about the legislative disagreements holding up the bill.
- While the state Senate’s top budget writer warned last week that shelter money would run out by Marathon Monday, Gov. Maura Healey’s administration now says they should be able to fund the system through the end of the month. State officials are also considering shifting money around to keep services running in the short term, in case the stalemate in the State House continues.
Take a free ride: Or five. BlueBikes is now offering five free rides during major MBTA closures to those who aren’t already signed up for a monthly or annual membership. The offer is good for the current partial Blue Line closure, next month’s downtown Red Line closure and nearly a dozen other planned diversions this year. (Click here for the full list of closures and details on how to unlock the free rides.)
- Heads up: That Blue Line closure is growing more disruptive. Shuttles are replacing all service between Wonderland and Government Center this morning due to a track problem near Maverick. T officials also previously announced that the diversion will continue to affect service between Maverick and Airport station through the weekend, two days longer than planned.
PSA: Trader Joe’s is recalling fresh basil sold in 29 states — including Massachusetts — after a federal investigation linked the product to a dozen cases of salmonella infection in seven states.
- Check your kitchen: If you have Infinite Herbs-brand organic basil that was bought between Feb. 1 and April 6, throw it out.
Coming to Back Bay: Dick’s Sporting Goods’ giant new “House of Sport” opens today on Boylston Street next to the Prudential Center. The grand opening weekend includes giveaways and celebrity athlete meet-and-greets, from David Ortiz to Larry Bird to Patrice Bergeron.
- What’s a “House of Sport,” you might ask? Unlike a regular store, the Dick’s House of Sport concept also includes spaces to try out their products. That includes a climbing wall, golf simulators and a caged-in area for baseball, softball, lacrosse and soccer.
P.S.— Fill in the blank: Kenya’s Hellen Obiri won the elite women’s division of the Boston Marathon for the ___ time on Monday. Take our Boston News Quiz and test your knowledge of this week’s stories.
