Boston Legacy FC, a 2026 NWSL growth franchise, will play its complete first season of house video games at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, because of 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 informed ESPN in an announcement on Wednesday.
“White Stadium development is properly underway, however development won’t 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 may 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 beforehand informed 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 initially imagined to re-open by March 2026, when the NWSL sometimes begins its common season, however it has confronted a number of setbacks, together with an ongoing lawsuit from an area conservancy group to cease the mission. Demolition of the outdated constructions started earlier this yr.
The Boston Globe reported on Wednesday that “the soonest” the sector at White Stadium will likely be full is “the center of subsequent summer season,” and that Boston Legacy FC determined in opposition to making a midseason venue swap in its inaugural marketing campaign.
The shift to enjoying 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 group in early 2023.
Earlier this yr, the group introduced it was altering its title to Boston Legacy FC. The group initially introduced itself as “BOS Nation FC” final October. The title, and the accompanying advertising marketing campaign titled “Too Many Balls,” was extensively criticized.
Boston was granted an NWSL growth group contingent upon the stadium renovation coming to fruition, sources beforehand informed ESPN.
“Growth is our alternative to form the way forward for the league and to arrange not solely the contractual necessities for these golf equipment, but additionally the league’s oversight of making certain that exact deadlines are met,” Berman stated about Boston in March when requested if White Stadium can be prepared. “We’ve got been and are persevering with to work very intently and in partnership with the possession group in Boston.”
Berman and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu have lauded the partnership between the town and the NWSL group as a mannequin for different cities to comply with.
The worth of the mission has almost 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 offered — is answerable for half the renovations and prices.
Boston Public Colleges athletics will get precedence in scheduling occasions on the stadium. Boston Legacy FC will likely 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 working for mayor of Boston in opposition to Wu. The White Stadium mission has been a supply of public rivalry between Josh Kraft and Wu.
The Krafts are trying 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 help the group and supply a world-class venue for Boston Legacy FC and its followers with a purpose 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.”
