Boston Legacy FC has confirmed it will play its entire inaugural season at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, as redevelopment of White Stadium in Boston will not be completed in time for the 2026 NWSL season.
“With the 2026 NWSL season beginning in 10 months, Boston Legacy FC will play its inaugural season at Gillette Stadium before the club moves into its permanent home at White Stadium in 2027. After nearly two years of community process, including more than 70 public meetings, a landmark lease agreement and a clear victory at trial, White Stadium construction is well underway, but construction will not be finished by March of 2026,” Boston Legacy told The Athletic in a statement.
The club will temporarily share the venue with Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution and will navigate scheduling around the seven FIFA World Cup matches set to take place at Gillette in June and July of 2026. The Kraft Group, led by Robert Kraft, owns Gillette Stadium. The team will pay rent for its use, despite Kraft’s son, Josh Kraft—currently a mayoral candidate in Boston—having previously voiced opposition to the White Stadium redevelopment.
Boston Legacy signed a 10-year lease for White Stadium in December 2023, with the option to extend for an additional 20 years. The $200 million renovation of the historic Franklin Park venue is a public-private partnership between the club and the City of Boston. However, the current construction timeline—further impacted by an ongoing legal challenge—has ruled out the possibility of a midseason move in 2026. Demolition is nearing completion, with only the west grandstand and concrete towers still standing.
“Boston Legacy’s home is White Stadium. We have signed a binding agreement with the City of Boston, are contributing over half the cost of the renovation and have committed to spending at least 50 percent of those dollars with local, minority- and women-owned businesses. As part of our lease with the city, we will cover the full cost to operate and maintain White Stadium for decades, as a home for Boston Public Schools athletics and a new public resource in Franklin Park. We will be launching a year of community events, career opportunities and other partnerships in 2026 tied to White Stadium,” the team said.
Despite the team’s commitment, opposition from some local residents and advocacy groups continues. The Franklin Park Defenders, a community group opposed to the project, responded to the announcement with cautious optimism.
