Boston Legacy FC

{{short description|National Women's Soccer League team in Boston, Massachusetts}}

{{Infobox football club

| American = yes

| image = Boston Legacy FC.svg

| alt = A black badge with a green outline, with an image of a white swan at center.

| upright = 0.6

| caption =

| fullname = Boston Legacy Football Club

| founded = {{start date and age|September 19, 2023}}

| stadium = Gillette Stadium (first season)
White Stadium
Boston, Massachusetts

| capacity =

| chairman =

| manager =

| mgrtitle = Head coach

| owntitle =

| owner = Boston Unity Soccer Partners

| league = National Women's Soccer League

| season =

| position =

| website = {{URL|https://www.bostonlegacyfc.com/|bostonlegacyfc.com}}

}}

Boston Legacy FC is an American professional soccer team based in Boston, Massachusetts, that will compete in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) starting in 2026. The team will play its home games at Gillette Stadium, moving to White Stadium in the second season. Though the team originally announced it would be known as BOS Nation FC in the fall of 2024, the club name and introduction video were criticized, and the team announced in March 2025 it would bring forward a new team moniker at a later date.[https://news.sportslogos.net/2025/03/17/boston-nwsl-team-to-announce-new-name-in-coming-weeks/soccer/ Boston NWSL Team Gives New Name Update] The Boston Legacy FC name was announced March 26, 2025.

History

=History of Women's Soccer in Boston=

The Boston Breakers competed in Women's Professional Soccer from 2009 to 2011.{{cite web |title=Breakers History |website=Boston Breakers Women's Professional Soccer |url=http://www.bostonbreakerssoccer.com/ABOUT/HISTORY/index_E.html |access-date=June 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416040434/http://www.bostonbreakerssoccer.com/ABOUT/HISTORY/index_E.html |archive-date=April 16, 2015 |url-status=dead}} The league folded in early 2012, and that year, the Breakers competed in the Women's Premier Soccer League Elite.{{cite web |title=2012 WPSL Elite Season Preview |url=http://www.nscaa.com/blogs/diversity/2012/03/2012-wpsl-elite-season-preview |publisher=National Soccer Coaches of America Association |access-date=December 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117014213/http://www.nscaa.com/blogs/diversity/2012/03/2012-wpsl-elite-season-preview |archive-date=November 17, 2015 |url-status=dead }} After one season, the club joined the National Women's Soccer League for its inaugural season in 2013. The club folded after the 2017 season with reports generally blaming a lack of marketing and resultant limited fanbase.{{cite web|url=https://www.thebentmusket.com/2018/1/25/16920928/boston-breakers-fold-ownership-deal-falls-through-nwsl|title=Boston Breakers fold after ownership deal falls through|access-date=July 6, 2018|date=January 25, 2018|archive-date=June 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605004707/https://www.thebentmusket.com/2018/1/25/16920928/boston-breakers-fold-ownership-deal-falls-through-nwsl|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Churchill |first1=Samantha |title=The Fall of the Boston Breakers |url=http://thewellesleynews.com/2018/05/02/the-fall-of-the-boston-breakers/ |website=The Wellesley News |date=May 2, 2018 |access-date=January 6, 2024 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205151336/https://thewellesleynews.com/2018/05/02/the-fall-of-the-boston-breakers/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Kassouf |first1=Jeff |title=How an era ended: The mysterious final months of the Boston Breakers |url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2019/10/16/how-an-era-ended-the-mysterious-final-months-of-the-boston-breakers/ |website=The Equalizer |date=October 16, 2019 |access-date=January 6, 2024 |archive-date=September 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930120846/https://equalizersoccer.com/2019/10/16/how-an-era-ended-the-mysterious-final-months-of-the-boston-breakers/ |url-status=live }}

=2026 expansion bid=

On September 19, 2023, an NWSL expansion team was announced, with a planned start date in 2026.{{cite web |title=Professional Women's Soccer Returns to Boston as National Women's Soccer League Awards Expansion Franchise to Boston Unity Soccer Partners |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/professional-womens-soccer-returns-to-boston-as-national-womens-soccer-league-awards-expansion-franchise-to-boston-unity-soccer-partners |website=NWSL |date=September 19, 2023 |publisher=Sidearm Sports |access-date=January 6, 2024 |archive-date=October 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007001804/https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/professional-womens-soccer-returns-to-boston-as-national-womens-soccer-league-awards-expansion-franchise-to-boston-unity-soccer-partners |url-status=live }} The ownership group of the winning bid, Boston Unity Soccer Partners (BUSP), is an all-female ownership group led by Jennifer Epstein, Stephanie Connaughton, Ami Danoff, and Anna Palmer. Later investors joined, including Aly Raisman, Elizabeth Banks, Brad and Tracy Stevens, and Linda Henry. The team will play home matches in White Stadium in Franklin Park, Boston.

The team will begin in the 2026 season, alongside a new to-be-named Denver team, which will bring the NWSL to a total of 16 teams.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-26 |title=Boston's NWSL team reveals new name -- again |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/44410096/nwsl-new-franchise-bos-nation-renamed-boston-legacy-fc |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

= Stadium =

The City of Boston planned to commit up to $50 million towards the stadium's renovation, and BUSP pledged $30 million.{{cite news |last1=Hohler |first1=Bob |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/12/12/sports/white-stadium-boston-public-schools/ |access-date=January 6, 2024 |work=The Boston Globe |title=Plan for professional soccer at White Stadium sharply reduces access for Boston high school football |publisher=The Boston Globe |date=December 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212224312/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/12/12/sports/white-stadium-boston-public-schools/ |archive-date=December 12, 2023}} The stadium is to be the first venue in the country which will be home to a major league sports franchise and the athletic program of a public high school. The stadium will be shared with Boston Public Schools track and soccer. American football matches will be prohibited at the field during the professional soccer season, although high school football will be played on the field for playoffs and Thanksgiving games.

The renovation of White Stadium sparked some dispute with community groups, and was met with a lawsuit from the Emerald Necklace Conservancy. The Conservancy sued both the City of Boston and the club's development partners, but were denied a preliminary injunction for their claims.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-22 |title=Judge denies request for injunction against White Stadium renovation project |url=https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2024-03-22/judge-denies-request-for-injunction-against-white-stadium-renovation-project |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=GBH |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Margaret |date=March 18, 2025 |title=Boston White Stadium Opponents Dealt Blow As Trial Set to Begin |url=https://frontofficesports.com/boston-white-stadium-lawsuit-goes-to-trial/ |access-date=April 9, 2025 |website=Front Office Sports}} The presiding judge, Justice Matthew Nestor, stated that they were "not persuaded" of the Conservancy's claims that the renovations would cause irreparable harm in its violation of state law.{{Cite news |last=Linehan |first=Meg |date=2025-04-02 |title=BOS Nation FC is out: Boston NWSL team to reveal new name in 'next few weeks' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6204128/2025/03/14/boston-nwsl-expansion-bos-nation-fc/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} In early April, the judge held that the renovation was not in violation of the law and that the project could proceed.{{Cite web |title=Court Victory Allows Boston, NWSL To Proceed With White Stadium Renovation |url=https://www.bisnow.com/boston/news/construction-development/white-stadium-128791 |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Bisnow |language=en}}

The renovations will not be completed in time for the first season, and in May 2025 the team announced they would play their full first season at Gillette Stadium.{{cite web |last1=Bird |first1=Hayden |title=Boston Legacy FC supporters 'disappointed' team will play at Gillette Stadium in 2026 |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/morning-sports-update/2025/05/22/boston-legacy-fc-gillette-stadium-reaction/ |website=www.boston.com}}

= BOS Nation FC, criticism, and name change =

The club's name and its black-and-green branding with raspberry pink accents were announced on October 15, 2024, during a marketing campaign that said "there are too many balls in this town".{{cite news|title=Boston NWSL Team Branding Officially Revealed|url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/boston-nwsl-team-branding-officially-revealed|website=NWSLSoccer.com|date=October 15, 2024|access-date=October 16, 2024}}{{cite news|url-access=subscription|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/10/15/sports/boston-nwsl-team-name-bos-nation/|title=Boston's NWSL team has a name: Introducing BOS Nation FC|last=Silverman|first=Michael|date=October 15, 2024|newspaper=The Boston Globe|access-date=October 15, 2024}} BOS Nation FC was selected as a play on the name of the city ("BOS Nation" is an anagram of "Bostonian"){{cite news |last=Guilfoil |first=Kyla |date=October 15, 2024 |title=National Women's Soccer League reveals name for new Boston team |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/nwsl/national-womens-soccer-league-reveals-name-new-boston-team-rcna175518 |publisher=NBC News |accessdate=October 16, 2024}} and the word boss; other options included Boston FC, Boston Unity, and names having to do with weather.

On October 16, BOS Nation FC posted an apology on social media amid criticism of its initial marketing campaign of "Too Many Balls" from the LGBTQ community, particularly those identifying as transgender. While the "Too Many Balls" campaign was intended to highlight the male-dominated nature of Boston sports teams, it was seen by some fans as transphobic,{{cite news |last=Silverman |first=Michael |date=October 16, 2024 |title=Boston's NWSL team, BOS Nation FC, ditches 'Too Many Balls' promotional campaign after backlash |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/10/16/sports/bos-nation-fc-nwsl-boston/ |work=The Boston Globe |url-access=subscription |accessdate=October 16, 2024}} or overly focused on male athletes as opposed to highlighting Boston's women's sports.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-15 |title=NWSL's BOS Nation to be renamed after backlash |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/44252061/nwsl-expansion-team-bos-nation-fc-new-name-boston |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

In November 2024, the team announced a review of their name and that they are working to "create a club that represents the strength, diversity, and passion" of Boston.{{Cite news |last=Andrejev |first=Alex |date=November 27, 2024 |title=BOS Nation considering name change after public backlash |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5952727/2024/11/27/bos-nation-considers-name-change/ |access-date=November 27, 2024 |work=The Athletic |url-access=subscription}} The team announced at an event on March 14, 2025, that the BOS Nation FC would not be the club's name going forward and a new name would be announced at a later date, with the club temporarily known as "Coming Soon FC".{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/44252061/nwsl-expansion-team-bos-nation-fc-new-name-boston|title=NWSL's BOS Nation FC to change name after backlash|last=Kassouf|first=Jeff|date=March 14, 2025|publisher=ESPN|access-date=March 15, 2025}}

On March 26, the new name was announced as "Boston Legacy FC".{{Cite web |date=March 26, 2025 |title=Boston's new pro women's soccer team gets a new name: Boston Legacy Football Club |url=https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2025-03-26/bostons-new-pro-womens-soccer-team-gets-a-new-name-boston-legacy-football-club |access-date=March 26, 2025 |publisher=WGBH |language=en}} The club retained the previously announced black-and-green color scheme. The team crest was announced June 7th, 2025.https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/06/08/nwsl-club-boston-legacy-unveil-crest/

= Inaugural Club Staffing =

In March 2025, the club hired Domènec Guasch, also called Domè, as their inaugural General Manager (GM). Guasch was previously head of management for women's soccer with FC Barcelona, where he oversaw recruitment and contract negotiations.{{Cite news |last=Yang |first=Steph |last2=Herrero |first2=Laia Cervelló |date=2025-03-26 |title=BOS Nation FC hire former FC Barcelona executive as new general manager |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5970135/2024/12/05/bos-nation-fc-nwsl-domenec-guasch-fc-barcelona/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

In May 2025, Portuguese newspaper A Bola announced that Filipa Patão would be the first Head Coach of Boston Legacy.{{Cite web |last=Abola.pt |date=2025-05-22 |title=Notícia A BOLA Benfica: Filipa Patão de saída {{!}} Abola.pt |url=https://www.abola.pt/futebol/noticias/benfica-filipa-patao-de-saida-2025052218394381772 |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=Abola.pt |language=pt}}