A new youth sports powerhouse is coming to New England. Masters Academy International (MAI) has announced plans for an $83.8 million redevelopment of an 82-acre campus in Stow, Massachusetts. The site, formerly home to Bose Corporation’s headquarters, will soon become a state-of-the-art private sports academy serving more than 600 student-athletes.
Designed to rival elite institutions like IMG Academy in Florida, MAI’s vision combines high-level athletic development with rigorous academics. Students will have access to training facilities across multiple sports, while also pursuing college-prep academics and career-focused tracks in sports medicine, sports psychology, and sports management. MAI is working to establish partnerships with nearby universities to help bring these academic offerings to life.
The project is already generating local and state support. The Massachusetts Economic Assistance Coordinating Council has approved $2.85 million in state tax credits for the campus, which is expected to create 190 new jobs in the region.
The leadership team includes Rich Odell, the former head of school of IMG Academy, who brings deep experience building integrated sports-academic models. With this team in place, MAI hopes to keep top-tier youth talent in New England, offering families an alternative to sending athletes out of state for elite training and education.
The project is currently moving through the final stages of town approval. MAI has presented detailed renderings and plans to the Stow Planning Board, including designs for athletic fields, academic buildings, and support facilities. The campus layout emphasizes both high-performance sports infrastructure and a strong residential and educational environment.
Now, USA Fencing is getting in on the action.
According to Sports Business Journal, USA Fencing has signed a multi-year deal to make MAI the new home of its Olympic and Paralympic national teams. MAI will also launch a national fencing academy in partnership with the NGB, including office space, athlete housing, and year-round training.
This is a first-of-its-kind model that blends a school built around sport with full-time, high-performance training. It’s also expected to generate $1 million annually in revenue and includes scholarship opportunities for emerging fencers.
The $350,000 annual minimum guarantee and revenue-sharing structure marks a new era of collaboration between youth sports academies and national governing bodies.
As the youth sports industry continues to grow across the country, MAI’s move signals a big bet on New England becoming a national hub for athlete development.
Sources:
Town of Stow Planning Board – Masters Academy International Site Plan Materials:
https://www.stow-ma.gov/planning-board/pages/planning-board-meeting-tues-october-15-2024
https://www.stow-ma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif11851/f/uploads/09_24_24_sb.pdf
The Boston Globe: “A new academy for student-athletes hopes to create the IMG Academy of the North in Stow” (July 30, 2025)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/07/30/sports/masters-academy-international-massachusetts
Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development – EDIP Awards Announcement (July 2025)
https://www.mass.gov/news/massachusetts-economic-assistance-coordinating-council-awards-nearly-10-million-in-tax-credits-to-businesses-to-create-retain-jobs
