Buffalo Thunderbolts sign MLR letter of intent to launch franchise by 2028

Buffalo has entered the race for a Major League Rugby franchise, with the prospective Buffalo Thunderbolts Rugby Club signing a letter of intent with MLR — the first formal stage in the league’s three-step expansion process. The ownership group is targeting a place on the grid by the 2028 season.

The Thunderbolts were registered as a legal business entity in New York State on 30 October 2026. The project is led by film producer Joe DiPasquale and former Miami Sharks CEO Mark Winokur, and carries the backing of Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan and New York State Assemblyman Bill Conrad. The name is drawn from the World War II aircraft manufactured at the Curtiss aviation factories in Buffalo.

“Buffalo is one of America’s great sports cities, and we would be excited to welcome Major League Rugby to our community,” Mayor Ryan said. “This is an opportunity to build on our city’s proud sports tradition, introduce more people to rugby, and give our fans another team to rally behind.”

The letter of intent does not guarantee a franchise, but it makes the discussions public and allows the Thunderbolts to seek broader investment and sponsorship support. In the coming months, the ownership group must finalise its investor base, provide proof of capitalisation, outline fan engagement plans, and submit preliminary business documentation. MLR will assess those materials by the end of April before deciding whether to move to an exclusive negotiation agreement, which would grant Buffalo territorial rights over Western New York for a defined period. A final franchise bid would follow.

MLR Co-President Alexander Magleby said the league hopes to announce two new franchises after the 2027 championship game, with a stated goal of eight teams for 2028 and twelve by the time the United States hosts the 2031 Rugby World Cup. Magleby added that MLR is currently in discussions with 17 different ownership groups at various stages of the process, meaning competition for the two available expansion slots will be significant.

The push for growth comes after a difficult 2025 offseason in which the league contracted sharply, reducing the number of men’s professional clubs by half. The Buffalo bid, alongside the broader pool of interested groups, suggests the league is moving decisively to rebuild its footprint ahead of the Rugby World Cup on home soil.