Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) Releases Venues, Schedule, and Tickets ahead of Inaugural Kickoff in March
Written by Allison Smith, WER
UNITED STATES— Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) reveals the locations of their venues and stadiums along with the league’s schedule for its inaugural season, following the exciting launch of the teams crests and colors.
The venues and stadiums were intentionally selected by the league to be community driven and known for being places that bring people together. Additionally, the league selected these stadiums to hold smaller to mid-size crowds to allow for an intimate experience where fans feel they are a part of the matches and experience the hits, tackles, and tries alongside the teams themselves. The venues selected were also about providing the players with elite playing experiences said President Jessica Hammond-Graf, “Stepping onto these elite level pitches isn’t just about the game – it’s about showing the world that women’s rugby deserves the same stage, the same respect, and the same opportunities to shine. The excitement is more than just in playing the game; it’s in knowing we’re elevating the sport with every match.”
Bay Breakers will compete at Grape Bowl Stadium in Lodi, CA approximately 30 minutes away from Stockton and Sacramento CA. The field itself is artificial turf as the stadium is used for multi-sports including soccer, football, lacrosse, and now rugby. The stadium holds 5,000 fans using stadium seating, including areas for accessibility. The stadium’s location in the city of Lodi is known for its rich history and tie to the wine and agricultural roots of the region, which is reflected in the name of the stadium itself. Lodi is no stranger to professional sports either — the city was home to Class A affiliates of the San Diego Padres in 1970-71, Baltimore Orioles in 1974-75 and the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1976-1983.
Boston Banshees will start the season at Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy and play their final three matches at The Stadium at Tidewater Stadium Landing in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Veterans Memorial Stadium is home to the back-to-back MLR champion Free Jacks, and is a staple of the South Shore community as it hosts a wide variety of sports while utilizing a turf field to allow for versatility. With the stadium’s location only eight miles from downtown Boston, and a short walk from the MBTA subway red line, fans will be able to access matches from multiple parts of New England while being able to enjoy Quincy’s many famous restaurants and pubs nearby. The stadium employs bleacher, seatback, and premier seating and can hold 5,000 fans including wheelchair accessible seating to watch the Banshees play their league rivals. For the final three matches of the season, the Banshees will play at The Stadium at Tidewater Stadium Landing, home to Rhode Island FC, reigning Eastern Conference Champions of the United Soccer League (USL). Fans can get a glimpse of what to expect from the state-of-the-art, 10,500+ capacity riverfront stadium opening in April by visiting rhodeislandfc.com.
Chicago Tempest will battle their opponents at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium on the campus of Northwestern University. The stadium, currently adapted to accommodate the University’s football team, can hold upwards of 5,000 seats, including accessible seating, allowing Tempest fans to be up close and personal to the action on the artificial turf pitch. Martin Stadium is located in the hub of the athletic campus of Northwestern, allowing fans to be engulfed in multiple sports in the space. The stadium overlooks Lake Michigan and on clear days allows for picturesque views of the lake and nature.
Denver Onyx will challenge their league rivals at Infinity Park in Glendale CO, an inner suburb surrounded on all sides by the City of Denver. Infinity Park was specifically built and designed for rugby as it hosted the former iteration of the league, the Women’s Premier League’s Glendale Merlins/Colorado Grey Wolves, as well as Major League Rugby’s Glendale Raptors. The stadium has a capacity of approximately 3,200 for sporting events, including accessible seating and also suite and VIP seating, which highlights the electric and high-stake rugby matches played there. As the park was built with rugby in mind, the pitch uses a natural grass surface that matches international rugby standards.
New York Exiles will face off at the Stadium at Memorial Field, named in honor of veterans, in Mount Vernon NY. The stadium sits north of the Bronx, close to Yonkers, NY. The stadium can seat 4,000-5,000 fans using a mix of bleachers and open areas. As the stadium is part of the community, it serves multiple sports and levels of play from youth to interscholastic to professional. The construction and renovation of the stadium took accessibility in mind by including ADA compliant entrances, seating, and ramps.
Twin Cities Gemini will compete at TCO Stadium, which is connected to the Minnesota Vikings World Headquarters and Training Facility located in Eagan, MN, a suburb of Minneapolis. TCO Stadium features an artificial turf designed to weather the harsh conditions of Minnesota. Additionally, TCO Stadium can accommodate up to 7,000 fans with accessible seating and hospitality areas. Centrally located on the Viking Lakes campus, a multi-use development home to Omni Viking Lakes Hotel, Viking Lakes Residences and a variety of best-in-class commercial, medical and retail tenants, TCO Stadium was built around the mission of cultivating a healthy, active lifestyle while hosting a wide range of community events and programs.
WER also announces their complete thirteen week season schedule with the first match taking place Saturday, March 22 with the New York Exiles hosting the Boston Banshees at Memorial Stadium in Mt. Vernon at 4 pm (EST). The regular season will run March 22 through June 14 with matches being played on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. To see the full schedule and purchase tickets, please visit the WER website: https://www.womenseliterugby.us/2025-schedule.
About WER
To learn more about the team’s venues, please follow WER on their social media platforms @rugbyevolved or check out the league’s website at https://www.womenseliterugby.us/. After the 2022 “Ignite the Change” campaign seeking to professionalize women’s rugby in the United States from the former Women’s Premier League Rugby player-run and operated amateur league, Women’s Elite Rugby was founded and formed. The league announced their official launch in 2024 with their inaugural season starting in March 2025 centering six teams in Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York, Bay Area, and Twin Cities featuring 180 athletes.
For more information, please contact:
Women’s Elite Rugby
E: media@womenseliterugby.us
https://www.womenseliterugby.us/