With a newly signed lease agreement between the City of Boston and Boston Unity Soccer Partners, I am calling for the city and BOS Nation FC to instead explore running their operations out of Nickerson Field at Boston University. This is an ideal location for a professional women’s soccer team due to a large capacity of nearly 10,000 seats, its proximity to the Green Line train and local restaurants and establishments, while already having the necessary infrastructure and a potential fan base in place.

With a potential partnership with Boston University for use of Nickerson Field, the team could save nearly $100 million that could be used toward a rental agreement with the university and helping to fund the MBTA, while the City of Boston could save approximately $70 million on a White Stadium proposal that focuses solely on student athletes and residents.

Despite considerable community opposition, as well as projected costs jumping from $50 million to now $91 million so far for the city, and approximately $182 million for the project overall – the city has moved forward and signed the lease for White Stadium. These fiscal issues are in addition to previous concerns highlighted by neighbors, civic organizations and I – including lack of a thorough community process, the use of public land for private organizations, and now the practicality of two professional soccer stadiums in close proximity with the New England Revolution proposal in Everett. All of these issues could potentially be resolved if White Stadium was renovated solely for student athletes instead, and Boston Unity Soccer Partners utilized Nickerson Field – a field that has already been approved by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).

Prior to BOS Nation FC, Boston’s professional soccer team was the Boston Breakers. The original Breakers played from 2009 to 2012, when the league they played in folded. The Breakers then joined the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and played from 2013-2017, and also folded shortly thereafter.

It is important that the city supports women’s professional sports and a new professional soccer team. As such, Nickerson Field would provide nearly 10,000 seats, and a state-of-the-art field that stands as one of only 10 artificial fields in the United States that has a FIFA 2-Star certification.

Nickerson Field’s proximity to the Green Line will allow fans to easily access the stadium, reduce automobile traffic at the proposed site, and save on our carbon footprint from congestion. The Field is also located in Allston, where there are ample local businesses, restaurants, bars, and retail stores that could support spectators, bolster those businesses, and increase revenue for the city. Allston is also where many of our young people and students live, especially international students, who may also look forward to the prospect of having a women’s soccer team in Boston. The tens of thousands of students in the area could provide additional support for their fan base.

At the same time, while the city debated a property tax shift for the better part of last year and did not cut our budget – potentially investing over $100 million in a stadium renovation and creating a successful venture carries significant risks. Reports estimate the cost to renovate White Stadium for the sole purpose of high school and residential use is $20 million. Boston Public School (BPS) student athletes deserve to have a stadium that can be used year round, especially during warmer months and weekends that would be impacted if shared with a professional soccer team. If a similar renovation was completed, that alone would save the City of Boston approximately $70 million and provide Boston with a dedicated use of its stadium – a win for the taxpayers and Boston Public School students.

While we welcome the return of a professional women’s soccer team to Boston, it is critical that we acknowledge the risk of investing almost $100 million in White Stadium for a private-public partnership that was intended for the residents of Boston. Nickerson Field is a natural fit with the existing field and capacity for a professional team, accessibility for fans, and local establishments in close proximity. We need to do our due diligence on available options like this before we risk potentially $100 million or more of taxpayer funds.

Ed Flynn is a Boston City Councilor representing District 2

Tip-off is right around the corner at McCamish Pavillion today for an ACC matchup between Georgia Tech and Boston College.

Tech (7-7, 1-2 ACC) picked up its first ACC win Tuesday with an 86-75 homecourt triumph over Notre Dame, which followed a 92-49 romp over Alabama A&M last Saturday. The Yellow Jackets had dropped their first two conference games to North Carolina (68-65 on the road) and No. 5 Duke (82-56 at home). Tech is 7-4 at home this season.

Likewise, Boston College (9-5, 1-2 ACC) earned their first conference win this week, 78-68 decision over Miami Wednesday at home that followed a 72-66 loss at Wake Forest and a 103-77 homecourt defeat to SMU earlier in December. The loss to Wake Forest has been the Eagles’ only true road game to date.

Tech concludes a five-game homestand vs. Boston College on , during which all five of the home games will be played Saturday in which all five of the home games have come during the semester break without students on campus. The Jackets are 3-1 on this homestand after going 4-3 on its season-opening seven-game home stretch.

Boston College snapped a five-game losing streak in the series with a 95-87 win at McCamish Pavilion on Jan. 6, 2024, the most points the Eagles have scored against Tech in the series.

Tech leads the all-time series, 19-13 (one win vacated by the NCAA Committee on Infractions). The one scheduled meeting in 2020-21 in Atlanta was not played due to COVID-19.

Be sure to stay locked in right here for the latest updates from today’s game between Georgia Tech and Boston College!

Luke O’Brien and Kowacie Reeves are out today for the Yellow Jackets.

Starters today for Georgia Tech:

G- Lance Terry

G- Nait George

F- Jaeden Mustaf

F- Baye Ndongo

C- Ryan Mutombo

10:55 Media Timeout- Georgia Tech leads 21-17. Yellow Jackets shooting 69% from the field and 75% (3-4) from three against the Eagles.

5: 59 Media Timeout- Georgia Tech leads 35-24. Offense continues to shoot the ball well (70%, 14-20).

3:14 Media Timeout- Georgia Tech leads 40-24. Yellow Jackets are on a 14-2 run over the last five minutes.

Halftime- Georgia Tech leads Boston College 44-31. Yellow Jackets shooting 59% from the floor and 64% from three. Duncan Powell and Javian McCollum each have 11 points for Georgia Tech. The Eagles are shooting 42% from the field and 43% from three.

15:45 Media Timeout- Georgia Tech leads Boston College 56-38. Yellow Jackets have hit their last five shots.

It’s January. Cold. Dark. Holiday fun is behind us. But wait! There are very good things about January. Like all the holiday “fun” is finally behind us.

What’s ahead? Loads of free time and amazing arts to fill up the calendar. Here are a few faves to warm your heart and sway your soul.

Beethoven & Romanticism

Symphony Hall, Boston Symphony Orchestra

All month long, the BSO and its maestro, Andris Nelsons, presents this Beethoven festival. The heart of fest is the complete cycle of the composer’s nine symphonies, performed in order at Symphony Hall for the first time since 1927. Not to miss, No. 9 and “Ode to Joy” featuring an astounding guest list —  soprano Amanda Majeski, mezzo-soprano Tamara Mumford, tenor Pavel Černoch, and baritone Andrè Schuen. Starts Jan. 8, bso.org

“Ain’t No Mo”

Calderwood Pavilion, SpeakEasy Stage Company/Front Porch Arts Collective

Dark, smart, funny, and sadly timely, this one-act from writer Jordan E. Cooper examines what it is to be Black in America. The satire has the U.S. government “solving racism” by offering Black Americans a free one-way ticket to Africa. It’s Black drag queen and flight attendant Peaches job to manage the passengers leaving from Gate 1619. Starts Jan. 10, frontporcharts.org

Boston Celtic Music Festival

Multiple Venues

Club Passim presents its 22nd annual Boston Celtic Music Festival in mid-January. A few friends are lending a hand. Along with shows at Passim, music, song, and dance traditions from Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton, Quebecois, and other Celtic communities will be on stages at Somerville Theatre, Crystal Ballroom, The Burren, and The Rockwell. Starts. Jan. 16, passim.org/bcmfest

“Peter Pan”

Citizens Opera House, Broadway in Boston

A new twist on an old classic, this version of “Peter Pan” hasn’t grown up but the material has. The cruel and cliched depictions of Native peoples and women have been removed thanks to a book update by Sicangu Lakota Nation member and 2020 MacArthur Fellow Larissa FastHorse. What remains is the humor, heart, story, songs, and magic. Director Lonny Price says the new tweak is the perfect gateway to theater for young people. “Part of why I wanted to do this is that it will be kids’ first experience in the theater, and I want them not only to fall in love with ‘Peter Pan,’ ” he told the Associated Press, “but to fall in love with the theater and to come back.” Starts Jan. 21, boston.broadway.com

Sarah Silverman

The Wilbur

Laugh it off. Or try to. 2025 is going to be a lot and Sarah Silverman knows that. On Jan. 25, join the funniest, dirtiest, smartest wit in the stand-up scene for jokes about, well, hmm, it’s hard to list any of the topics she likes to joke about here in print. If Silverman’s not your thing, this month the Wilbur also welcomes Tracy Morgan and Russell Peters. thewilbur.com