Plans to launch a minor league soccer team out of Bridgeport next year have been postponed, the Connecticut Sports Group announced on Friday.
André Swanston, the organization’s founding partner and owner of Connecticut United Football Club, said more time was needed to complete a soccer stadium planned for Bridgeport’s East Side and organize the MLS NEXT Pro team. It is now set to make its debut in 2026.
“We really thought it was important to take our time and do it the right way, you can only launch a Pro team once,” Swanston said. “We were forthright with everybody that we were ambitiously working towards 2025. We’re excited to get this project on the road.”
In January, Swanston and representatives from Major League Soccer’s development league, MLS NEXT Pro, announced the addition of the Connecticut United Football Club and plans for the new stadium in Bridgeport, which had already received zoning approval for the site of a former dog-racing track.
The Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis at UConn estimates that the waterfront development project will generate over $4 billion in economic impact over 25 years and create over 1,000 jobs.
But securing financing for the project, which Swanston estimates will likely reach nine figures, is ongoing. The football club has already committed about $40 million to the stadium’s creation and the state has committed $16 million, although Swanston had sought millions more.
Gov. Ned Lamont’s office declined to comment on the project’s delay.
“We’ve invested a lot of private capital into this. We’ve made a significant commitment to the state, Bridgeport and this project. Moreso than any other project in the state in decades,” Swanston said.
Swanston said Bridgeport’s connections to Interstate-95, Metro-North, Amtrak and the regional bus terminal make its infrastructure capable of supporting this project.
“We’ve spent a lot of time with the leadership in Bridgeport. Whether it’s at the local or state level it’s very clear that Bridgeport is being built and promoted as a hub for sports and entertainment,” Charles Altchek, president of MLS Next Pro.
Although pushed to 2026, the Pro team’s development is underway. For over a year the club’s scouting team has been working to find talent.
“Soccer is different from other sports that have drafts. Here we can develop our own talent in our local area. What’s exciting is that there’s lots of people from Connecticut playing in MLS teams across the country and Europe as professional players,” Swanston said.
“Starting the infrastructure to develop talent in Connecticut regardless of income or zip code is a start to having a good Pro team.”
The organization received interest from over 600 players for their U14 and U16 teams.
“When we made the decision to move it up a year, we were hoping to field maybe one or two good teams,” Swanston noted. “We were blown away by how many kids applied and families that reached out. We’re excited about the talent in Connecticut. A lot of the kids in the U14 team are 12 years old — this is their first time traveling to an away game. Seeing their excitement, it’s the foundation of this club.”
The U14 and U16 teams will face their first opponent, Rochester New York FC, at 9 a.m. Sept. 4.
Altchek noted players in the academy have their expenses paid, with the club covering all of their costs.
“It’s a game changer, it provides access to a group of players, some of whom might not have been able to do that otherwise. It’s going to have a very positive impact on soccer in Bridgeport, Connecticut and the region,” he said.
Each team consists of about 20 players. Most are from Fairfield or New Haven counties, with some from as far away as Albany, New York.
Beyond soccer practice, the academy regularly hosts professional athletes as guest speakers, who talk to players every Sunday throughout the summer. Some of these stars include Jozy Altidore, the third-leading scorer in U.S. soccer history.
“Most of the kids have dreams of going pro, the floor for a lot of talented kids is playing in college,” Swanston said.
Recently, the team hired Robin Fraser as chief sporting advisor. As the recent head coach of the Colorado Rapids, Fraser is renowned for his status as a five-time MLS All-Star and for his work on the U.S. Men’s National Team.
“We want to have an impact on the community, both in terms of the youth as well as putting a great product on the field and in a great stadium,” Swanston said.