STAMFORD – CT United FC owner Andre Swanston’s players kicked off their season in Cincinnati Sunday wearing uniforms, or kits, emblazoned with his renamed free cloud gaming company PHȲND.
Swanston and his wife and team co-owner, Michelle Swanston, announced the Stamford-based company as its front-of-kit partner ahead of the club’s debut MLS NEXT Pro season. The team won the road game (3-1) against FC Cincinnati 2.
Designed by Italian sportswear brand Macron, whose USA headquarters are in Bridgeport, the kits reflect a shared commitment to performance, sustainability, and community, according to a press release. Both jerseys are crafted using eco-friendly fabrics, reinforcing the club’s focus on building responsibly for the future.
“This moment is more than a kit reveal — it’s the identity of our club coming to life,” Michelle Swanston said. “Every detail reflects who we are, who we represent, and the communities we stand for. Our partnership with PHȲND strengthens that vision — breaking down barriers to high-quality entertainment and delivering world-class experiences directly to fans.”
The PHȲND mark will appear prominently on the front of both the Forever United and Charter Oak jerseys throughout the inaugural campaign.
The Forever United kit
The 2026 home kit features the club’s distinct purple and prominently incorporates the coywolves, which is a symbol of strength, adaptability, and unity. The coywolves’ intertwined tails subtly form the number eight, representing Connecticut’s eight counties and the club’s ambition to unite the entire state. The rallying cry “Forever United” appears on the back of the neck.
The Charter Oak kit
The away kit honors one of Connecticut’s most enduring symbols of independence and resilience. Rendered in pitch black, the jersey features the Charter Oak emblem and includes a secondary Charter Oak mark on the back of the neck.
Fans will be able to purchase jerseys online starting March 11 – one month before the club’s home opener on April 11. A site for the home match has still not been released.
First-ever team captain
CT United FC formally named Alex Monis as the first captain in club history. Head Coach Shavar Thomas cited Monis’ leadership, professionalism, and commitment to the club’s culture as defining factors in the decision.
“It’s an honor to wear this crest and represent Connecticut,” said Monis. “From day one, we’ve believed we’re building something bigger than a team, we’re setting a standard.”
Still looking for a home
While Connecticut Sports Group’s efforts to secure for a stadium in Bridgeport took a hit over the past two weeks when Gov. Ned Lamont said the state could not provide $100 million needed to build it, a spokesman for the City of Bridgeport was still optimistic.
Thomas Gaudett, chief administrative officer, of the City of Bridgeport, told the Fairfield County Business Journal last week that the city has not closed the door on the stadium.
“While we are disappointed that the state will not be supporting construction of a new MLS Next Pro stadium in Bridgeport, this does not mark the end of the conversation — either for a potential stadium project or for the former Shoreline Star site where the stadium was initially proposed,” he said.
“We remain in active discussions with CT Sports Group regarding the possibility of developing a smaller stadium on the East Side of Bridgeport that aligns with the City’s long-term planning and economic development goals. At the same time, we are working collaboratively with the owners of the former Shoreline Star property to explore transformative redevelopment opportunities, including housing, entertainment, and other amenities that will complement the transformative developments underway at Steelpointe Harbor nearby.”
