The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled on Wednesday that the $325 million project to renovate White Stadium does not violate state law, removing the largest legal barrier faced by the project operated in partnership between the city and Boston Legacy FC.
The renovation of the stadium that will become the Legacy’s future home venue (and a new hub for Boston Public Schools Athletics) was a central piece of ownership’s successful bid to receive an NWSL expansion team for the 2026 season. The ruling ends the years-long lawsuit that threatened to upend its construction.
The team sent out an official statement from controlling owner Jennifer Epstein that read:
“Today’s Supreme Judicial Court ruling is a tremendous victory for Boston Public Schools students, the Franklin Park community, and the future of professional women’s soccer in Boston. The Court’s decision clears the way for completing the White Stadium renovation and delivering a world-class facility that will serve our community for generations, and sets a national standard for youth athletics and professional women’s soccer. Together with the City of Boston and our project partners, we look forward to welcoming students, neighbors, athletes, and fans to a revitalized White Stadium.”
The White Stadium project faced opposition from some nearby residents who object to the potential impacts of game-day parking and traffic restrictions. Others object to what they have characterized as the misuse of a public park for private enterprise. The city and team argued that the benefits outweigh any sacrifice of public use, citing in particular the upside of having a state-of-the-art athletic facility that will mainly be used by Boston Public School student-athletes for more than 300 days a year.
The timeline of when the Legacy will be able to move into the stadium remains uncertain. Before the ruling was announced, neither the team nor the city would commit to it being ready for some or all of the 2027 NWSL season. Should the stadium not be ready in time, the Legacy would likely continue to play in its inaugural season home venues: Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, R.I., and Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
