BRIDGEPORT — A Connecticut businessman has been awarded a minor league soccer team, which he hopes will compete in a new waterfront stadium in Bridgeport, he announced Tuesday.
The team, whose launch is contingent on funding for the stadium, will be known as Connecticut United Football Club and will participate in MLS Next Pro, a lower-division league associated with Major League Soccer.
The man behind the effort, multimillionaire tech entrepreneur André Swanston, says the new team is part of his continued push to bring an MLS and/or National Women's Soccer League team to Bridgeport.
"We have fans that I think are some of the best fans in the country, that I think are hungry to show that Connecticut fans are as good as fans anywhere and that we can support a team," said Swanston, who attended the University of Connecticut and now lives in Ridgefield.
Swanston recently gained approval from Bridgeport's planning and zoning commission to build a stadium on a parcel of land along the Pequonnock River, currently home to the vacant Shoreline Star Greyhound Park. He says the proposed stadium would initially have between 7,500 and 10,000 seats, with the option of expanding in the future if the city lands an MLS or NWSL team.
Eventually, the development could also include a park, a hotel and hundreds of residential units adjacent to the stadium.
Owner André Swanston speaks during a news conference announcing the new Connecticut United Football Club (CT United FC), in Bridgeport, Conn. Jan. 9, 2024.
Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut MediaThe top remaining issue, Swanston said, is funding. Swanston said he has invested millions of his own dollars into the project and has received commitments from private investors, but that the stadium will be difficult to complete without some level of state support.
"There absolutely needs to be some component of this that the state steps up to be able to help," Swanston said.
Swanston said he'd like to complete the stadium in time for the 2025 season, a goal he called "ambitious but possible."
In statements released Tuesday, both Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim and Gov. Ned Lamont touted the newly announced MLS Next Pro team, though neither commented on the possibility of public money for a stadium.
"Bringing an MLS Next Pro expansion team to the state of Connecticut is a tremendous opportunity to ignite the spirit of our communities, foster local talent, and showcase our state on the national stage," Lamont said in his statement. "This exciting endeavor will invigorate our economy, inspire our youth, and unite our diverse soccer-loving population."
A Lamont spokesperson said Tuesday the state had not committed any money for the project, but that "there are several avenues developers can pursue to apply for state funding."
In October, Swanston went public with his efforts to bring the highest levels of professional soccer to Connecticut, which he considers an under-served market for the sport despite several MLS teams already within driving distance.
At a news conference Tuesday to announce the new MLS Next Pro team, Swanston listed off reasons why Bridgeport can "thrive" as a soccer market, including the size of the sport's fan base in Connecticut, the concentration of large corporations in the area and buy-in from city and state officials.
A rendering of a proposed soccer stadium along the Pequonnock River in Bridgeport.
Courtesy of Andre SwanstonDraped in a scarf reading "CT United 2025," Swanston unveiled renderings of a first phase of development including a small stadium, a river walk and a green space, followed by a second phase, which would feature a larger stadium and a hotel.
"We believe we can build infrastructure, both literally in terms of the stadium and figuratively in terms of a youth academy and media engagement, where we will be the most attractive market in the country for any league, whether that's MLS, NWSL or others," he said.
In an interview with CT Insider, Swanston said while the new stadium isn't a sure thing, he is confident enough in the possibility to have spent large sums on the effort, including a seven-figure expansion fee to MLS Next Pro.
"I'm sure enough that I have literally now invested millions of dollars," he said. "So nothing is guaranteed, but I think what people can have solace in is that somebody actually is putting their money where their mouth is and risking something to try to make it happen, and they believe enough in it that they're willing to do that."
Swanston was joined Tuesday by Bridgeport city officials including Ganim, as well as executives from MLS Next Pro, which launched in 2022 and currently has 27 teams, mostly owned by MLS franchises.
"To all of you here in Bridgeport and across the great state of Connecticut, the best is yet to come," said Charles Altchek, president of MLS Next Pro. "I'm proud to make this official: Connecticut United Football Club, welcome to MLS Next Pro."
Aidee Nieves, president of Bridgeport's city council, said she appreciated Swanston's willingness to engage with the local community, including through a free youth academy associated with the new team.
Nieves said she'd emphasized to Swanston her preference that the project promotes economic growth, but also "maintains affordability" and "is inclusive to all those that live here in our community."
Swanston, 42, grew up in the Bronx and attended several private schools, including The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, before enrolling at UConn, where he ran track. Later, he founded a data marketplace platform that he eventually sold for a reported price of more than $100 million.
With the launch of CT United FC, Swanston will become one of the youngest principal team owners in American sports, as well as one of few Black team owners.
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