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On Tuesday, the Breakers announced a new partnership with Harvard Stadium, the future venue of Boston Breakers soccer. After two seasons at Dilboy Stadium in Somerville, Mass., Tom Durkin's crew will return to Allston, where the Breakers played three seasons in Women's Professional Soccer.
"We are in a good place, which allows us to move to a bigger venue and continue to grow our fan base," Boston Breakers general manager Lee Billiard said. "We are grateful to Harvard for welcoming us back and allowing us to call their amazing facility ‘home.' After selling out nine of our 11 games in 2013, we decided a bigger stadium was a must for 2014. We want to grow as a business and provide our fanbase and players the best possible experience we can on game days."
From 2009 through 2011, the Breakers welcomed a gameday average of 4,000-plus fans to Harvard stadium , drawing one of the largest continuous attendance rates in women's soccer. In 2014, the team will look to continue the trend, moving into a larger capacity home for its sophomore NWSL season.
"I am very excited for the 2014 season," Billiard said. "It would be great to see all the amazing supporters we have had over the years really come out in force this coming season. The hope is we can increase the attendances we had in 2013, and the support for our team continues to grow and grow. I ask fans to show their support, purchase season tickets, and attend as many games as possible. We really want to pack this place and break some organization attendance records."
Although the Breakers will continue to share their "home," balancing field time with Harvard Athletics and the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse, the team will experience a number of stadium upgrades. A FieldTurf playing surface, an all-weather bubble, expanded parking and a larger fan activity zone will provide immediate benefit, while greater seating capacity will provide a long-term stadium solution, should the Breakers remain in Allston for seasons to come.
Behind a series of newsworthy transactions - and ahead of a hopeful 2014 season - the Breakers will endure yet another transition, one that bodes well for the future of women's soccer in Boston.