From preseason in Florida and Spain to home games in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Boston Legacy FC has been in limbo as it awaits its permanent digs. While White Stadium and all its complexities get sorted out, the club’s headquarters and performance center is also in the middle of development.
The team offered a peek into the state-of-the-art, 24-acre facility in Brockton, Massachusetts, nearly a year after plans were first announced.
Though originally slated to open at the start of this year, construction on the site began this past October and is halfway complete in what is now expected to be a 16-month process. The team initially promised six fields: two grass fields, a bubble dome, and three turf fields.
The club is splitting the project into different phases. The first phase will take up 15 acres and, aside from the main performance building, includes one full-sized, heated grass field that players will be able to use throughout the year. Alongside it will be a three-quarter-sized grass field for set piece practice. Both should be installed by October.
The bubble dome housing a full-sized, artificial turf field will be on the opposing side of the performance center and available for year-round use. The dome is expected to be complete in January 2027.
The second phase is still in the design stage and currently has no timeline. Matt Balk, BLFC’s head of facilities, could not confirm how many more fields would be added.
“Timing is really the key focus,” Balk said Monday. “We really wanted to make sure that we had what we're doing in phase one available to the team for next season.”
Performance Center
The Brockton property will add to the increasing number of performance centers exclusive to women’s professional sports teams around the country. By next season (assuming all goes to plan), nine of 16 NWSL clubs will have dedicated training facilities.
The club is spending $60 million on the first phase of construction, a steep increase from the original $27 million price tag for the entire project.
“Building a world-class club requires world-class infrastructure,” BLFC controlling owner Jennifer Epstein said in a press release. “This performance center reflects our commitment to creating an elite environment for our athletes and investing in the resources they need to compete at the highest level and reach their full potential.”
The 30,000-square-foot building will be ready by December and will house a weight room, locker room, film room, medical care areas, player lounge, and full-service kitchen on the first floor. The second floor will have staff offices, equipment storage, and a community room.
There will be a host of recovery options in the building, including hydrotherapy, a sauna, and exam and treatment rooms.
“We're definitely near the forefront of what is available for training facilities for women's sports,” said Balk. “We're really excited to see the growth that is out there, not only what we're helping to contribute to, but what both us and the WNBA are putting out there.”
Academy Team
Site plans dating back to last July included an academy building, but that is not being built this time around.
The Legacy is focused on establishing relationships with existing youth clubs, but would eventually like to open an academy.
Balk told The Blazing Musket there would be a benefit to having the senior team, business operations, and a soccer academy all on one site, and an academy space will be considered in future designs.
Community Involvement
Brockton city officials have expressed enthusiasm over having the complex in the city and the opportunities it will provide the community.
"The City of Brockton has a proud and storied sports legacy, and this new facility will further solidify our role in the growth and evolution of women’s soccer and the sport as a whole here in the United States.” said Brockton Mayor Moises Rodrigues. “As our city continues to evolve, soccer has emerged as one of the most prominent and widely embraced sports in our community, making Brockton a fitting home for this facility. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with the Legacy and are proud to welcome them into our City of Champions community.”
The club originally planned to have three fields available for public use. Balk confirmed the bubble dome would be available to the community, and access will expand when future phases of the project are complete.
Investment in the Women’s Game
Though things have not gone the Legacy’s way in several aspects, the club’s ownership group is evidently making an effort to advance the sport and invest in its players.
“This performance center represents a major step forward in our commitment to building a truly elite environment for our athletes. It’s designed to be a comprehensive, high-performance ecosystem where every element—from training and recovery to nutrition and mental development—is intentionally integrated under one roof,” said Dan Jones, BLFC director of high performance. “Ultimately, this is about creating an environment that drives performance, supports development, and sets a new benchmark for what professional women’s football can look like. We’re excited about the impact this will have on our athletes and the standard we can continue to raise across the game.”
Aside from physical training functions, outdoor amenities and collaborative spaces will be incorporated to foster team culture and promote player wellness. In taking good care of its athletes, the team will prove its commitment to individual wellbeing and hopefully attract top talent along the way.
