Usseglio: The Beginning of a New Legacy

Fans Spoke and Ownership Listened

Photo By J. Alexander Dolan

BOS Nation FC is no more. Fans of soccer across New England and the country were relieved when the ownership group of the Boston NWSL franchise announced their intention to change the name of the team.

After a horrible start to their existence, including one of the worst marketing campaigns we will ever see in professional sports, the ownership group has changed course. They admitted their faults, made an effort to listen and engage with fans, and have held true to their promises.

For that, they should be commended.

The tenor around the team has changed. Take their social media, as an example. The sentiments that surrounded the initial marketing campaign are gone. The team is doing a better job of highlighting the community, uplifting the youth, and supporting the other professional women’s and men’s teams in the city. This is a welcome change from their prior approach of trying to get the attention of the average male sports fan in Boston.

The ownership group has been transparent about their process to engage with the community and fans, as well as the process for selecting a new team name. We can disagree whether or not Boston Legacy is a great name for the club. I think most people would agree that Legacy is a far better name than BOS Nation. That doesn’t mean everyone will love the new name, and that is ok.

Does “Legacy” seem a little bit corporate? Perhaps. After the experience of the first team name and rollout, I can’t really blame them for picking a name that some consider safe.

Legacy is defined as something transmitted by or received from an ancestor, predecessor, or from the past.

I think the name works on two levels. First, the name Legacy pays homage to the sporting history of Boston. For all sports, regardless of gender identity. There is no denying that the history and legacy of Boston sports is unmatched in the United States.

When I think about Boston Legacy, I think about the championships. I think about the parades. But I also think about Bill Russell walking with Martin Luther King Jr. I think about Sam Jones, K.C. Jones, Tom Sanders, and Willie Naulls. The four players on the Boston Celtics that joined Russell in 1964 as part of the first Black starting five in NBA history.

I think about Bobbi Gibb and Katherine Switzer, the first women to run the Boston Marathon. The hate and obstacles they faced and the barriers they broke to bring about change.

I think about the Boston Breakers, one of the original teams in the Women’s Professional Soccer League. A team that inspired so many young girls to dream about one day becoming a professional soccer player.

The legacy of Boston sports is important not just because of the winning. It is important for defining moments that have shaped sport and culture in this city and country.

The second way the name works is for the future. How future generations might look back on the initial years of the Boston Legacy and see the impact the team had on the city. How the development of an academy and location in the heart of the city can inspire Boston’s youth to dream big. To have opportunities and push boundaries not possible before.

The history and legacy of Boston sports positions the club to be a pioneer in equality and women’s sports moving forward. There is no better sports town in the country, no better place to be.

I would argue that Boston Legacy is a fitting name for Boston’s team. Whether you love it or hate it, whether you call them BOS Nation, NWSL Boston, Legacy, or the Legs, this town is ready to embrace women’s soccer once again.