Boston Legacy FC Celebrates Crest Launch
“This is what makes the work worthwhile, is seeing it out in the world, enjoyed by the community."
Fans wandered Boston Common Saturday, many donning jerseys of different women’s teams and ready to support Boston Legacy FC at its crest launch party.
BLFC hosted the event hours after announcing the new swan logo. The team said the animal represents grit and strength, and pays tribute to the Public Garden’s iconic swan boats and the swans often seen in Boston’s waterways. The wing’s eight feathers reference the NWSL’s eight original clubs, and the angled lines allude to the Zakim Bridge.
Banners displaying the crest flanked the main stage where the team’s front office staff would later gather to say their piece.
Merchandise booths had the newest items for sale but many were already wearing old merchandise: shirts with NWSL Boston emblazoned on the front or more recent BOS Nation caps and scarves. The different branding renditions illustrated the rocky journey the team has been on since the club was first announced two years ago.
The rainy weather forecast didn’t seem to discourage anyone from celebrating another club milestone.
Fans practiced their penalty kicks and ran around playing 3v3 soccer at some of the various stations at the event. Face painting, lawn games, and a photobooth were also available in the fan zone.
In front of the stage was a snazzy lounge area reserved for season ticket holders to enjoy comfortable seating, likely enticing others to put in their own deposits. After just one hour of the event, the team had sold over a hundred season tickets.
The team’s founders, Jennifer Epstein, Stephanie Connaughton, Ami Kuan Danoff, and Anna Palmer; General Manager Domènec Guasch, and other front office staff roamed the crowds and spoke with fans throughout the day.
The Legacy regularly encourages community feedback as it continues to build its identity. Though the team does not play for another year, the team wants to cultivate a strong fan experience before anyone steps onto the field.
“We’re already in conversation with a number of different community members about what they want that experience to look like and how that's going to take place at Gillette specifically, and incorporating a number of different game-day traditions,” said Director of Community Engagement Michael Omenazu.
Addressing the attendees from the stage, Guasch thanked everyone for their support and said he is eager to build a team that will reflect the city’s championship culture, adding that there will be head coach and player announcements in the coming weeks.
“I personally look forward to having you all watching and cheering for our team in the stands that will be playing a beautiful and aggressive football, just like how beautiful and aggressive our swan is,” he said.
The ownership group then explained the details on the crest and expressed excitement for the club’s inaugural season at Gillette Stadium. Palmer led the first Boston Legacy chants, encouraging everyone to raise their scarves.
Epstein had earlier acknowledged the work that lies ahead for the club, but is grateful for the growing fanbase.
“This is what makes the work worthwhile, is seeing it out in the world, enjoyed by the community,” she said. “It's always been our intention as [the] ownership group to build this club embedded within the fabric of the community.
The latter half of the event had supporters watching the Gotham FC and Kansas City Current match on the big screen. The rain came just in time for the start of the game, but people remained in their seats, green ponchos and umbrellas enough to protect them.