Boston's Mayor Michelle Wu has announced the execution of significant agreements to leap forward the future of athletics and community engagement through the renovation of White Stadium, marking the largest investment since its inception in 1949.
According to Wu, the City of Boston has signed both a Lease Agreement and BPS Stadium Usage Agreement with Boston Unity Soccer Partners, which will lead to the much-anticipated transformation of White Stadium. “Delivering excellent education for Boston Public Schools (BPS) students includes ensuring the fullest access to sports, arts, and enrichment of every kind across the city,” said Wu, emphasizing the stadium's potential as a regionally anchored youth sports hub.
The redevelopment of White Stadium will not only restore the existing facilities but will also introduce state-of-the-art amenities for various sports, significantly benefiting BPS students and Franklin Park community members. The planned upgrades include modern locker rooms, sports medicine facilities, strength and conditioning areas, and dedicated community event spaces.
Once completed, White Stadium aims to be among three carbon-neutral stadiums in the United States and will offer at least 700 annual hours for BPS athletic programming. Construction is expected to commence this January, with the vision to uplift Boston’s sports culture and provide top-notch facilities for student-athletes.
“This is an exciting moment for BPS and our student-athletes who are so deserving of a world-class facility to call home,” commented Mary Skipper, Superintendent of BPS. She highlighted the project as pivotal for the growth of the district's storied athletics program.
Boston Unity Soccer Partners’ Controlling Owner, Jennifer Epstein, expressed pride over the club’s future at White Stadium, branding the renovation as not just revitalization but rather a chance to embed sports deeply within the city’s fabric. “This transformative milestone enables our club to deliver lasting impact for Boston Public School student-athletes,” she said.
Part of this project’s appeal lies within its public-private partnership model driven by grassroots community input. Extensive consultations through over 60 public meetings and more than 900 public comment letters have shaped the development plan, with oversight by various Boston city commissions.
This new agreement holds systemic importance—it has the dual role of addressing the urgent renovations necessitated by decades of deterioration after repeated failed efforts to refurbish the premises. Past neglect left the stadium's infrastructure crumbling, culminating from damage suffered during a fire incident back in the 1990s.
NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman hailed the agreement as groundbreaking for women's sports, remarking it exemplifies how sports can inspire innovation and impactful community development. “This partnership sets a precedent for how public and private collaboration can lift women's sports,” she noted.
The agreements encompass multiple legally binding documents detailing the responsibilities and operational guidelines, ensuring scheduled public access and the integration of community programs. Among the amenities to be constructed are regulation-sized tracks and fields conducive to various team sports, along with significant upgrades to adjacent public infrastructure as outlined in the Franklin Park Action Plan.
Financially, the Boston Unity Soccer Partners pledge to shoulder over half the construction costs, with the City taking charge of specific student-athlete facilities and infrastructure related to track and field. The fiscal structure also incorporates various revenue-sharing strategies for the city, allowing continued public benefits from stadium operations.
Officials highlighted the community benefits from this revitalization effort, including job creation—expected at 500 construction gigs, 300 permanent roles, and various development projects contributing to local business and returning sports excitement to the area.
Looking toward the future, the BPS and the City of Boston will retain operational priorities for stadium scheduling across community events, major sporting contests, and NWSL games. Wu mentioned the formation of the White Stadium Neighborhood Council to facilitate continuous community involvement as the project progresses.
The dialogue is open for discussions surrounding notable aspects like game-day transportation plans, which include partnerships for electric shuttles and community parking schemes.
With construction set to begin shortly, the city looks forward to ushering White Stadium back to prominence, becoming not only the heart of youth sports but also rallying the broader Boston community together.
