Key Takeaways
- Masters Academy International is converting a former Bose corporate campus in Stow, MA into a sports-focused boarding school through an $82 million renovation.
- The 80-plus-acre property was purchased in 2024 for $2.3 million after Bose vacated in 2021.
- The school plans to open in fall 2026 with 300 initial students, scaling to 1,000 athletes over time.
- Training will span nine sports, including baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, lacrosse, golf, fencing, figure skating and e-gaming.
- The academy’s CEO is the former head of school at IMG Academy, the model the school is built around.
From Corporate Office Park to Athletic Campus
A former Bose Corporation campus in Stow, Massachusetts is set to become one of the newest entrants in the elite athlete boarding school space, backed by an $82 million redevelopment.
Masters Academy International, founded by brothers Peter and Chris Masters, plans to convert the 80-plus-acre property into a residential and academic campus designed for competitive student-athletes. The site was purchased in 2024 for $2.3 million after Bose vacated the facility in 2021, according to the Boston Business Journal, which first reported the story.
The school expects to welcome its first students in fall 2026, initially enrolling 250 high school students and 50 middle school students. Only high schoolers will board on campus. The founders’ long-term goal is to scale to 1,000 athletes, including roughly 500 boarding students.
A Multi-Sport Model Built Around the IMG Playbook
Masters Academy International will offer training across nine sports: baseball, basketball, fencing, figure skating, golf, hockey, soccer, lacrosse and e-gaming. The founders say they have recruited coaches from around the world and have launched international recruiting efforts in Brazil, England, Germany and Spain.
The school’s daily structure follows a split-schedule model that divides academics and athletics, a format closely associated with IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The connection is more than structural: the former head of school at IMG Academy will serve as CEO of Masters Academy International, per the Boston Business Journal.
Filling a Gap in New England’s Development Pipeline
The Masters brothers are not new to youth sports development. The pair previously ran the Boston Junior Bruins, a competitive hockey training organization they led beginning in the late 1990s. Over time, they concluded that New England’s athlete development pipeline weakens significantly as players reach their later teenage years.
“The development model here in New England is just broken for sports,” Peter Masters told the Boston Business Journal. “It is being outpaced throughout the country.”
The former Bose campus appealed to the founders for its large footprint, flat terrain and existing infrastructure, including a cafeteria that seats 350. Proximity to Logan International Airport, roughly 45 minutes away, also factored into the decision, particularly given plans for international enrollment.
Potential Economic Ripple Effects for the Surrounding Community
Beyond the campus itself, local leaders see potential economic benefits. According to the Boston Business Journal, the school could become Stow’s largest taxpayer once the project is complete, while also drawing new restaurants, retail and other commercial activity to the area. Massachusetts state representative Kate Hogan told the Boston Business Journal that the project could help invigorate local businesses and provide community access to some of the school’s facilities for recreation and events.
Another Entry in the Elite Training Facility Market
Masters Academy International joins a growing field of residential sports academies competing for elite young talent. The $82 million investment, international recruiting efforts and IMG Academy leadership pedigree position the school as an ambitious new entrant in a category that continues to attract capital across the youth sports industry. Whether the New England market can support a facility of this scale remains to be seen, but for an 80-acre campus purchased for $2.3 million, the upside math is hard to ignore.
Source: Boston Real Estate Times | Photo: KEITH NORDSTROM
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