Buffalo knows how to rally around a team, and Major League Rugby could soon give the city another one to cheer for.

The league has signed a letter of intent with a local ownership group seeking to bring the Buffalo Thunderbolts to the field in 2028.

It is a meaningful first step, not a final franchise approval.

Led by Joe DiPasquale and Mark Winokur, the group must still settle its ownership structure, business plan and playing venue with the league.

Those details will determine whether Buffalo joins the next wave of MLR expansion or remains a promising candidate.

The case for Buffalo starts well beyond its reputation as a devoted sports town.

Buffalo Rugby Club has roots dating to 1966, while college and youth programs have helped keep the game visible across Western New York.

For longtime players and families, a professional club would offer something they have not had close to home: a regular stage for the sport they love.

Buffalo's location near Canada could also help the Thunderbolts reach fans on both sides of the border.

That opportunity feels especially notable after former professional rugby teams in Toronto and downstate New York left the league.

State Assemblyman Bill Conrad has backed the effort, pointing to the area's rugby history and the enthusiasm surrounding a possible franchise.

The proposed name has a distinctly Buffalo connection, drawing on the Thunderbolt aircraft built in the city during World War II.

It is the sort of local detail that could make a new club feel like Buffalo's own from day one.

Still, enthusiasm alone cannot secure a roster, a stadium or a place on the schedule.

The ownership group has discussed potential venues and investors, but no home field has been finalized.

League ambitions to grow ahead of the 2031 Men's Rugby World Cup add momentum, though Buffalo's bid must stand on its own merits.

For now, the Thunderbolts represent a possibility rather than a promise.

If the remaining pieces fall into place, Buffalo could give professional rugby teams a fiercely loyal new home.