Mass. High Court Clears $325M Women's Soccer Stadium Project

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has cleared the way for Boston's $325 million plan to turn a decaying stadium into a professional women's soccer venue, striking down a lawsuit that had stalled the project for three years.

The unanimous Aug. 19 ruling held that the George Robert White Fund, a charitable trust that owns the stadium site in Franklin Park, does not restrict the parcel to park use. The legislature designated it in 1950 as "a school building and yard" maintained through the city's school committee appropriations, the ruling notes.

Mayor Michelle Wu called the decision a green light for an 11,000-seat stadium shared by Boston Legacy Football Club, Boston Public Schools athletes and the community. "Our Boston kids deserve the very best," Wu said at an Aug. 20 press conference in Franklin Park. "As a city, we can never apologize for fighting to give it to them."

The project's cost has ballooned from an original estimate of $50 million to $325 million, with a prior estimate of $91 million. Boston Legacy FC privately secured $190 million for renovations. Wu said the city will also receive $252 million in privately funded community benefits over 15 years, calling it "the largest community and public benefits deal in our city's history."

The lawsuit, brought by the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and nearby residents, argued that the deal violates state law governing public park land. Opponents pitched a $30 million alternative design that includes a new track, field and student athletic facilities. Karen Mauney Brodek, president of the Conservancy, said in a press release that the outcome means "a new professional for-profit sports stadium and entertainment complex in Franklin Park will not be subject to the high level of scrutiny" required by state law.

Demolition of the old stadium began in late January 2025, with crews working six days a week even during litigation, Wu said. Bond Building Construction Inc., the city's construction manager-at-risk, completed the below-grade utility relocation phase last year. Abatement and subsurface foundation work were ongoing in February, with upgraded power, water and telecommunications infrastructure set to finish this fall. A spokesperson for Bond declined to provide a construction update on Aug. 20.

Contracts awarded to local minority firms and local and minority-owned businesses total $54.2 million, with an additional $11.8 million expected in coming months. "Our primary focus must be ensuring local minority and women-owned businesses have a fair shot," said Boston City Councilor Miniard Culpepper, whose district covers the stadium.

Jennifer Epstein, controlling owner of Boston Legacy FC, called the ruling "a tremendous victory" that "clears the way for completing the White Stadium renovation and delivering a world-class facility."

The stadium's grandstand was crumbling after decades of neglect, and locker rooms had no heat or running water. "Students were playing on a pitted field that was causing injury," Wu recalled.

Construction is targeting completion in time for the NWSL's 2026 season. Wu said BPS students will get a professional-grade grass field, an eight-lane track, strength and conditioning facilities, new locker rooms and study spaces. "Thanks to this one-of-a-kind partnership with Boston Legacy, our BPS students will access these world-class amenities in a publicly owned, publicly scheduled and controlled stadium at less than half the cost," she said.

The ruling removes the main legal obstacle. The project's cost escalation – from $50 million to $325 million – leaves it exposed to further budget pressure if construction hits delays or material price increases, opponents said.