BRIDGEPORT – As the CT United FC prepares to unveil its team to the media next week, there is still one nagging question left unanswered. Where will the MLS Next Pro soccer team play home games in its inaugural season this year?
For Ridgefield resident André Swanston, co-owner of Connecticut Sports Group and the CT United FC franchise, the answer still is Connecticut. But whether or not that will be in Bridgeport remains to be seen following the Gov. Ned Lamont’s rejection of $100 million in state funds earlier this month.
“Let me be clear: this does not deter the ambitions of Connecticut Sports Group or CT United FC,” Swanston said in a statement released to the Fairfield County Business Journal. “We remain committed to delivering a permanent stadium and building a professional soccer club at the highest levels.
“We will soon announce match locations across the state for CT United FC’s 2026 inaugural MLS Next Pro season. We are evaluating our alternative stadium development plans. Unfortunately, due to the governor’s lack of support, our updated stadium plans may not include affordable housing or be able to remain in Bridgeport.”
For the record, the state did approve $16 million in funds to cover the remediation and demolition of the Brownfield site at 255 Kossuth Street, where the $1 billion East Side stadium and affordable housing mixed-use project was supposed to be built. However, those funds were not released since they were contingent on the stadium being built.
The governor’s spokesman Rob Blanchard and state Economic Development Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe confirmed in a published report that after a few years of leaving the possibility open, the administration will not help finance the proposed lower East Side sports venue.
“Governor Lamont has worked alongside elected officials, community leaders and economic partners to make transformative investments in education, infrastructure, housing and arts and culture, helping to build in Bridgeport’s continued growth and long-term success,” Blanchard said.
Swanston said he is disappointed in the governor’s decision and what it means to Bridgeport development.
“The decision by the governor to provide zero state support toward our stadium and mixed-use development project the governor to provide zero state support toward our stadium and mixed-use development project in Bridgeport is deeply disappointing,” he said. “Not just for Connecticut Sports Group, but for the hundreds of Connecticut families who would have access to affordable housing, the thousands of workers who would have gained employment, and residents throughout the state who stood to benefit from hundreds of millions in incremental tax revenue and billions in new economic activity.”
Swanston criticized the Lamont administration for not being consistent with the state’s history of public financing when it comes to sports stadiums and arenas.
“Under this administration, Connecticut has funded numerous projects with significantly less economic impact, less permanent job creation, less or no housing, and lower private capital commitments,” he said. “In contrast, CTSG would have combined more than $500 million in private investment with one of the most ambitious affordable housing commitments tied to a stadium project anywhere in the country.”
The CTSG team released a chart showing the details of projects backed by state public financing. Dating back several administrations to 2000, the chart shows the state supported Rentschler Field (UConn football), Dunkin Donuts Park (Minor League Baseball’s Hartford Yard Goats), Total Mortgage Arena (renovations for the minor league hockey Bridgeport Islanders’ home) and the former XL Center (renovations of the renamed PeoplesBank Arena and home to the Hartford Wolf Pack minor league hockey).
“Over the past two years, Connecticut Sports Group has spent millions of private dollars and worked directly with the Department of Economic and Community Development to meet and exceed the moving goal posts set before us,” Swanston said.
“State participation would have represented less than 20% of the total project costs (including housing), and only 49% of the stadium cost (mostly infrastructure related), well below the Connecticut average of over 90%.”
Impact on women’s team
It is not clear how the state’s decision not to provide the $100 million in funding will impact Connecticut Sports Group’s agreement with WPSL PRO to establish a women’s professional soccer club in Connecticut. However, the final award of the team is contingent on the delivery of the proposed Bridgeport waterfront stadium, which will serve as the club’s home venue.
WPSL Pro will launch in 2027 as a new professional women’s soccer league that will serve as the second division of U.S. Soccer.
Meanwhile, CTSG and CT United FC will host a media day Wednesday, Feb. 25 at Chelsea Piers Stamford where they will introduce the team that will start its inaugural season March 1 against FC Cincinnati 2 on the road. Also in attendance at the Media Day will be Swanston, MLS Next Pro President Ali Curtis, Sporting Director of CT United FC Denis Hamlett and Head Coach Shavar Thomas.
CT United FC is the fifth independent professional men’s soccer club in MLS Next Pro. The team is expected to play its home games at various locations throughout the state before a permanent home is found.
