19-03-2025
Judge Matthew Nestor allows new plantiffs' complaint in second day of White Stadium trial
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No new facts or evidence are being introduced, the plaintiffs said.
The defendants strenuously objected to the motion.
Nestor ruled that even though the trial is well under way, there was not enough serious prejudice incurred by the defendants to prevent him from ruling for the plaintiffs.
The defendants said they needed time to read the complaint in order 'to ponder' whether or not they will introduce new evidence or witnesses.
Much of the testimony from the witnesses for the defense focused on how the design of the current White Stadium renovation proposal changed to meet the needs of Boston Public Schools Athletics department and students as well as keep the project aligned with the original design goals of Frederick Law Olmsted.
Liza Meyer, the chief landscape architect and interim commissioner of the Boston Parks Department, recounted her concerns over initial plans and renderings for the stadium put forth by the soccer team.
The parks department objected to the team's plans to use park pathways for delivery vehicles, to fence off an area in front of the park's Playstead area, build a restaurant too close to the Overlook area and to use digital lighting on the back of a scoreboard that faced the Playstead.
All the objections were addressed, said Meyer, who is also an ex officio director of the lead plaintiff, the Emerald Necklace Conservancy.
Diana Fernandez Bibeau, deputy chief of urban design for the city, explained how community and design concerns led to modifications that resulted in building wings on each end of both the East and West grandstands. The grandstands' wings will include space for BPS district coaches, office and storage space, conference rooms, a student lounge, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, a community kitchen and ADA accessible locker rooms. Public restrooms will be part of each grandstand.
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Part of the plaintiffs' case concerns the project's impact on areas in Franklin Park that are not located within the 14-acre stadium parcel — these include pathway improvements, utilities work and lighting.
Avery Esdaile, senior director of athletics for Boston Public Schools, was asked by the defense about how the use of the stadium by the professional women's soccer team will displace BPS football.
'There are some limits on when we can host games that the stadium usage agreement has identified as after the NWSL season but there are provisions to ask for permission outside that window,' said Esdaile.
Beginning this past season, Esdaile said the two affected schools, Boston Latin Academy and Boston Latin School, essentially moved out of the stadium. BLS has been practicing and playing games at Clemente Field in the Fens, with BLA holding the majority of its practice in the Playstead area just south of the stadium and playing games at the old West Roxbury High School.
Esdaile also provided glimpses of the decrepit state of White Stadium, which was built in 1949. The athletic department's un-air conditioned offices on the second floor of the West Grandstand were 'extremely hot' in the summer, said Esdaile, cold in the winter plus certain offices endured leaks in the ceiling.
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'We made the best of it but it was not an ideal place to work,' said Esdaile.
The issue of alcohol sales in the stadium during soccer games and outside in the planned restaurant was ruled to be off limits in the trial by the judge. But because Esdaile was asked by the defense about how the athletic department issued permits for stadium use, the judge allowed the plaintiffs to question Esdaile about how BPS-issued permits forbid alcohol possession.
Linda Henry, CEO of Boston Globe Media Partners,
Michael Silverman can be reached at
