André Swanston sees Bridgeport, Connecticut as a fruitful market for a major league soccer stadium. He has been actively moving around the state to build media and government support for this big-ticket proposal along the Pequonnock River on property that featured a jai alai fronton, dog track and off-track betting facility where Downtown meets the East Side
Key to his vision is buy-in from Governor Ned Lamont and the state legislature.
The Connecticut Mirror recently interviewed Swanston about his proposal in which he explained why it’s a win for the city and state.
From Gabby DeBenedictis, CT Mirror:
Swanston and representatives from Major League Soccer’s development league, MLS NEXT Pro, announced the Connecticut United Football Club in January 2024, with plans to play at a new waterfront stadium in Bridgeport. That stadium was slated to open in 2025, but its opening date has been pushed back to 2026.
The decision to bring a major soccer team to Bridgeport was in large part because, Swanston said, “Connecticut is the largest, most densely populated, most affluent market in America without any of the top five major sporting leagues.”
“We have no NFL, no NBA, no MLB, no NHL, no MLS. It’s absurd, right?” Swanston said, pointing out that Connecticut sports fans end up spending money at stadiums in Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey — but not in Connecticut itself.
Though building a professional sports team is a different venture than building a data management platform for streaming services, both reflect Swanston’s history of noticing, and seizing on, an opportunity.
“Sometimes you just have to, you have to do it for people.” Swanston said. “You have to be the solution.”
Full story here
“We have no NFL, no NBA, no MLB, no NHL, no MLS. It’s absurd, right?” Swanston said, pointing out that Connecticut sports fans end up spending money at stadiums in Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey — but not in Connecticut itself.” Absurd? What about athletic pursuits that cause slight expense today and can last a lifetime, and provide equity to the citizenry with public dollars?
Mr. Swanston, we have not yet met, but I have read about this soccer dream you have for Bridgeport and its surrounding communities. In Bridgeport, I wish to point out, or remind you and supporters, a City with port ‘a reference to water in its name’, City park property on Long Island Sound, rivers flowing through to the Sound, and other bodies of water, we have no formal, universal, publicly promoted, available to all skill and safety training about water and swimming. Absurd, sir?
Why have pools, especially been removed from structures when renovated, or fail levels of maintenance such that they are not used? Why is no youth group or City Board asking in fairness and equity why this ‘human skill’ is ignored while boating safety is supported financially by the City through ‘public safety’ resources and trained personnel in annual budgets? Why is a death from drowning recorded every other year or so? Where are the swimming/diving teams, female and male youth programs in the largest City in the State? Do the folks care about sports? For participation of youth and adults, or only for viewing? Where have the local politicians framed such an opportunity for lifetime safety and avocational pleasure, and asked the body politic to support it? Do the numbers, please. Time will tell.
John,with all do respect,the man just wants to build a soccer stadium..LOL..Don’t stress,it’s not gonna happen,Lamont isn’t on board at all..
Harvey,
I respect the fact that you still contribute to OIB as part of your civic contribution.
Like Mr. Swanston, I too have dreams, but if we are not certain of financial support for the aspirations mentioned, or depend too severely on public funds to support entertainment venues, perhaps absurdity is a worthy word to use?
Is Governor Lamont the “ultimate word” in what structures are funded or not in Bridgeport? Is that the reason we have avoided supporting a Fair Housing Commission in Bridgeport? And suffer a failure in self-governance for the largest residential co-op, Success Village, in the region? What is the State policy in returning dollars for the equitable benefit of citizen residents especially in multi-racial urban centers? Time will tell.