NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS AND HERITAGE SPORTS VENTURES EXPAND PARTNERSHIP AS THE FREE JACKS MOVE TO QUINCY’S VETERANS MEMORIAL STADIUM
The New England Free Jacks will play their final 2021 regular season game at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy, Massachusetts. The Free Jacks will kick off a multi-year partnership at Veterans Memorial Stadium on July 18, 2021.
June 28, 2021
BOSTON, Ma. – 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 Free Jacks and HSV have agreed on a multi-year partnership, which kicks off on July 18, 2021. VMS is set to become the team’s official home for a full MLR season beginning in 2022.
The Free Jacks will play their final regular season game of the 2021 season on July 18 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy, MA, as a part of the two parties’ expanded partnership. Heritage Sports Ventures jointly operates Veterans Memorial Stadium with the City of Quincy to deliver premier sports, entertainment and philanthropic events to greater Boston and New England.
Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy, MA, 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, including upgraded locker and training rooms, luxury-styled seating on one side of the field, a state-of-the-art Daktronics video board, and upgraded control center and press box facilities.
"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 focusing on these core values as we work to exponentially share the Free Jacks and MLR experience with others,” said Alex Magleby, Co-Founder, Owner and CEO of the New England Free Jacks. “Working with HSV and calling the historic Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy our home is another huge step on this journey. We couldn’t be more thrilled to accelerate the Free Jacks brand and experiences with the city of Quincy, HSV, and the renovated Veterans Memorial Stadium.”
Located eight miles south of Boston and easily accessible by I-93 and the MBTA Red Line, Veterans Memorial Stadium features a unique atmosphere with seating options and open standing areas for fans to enjoy. The stadium is secured by a historic brick wall that surrounds more than half of the stadium, all of which is situated inside the beautiful settings of Merrymount Park. The significant improvements made to the historic stadium recently have greatly expanded and enhanced the experience for all users of the stadium, including fans, players, and members of the Quincy community.
"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.
TheFree 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.”
The Free Jacks’ final game of the 2021 MLR season will take place on Sunday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium. To purchase tickets, please visitfreejacks.com/tickets.
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.
