The contentious plan to overhaul Boston's White Stadium for a professional women's soccer team is moving forward with a big construction loan.
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Women's soccer team Boston Legacy Football Club secured $100M in financing from Bank of America for the White Stadium renovation in Jamaica Plain, the team announced Tuesday.
The financing comes after the team and the city, which is partnering on the project, secured legal approval to continue development earlier this year.
Boston has pledged roughly half of the cost of the project, which will include rebuilding the west grandstand and making several other improvements on the property. In addition to the professional soccer games, the stadium will host Boston Public Schools athletic contests.
“This landmark financing agreement is another major milestone as we move forward with delivering a world-class sports complex for BPS students and a new community resource for Franklin Park,” Mayor Michelle Wu said in a press release.
Other renovations include a new grass field, an eight-lane track, ADA-compliant, fully electric infrastructure, expanded community access and public restrooms.
Structural demolition on the site has been completed, and the next phase of construction will begin in November. The team will play its first season at Gillette stadium in 2026 and plans to move to White Stadium in 2027.
“As part of our lease, we will cover the full cost to operate and maintain White Stadium for decades to come, supporting BPS athletics and ensuring this facility remains a meaningful public resource in Franklin Park," Boston Legacy FC Controlling Manager Jennifer Epstein said
"We’re proud to be moving forward with financing from Bank of America to realize White Stadium’s restored future.”
Wu faced some backlash for the project, with opponents arguing it violated state law and cost too much. The city hasn't released the full cost projections for its portion of the project.
In April, a Suffolk Superior Court judge ruled in favor of the project team, stating it could move forward with the renovation. The judge determined that the soccer stadium didn't violate any state laws. The lawsuit is now slated to be heard by the Massachusetts Appeals Court.
"The City of Boston and our kids are getting a professional grade stadium for half the sticker price where this amazing team is going to be the example of professionalism and excellence that our students can look up to, and they're going to fund the maintenance and operations of this facility every year afterwards," Wu said about the legal win.
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