Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration waited at least a month to disclose that the cost of rebuilding White Stadium in Franklin Park had nearly tripled to $135 million, according to newly released public records. The city provided the contract with BOND Building Construction and a building permit issued January 8 in response to a public records request from the Boston Herald, revealing the final project costs were not publicly announced until February 6.
The building permit lists a “declared value” of $134.14 million for construction, plus more than $1.34 million in fees. This represents a significant increase from initial estimates of $50 million two years ago, and a jump from a projected $91 million taxpayer cost in late 2024, as reported by the Boston Herald. The city’s contract with BOND totals $135,035,515.
The delay in disclosing the escalating costs has drawn scrutiny, particularly as the project is a public-private partnership with Boston Legacy FC, a new National Women’s Soccer League team. Boston Legacy FC is contributing more than $190 million towards its portion of the rehabilitation, bringing the total project cost to over $325 million. Mayor Wu announced the final costs for both the city and Boston Legacy FC at a press conference on February 6.
The publicly funded portion of the rebuild, managed by BOND Building Construction, will focus on the east side of the stadium. Work on the west side, funded by Boston Legacy FC, is also slated to commence this month. Both sides are expected to be completed in time for use by Boston Public Schools student-athletes and Boston Legacy FC next year.
The city’s contract details how the $135 million will be allocated, breaking down costs into building ($79.1 million), site work ($24.3 million), and contingency allowances ($31.58 million). The contingency budget includes $3.62 million for overtime and $61,200 for the “export of hazmat soils beyond what was identified in the contract documents and estimate,” according to the records.
Mayor Wu has characterized the increased costs as a result of community feedback and project expansion. “We heard from over 100 public meetings and conversations, what people’s needs and dreams and hopes were, and we decided to expand the project, to do it right,” she said last month. She added that the enhanced project reflects her commitment to providing “the best” for Boston students.
The project, which includes a 5,000-seat east grandstand, canopy, support wings, and track and field improvements, has been championed by Wu as a crucial investment. However, it has faced criticism from opponents who argue it represents a “giveaway” to wealthy investors and raises concerns about transportation and parking. A community lawsuit challenging the project, alleging illegal privatization of public parkland, is currently pending before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court after a lower court sided with the city last spring.
Opponents have proposed an alternative plan for a high-school-only stadium, estimating a taxpayer cost of $64.6 million. The city maintains that a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) contract with BOND protects taxpayers from further cost overruns, as the contractor would be responsible for any expenses exceeding the agreed-upon cap. The mayor’s office stated the GMP was developed through a public bidding process and accounts for factors like rising steel prices – which Wu noted have increased by 40% since the project’s inception – and labor costs.