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Jeff Kassouf
Boston Legacy FC, a 2026 NWSL growth franchise, will play its complete first season of house video games at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, attributable to delays with the redevelopment of its proposed house stadium.
“With the 2026 NWSL season starting in 10 months, Boston Legacy FC will play its inaugural season at Gillette Stadium earlier than the membership strikes into its everlasting house at White Stadium in 2027,” a Boston Legacy spokesperson advised ESPN in a press release on Wednesday.
“White Stadium building is effectively underway, however building is not going to be completed by March of 2026,” the assertion continued.
Gillette Stadium is the longtime house of MLS’ New England Revolution and the NFL’s New England Patriots. Gillette Stadium can even host seven FIFA Males’s World Cup video games subsequent summer season. The NWSL plans to play video games throughout subsequent yr’s World Cup, commissioner Jessica Berman previously told ESPN.
Boston Legacy FC’s possession group is renovating the dilapidated White Stadium in Boston’s Franklin Park as a part of a novel — and controversial — public-private partnership with Boston Public Colleges.
White Stadium was originally supposed to re-open by March 2026, when the NWSL usually begins its common season, nevertheless it has confronted a number of setbacks, together with an ongoing lawsuit from an area conservancy group to cease the venture. Demolition of the previous buildings started earlier this yr.
The Boston Globe reported on Wednesday that “the soonest” the sector at White Stadium might be full is “the center of subsequent summer season,” and that Boston Legacy FC determined towards making a midseason venue swap in its inaugural marketing campaign.
The shift to taking part in at Gillette Stadium, a 65,000-seat venue with synthetic turf that’s primarily utilized for American soccer, is one other setback for the Boston franchise initially accepted as an NWSL growth staff in early 2023.
Earlier this yr, the group introduced it was changing its name to Boston Legacy FC. The staff initially introduced itself as “BOS Nation FC” final October. The identify, and the accompanying advertising and marketing marketing campaign titled “Too Many Balls,” was widely criticized.
Boston was granted an NWSL growth staff contingent upon the stadium renovation coming to fruition, sources beforehand advised ESPN.
“Enlargement is our alternative to form the way forward for the league and to arrange not solely the contractual necessities for these golf equipment, but in addition the league’s oversight of making certain that individual deadlines are met,” Berman mentioned about Boston in March when requested if White Stadium could be prepared. “We have now been and are persevering with to work very carefully and in partnership with the possession group in Boston.”
Berman and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu have lauded the partnership between town and the NWSL staff as a mannequin for different cities to comply with.
The value of the venture has practically doubled from its unique estimate, to over $200 million. Boston Legacy, led by principal proprietor Jennifer Epstein — whose household are longtime co-owners of the NBA’s Boston Celtics, which is within the strategy of being bought — is chargeable for half the renovations and prices.
Boston Public Colleges athletics will get precedence in scheduling occasions on the stadium. Boston Legacy FC might be allowed to make use of the stadium for as much as 20 video games per yr, with sure restrictions across the frequency of video games.
Gillette Stadium is owned by the Kraft Group, which owns the Revolution and the Patriots.
Josh Kraft, the son of Kraft Group CEO and chairman Robert Kraft, is operating for mayor of Boston towards Wu. The White Stadium venture has been a supply of public rivalry between Josh Kraft and Wu.
The Krafts try to construct their very own soccer stadium in Everett, simply throughout the river from Boston’s Charlestown neighborhood.
A spokesperson for Kraft Sports activities and Leisure issued the next assertion to ESPN:
“Gillette Stadium is happy to welcome Boston Legacy FC for its inaugural season in 2026. After being approached by the membership, Gillette Stadium was proud to assist the staff and supply a world-class venue for Boston Legacy FC and its followers with the intention to promote the development of ladies’s skilled soccer in New England.
“Gillette Stadium and the New England Revolution sit up for sharing the sector with Boston Legacy FC as we add to our lengthy historical past of internet hosting premier soccer occasions.”
