NORWICH — The CT United FC men’s soccer team has finally found a permanent home at Dodd Stadium under an agreement reached between the City of Norwich and the Connecticut Sports Group, owners of the MLS NextPro team.
This agreement, which was approved by the Norwich City Council April 29, secures the long-term future for one of the region’s most important public assets. Owned by the City of Norwich and originally constructed with state support, Dodd Stadium has long served as a regional hub for sports and entertainment, including the home of Norwich Sea Unicorns (formerly the Connecticut Tigers Class A short season baseball team for the Detroit Tigers).
“This is a defining opportunity — not just for our club, but for this region,” said André Swanston, managing partner of Connecticut Sports Group and co-owner of CT United FC with his wife Michelle. “Dodd Stadium can be a catalyst for Eastern Connecticut bringing professional soccer to the community while also helping revitalize a historic venue so it can continue to host baseball and serve local fans for years to come.”
In recent years, however, the facility has faced financial and operational challenges, prompting the city to explore a sustainable path forward. This deal addresses those challenges by anchoring the stadium with consistent tenants, new investment, and renewed year-round purpose. It also positions CT United as the only professional sports team in Eastern Connecticut, creating a new home for fans.
To support professional sports at Dodd Stadium, critical infrastructure repairs will be required, including roofing, HVAC, electrical systems, ADA compliance, and field and drainage improvements. These foundational investments will require coordination between city and state partners and are essential to modernizing the facility and ensuring it meets professional soccer and baseball standards for long-term, multi-sport use.
Additional details on stadium enhancements will be announced in the coming months.
“I welcome this partnership as a critical step toward reenergizing team spirit across eastern Connecticut and revitalizing tourism in our region,” said Norwich Mayor Swarnjit Singh. “This investment will breathe new life into a cherished asset and position it as a year-round destination, while supporting local businesses, creating accessible opportunities for working families, and strengthening the sense of community that defines our region.
“The City of Norwich is excited that this new lease includes the continuation of Sea Unicorn play beyond the upcoming 2026 season.”
The Sea Unicorns have participated in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League since 2021 at the 6,270-seat Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium.
“Bringing the Sea Unicorns back beyond the 2026 season keeps our Futures League ‘three-peat’ champions here playing for an incredible and dedicated fanbase,” the Sea Unicorns front office said in a prepared statement. “We look forward to collaborating with Connecticut Sports Group and the City of Norwich to keep Dodd Stadium a great venue for sports and entertainment in eastern Connecticut for many years to come.”
This project is expected to create immediate impact, including the expansion of CT United FC’s youth initiatives into Eastern Connecticut, while laying the groundwork for long-term ambitions. With a growing fanbase and statewide visibility, CT United FC’s presence at Dodd Stadium also creates new opportunities for businesses to connect with audiences across an underserved and passionate region.
“The history of Dodd Stadium includes NCDC involvement during stadium development back in 1994; therefore, it made good community and economic development sense for us to be part of the development of the stadium’s future,” said Kevin Brown President of Norwich Community Development Corp.
“We are excited about four major aspects of this new agreement – first, and foremost, it secures the continued operation of the Sea Unicorns at Dodd – a team the community loves; second, it brings an up and coming professional soccer league to Eastern Connecticut, adds more dates to the Dodd Stadium calendar and fills a void at a time when other pro sports teams are leaving the state; third, it brings an operator with the ‘long view’ and a passion for broader economic development beyond just pro sports, and; finally, the Norwich community is about to experience the good fortune to benefit from Andre Swanston and Connecticut United FC youth initiatives that provides free soccer clinics and camps to the young soccer players in the region from U-12 to U-19.”
