NEWS

New England Free Jacks Announce Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy as the New Home for Major League Rugby in New England

Move Will Create Engaging and Accessible Environment for the Rapidly Growing Free Jacks and Rugby Community

Play Begins with Final Home Match of 2021 on July 18th and Continues in 2022 Season 

BOSTON, MA (June 28, 2021) – The New England Free Jacks of Major League Rugby (MLR), Heritage Sports Ventures (HSV) and the City of Quincy jointly announced today that Veterans Memorial Stadium (VMS) in Quincy will be the new home of the New England Free Jacks. The multi-year partnership with HSV will see the Free Jacks play their first MLR match in Quincy on July 18 with the first full season of action set for 2022.

The move to Veterans Memorial Stadium will add fuel to the Free Jacks’ fast growth and create an unparalleled experience for its players and fans. The stadium features upgraded locker and training rooms, luxury-styled seating, a state-of-the-art Daktronics video board, plus upgraded control center and press box facilities. For Major League Rugby, the stadium will hold 5,000 fans, feature seven hospitality suites, and a festival area for match-day fan fests.

“Over this last season we have been able to work with our amazing fans to build the foundational elements of the Free Jacks—community first, hard-working, innovative, accessible, high energy, and well just fun. Our vision remains focused on these core values as we work to exponentially share the Free Jacks and MLR experience with others,” said Free Jacks Co-Founder, Owner and CEO Alex Magleby.

“We’re thrilled that the MLR teams continue to grow and cement themselves in their local communities. The new home of the Free Jacks is a perfect fit for the team, and will welcome many new Boston rugby fans over the next few years,” said MLR Commissioner George Killebrew.

In conjunction with the announcement, the Free Jacks have launched their Founding Member renewal program and Season Membership ‘Can’t Wait List’ for the 2022 season. Single match tickets for the remaining two home matches of 2021 and new Founding Member spots for 2022 are available at freejacks.com/tickets.

Heritage Sports Ventures jointly operates Veterans Memorial Stadium with the City of Quincy. The stadium, located eight miles south of Boston and easily accessible by I-93 and the MBTA Red Line, first opened its gates in 1938, and has been home to historic sporting events in the City of Quincy ever since. In its 80th anniversary year in 2018, local philanthropist and HSV co-founder Rob Hale announced a multi-year partnership with the City of Quincy, investing more than $1.5 million in renovations to the stadium.

“Quincy welcomes Major League Rugby’s New England Free Jacks to the city. We are a sports-loving community and look forward to offering the team new spectators in the stands at Veterans Memorial Stadium as well as welcoming the Free Jacks’ fan base to enjoy spending time in our City before and after games,” Mayor Thomas P. Koch said.

The Free Jacks’ move to Veterans Memorial Stadium is an extension of an ongoing partnership between the team and HSV. In March of 2021, HSV entered a strategic partnership with the Free Jacks, serving as an extension of the Free Jacks commercial partnerships, sales, and activation team.

“HSV is so excited to welcome the New England Free Jacks to Veterans Memorial Stadium, beginning on July 18,” said Ian Frenette, CEO and Managing Director of Heritage Sports Ventures. “Free Jacks fans have fiercely shown their passion for the team this entire season, and we’re thrilled to bring their energy to Quincy.”

Major League Rugby has grown dramatically in its three seasons because it offers the speed, physicality, athleticism and competition that Americans demand. New England is a hotbed for the game with an estimated 300 rugby clubs in the region, including 125 collegiate and intramural clubs, and 80 independent men’s and women’s clubs. The game is growing at the youth, middle/high school, collegiate/intramural, and club level with both male and female players.

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About New England Free Jacks: 

The Free Jacks are an aspiring and innovative live events, media, and consumer products organization. The core brand in the portfolio is The New England Free Jacks, the humble hard-working free-spirited professional rugby team competing in the emergent and exhilarating Major League Rugby (MLR), the premier North American professional rugby competition. For more information, please visit www.FreeJacks.com.

About Heritage Sports Ventures: 

Heritage Sports Ventures (HSV) is a Boston-based boutique sports, entertainment and media agency focused on optimizing commercial revenue for brands and properties through partnership sales, brand alignment, events, and venue management.  Founded in 2021, the HSV executive team is composed of sports and entertainment industry leaders, bringing vast knowledge and experience to the agency and its clients. Visit us online at heritagesportsventures.com, on social media: Twitter (@HeritageSV), Instagram (@HeritageSportsVentures) and LinkedIn (Heritage Sports Ventures) or email info@heritagesportsventures.com for more information.