Rhode Island FC has a home for its opening season. Here's where they'll play.

Patrick Anderson and Paul Edward Parker, The Providence Journal
Updated ·2 min read

New professional soccer team Rhode Island FC will play its first games at Bryant University in Smithfield while the team waits for its stadium in Pawtucket to be finished.

The team is set to compete in the USL Championship, the second tier of American professional soccer, starting next March and plans to play the entire 2024 season at Bryant's Beirne Stadium.

A rendering of the proposed Tidewater Landing soccer stadium – now under construction – on the west bank of the Blackstone River in Pawtucket.
A rendering of the proposed Tidewater Landing soccer stadium – now under construction – on the west bank of the Blackstone River in Pawtucket.

"We are committed to creating a uniquely Rhode Island fan experience from our opening match," Rhode Island FC President Brett Luy said in a news release. "Our club will kick off USL action in 2024 at Bryant University while we complete construction of a world-class stadium at Tidewater Landing. This decision will allow the club to focus on the fan experience in the inaugural season and prioritize the work necessary to field a team that is ready to compete for trophies from the opening match."

Rhode Island FC had looked at multiple venues around the state for a temporary home field – including Pierce Field in East Providence and Brown Stadium in Providence – but finding a venue with the field quality, dimensions and seating capacity ruled out many options, Luy told reporters at a news conference.

Bryant "is a group that is very well versed in the needs of professional sports franchises, having played host to the New England Patriots for close to two decades as the host of their training camp," Luy said. "The group over there has been very open to conversations around making sure this is a unique matchday experience to Rhode Island FC and ensuring we have good latitude to come in and make it our own special experience for fans and players alike."

Venues that host USL Championship games need to have at least 5,000 seats, Luy said. Beirne Stadium has 4,000 seats, and Luy said the team is going to bring enough seats to take the capacity over 5,000.

He declined to say how much Rhode Island FC is paying Bryant for use of the stadium.

Construction of the team's Pawtucket stadium is underway but has been delayed by financial problems, and it is not clear now when it will be finished.

Rhode Island FC will play at least 17 regular-season home games next year and potentially playoff and tournament games.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rhode Island FC 2024 season will play at Bryant University