Pawtucket, Rhode Island – Rhode Island FC announced Friday that Bryant University’s Vail Stadium will be the interim home of Ocean State’s new professional football team for the club’s first USL championship season in 2024. As stadium construction continues at Tidewater Landing, the club plans to create a unique and authentic fan experience for Rhode Island FC supporters at Vail Stadium.
“In 2024, professional football will come to Rhode Island,” said Brett Louie, president of Rhode Island FC. “We are committed to creating a unique Rhode Island fan experience right from the opening game. The USL will begin operations at Bryant University on 2019. The decision will force the club to focus on the fan experience in its first year and prioritize the work necessary to build a trophy-ready team from opening day. will be able to.”
Bryant University’s athletic facilities have been home to training camps for the New England Patriots for 20 years. The Beilun Stadium Complex includes all the amenities and facilities that Rhode Island FC and visiting teams require for training and game day matches.
“Bryant University is delighted to welcome Rhode Island’s new professional football team to play its inaugural season at Beilun Stadium on the Smithfield campus,” said Bryant University President Dr. Ross Gitter. “We appreciate the enthusiasm professional sports teams bring to our community and look forward to joining in the excitement.”
Information on how Rhode Island FC season ticket depositing members can convert their deposits into season tickets will be available in the coming weeks when the club releases its seating plans for the 2024 season. Rhode Island FC continues to accept season ticket deposits.
Excitement is building for the 2024 season. An organic network of fans has launched the supporter group Defiance 1636, which has hosted numerous events in recent weeks promoting the upcoming season. Last month, Rhode Island FC announced Capelli Sports as its official and exclusive on-field apparel and equipment provider. The club has accepted deposits for more than 4,000 season tickets since November, including more than 1,000 in the first hour of availability. The club has hired Kano Smith as its first head coach and general manager and has already filled around six other front office staff positions. Rhode Island FC plans to create more than 30 jobs before the start of its first season.
Construction of Tidewater Landing continues. To date, Fortuitous Partners has invested nearly $30 million of his private capital into the development, and construction is accelerating. No public funds have been invested in this project yet. The development of Tidewater Landing will transform Pawtucket, bringing jobs, residents and private capital to the city. Upon completion, the development will include a world-class stadium that hosts professional football, concerts, festivals and other major events, hundreds of new apartments affordable to all income groups, tens of thousands of square feet of office and Includes retail space. .
