Hartford Business Journal

12 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | MAY 18, 2026 New Pitch How CT United's soccer stadium ambitions shifted from Bridgeport to Norwich NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, along with private equity and business executives. As CTSG's Bridgeport negotiations unfolded and ultimately fell apart, discussions about a potential alter- native in eastern Connecticut were already taking shape. Dodd Stadium was built in 1994 for about $9 million, including a significant state economic develop- ment grant. It seats 6,270 and was originally designed as a minor league baseball park. The venue has hosted multiple teams over the years, including the Double-A Eastern League Norwich Navigators, once an affiliate of the New York Yankees, and is currently home to the Norwich Sea Unicorns of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. In recent years, a lack of investment has led to significant deterioration of the facility. A recent study commissioned by the city estimates roughly $7 million in upgrades are needed, including improvements to roofing, HVAC, electrical systems, Americans with By Harriet Jones hjones@hartfordbusiness.com C onnecticut's newest profes- sional soccer team has secured a permanent home — but not the one its owners spent years and millions pursuing. After failing to win state support for a planned waterfront stadium in Bridgeport, CT United FC and its owner, Connecticut Sports Group (CTSG), will instead base operations at Norwich's Dodd Stadium, opting for a lower-cost and faster path to stability. The move will require a significant public investment to upgrade the aging baseball stadium. While CTSG has committed to improving fan-facing elements, the city — and potentially the state — will be responsible for millions of dollars in core infrastruc- ture upgrades needed to modernize the facility. "We think it's really important for the club to have a permanent home," said André Swanston, managing partner of CTSG and co-owner of CT United FC. Swanston spent more than two years advancing plans for a futur- istic stadium complex in Bridgeport, Connecticut's largest city, which he envisioned as the home for the MLS NEXT Pro Division III team awarded to the group in 2024. The club began its inaugural season in March, playing home matches at Yale's field in New Haven and UConn's Morrone Stadium in Storrs while continuing its search for a permanent base. He pitched the Bridgeport project as a live-work-play destination that would include more than 1,000 housing units, create 1,300 permanent jobs and generate $3.4 billion in statewide economic impact. While the stadium itself was to be privately financed, Swanston sought state funding for surrounding infra- structure, including roads, sewer systems and amenities such as a river- walk. In 2025, Bridgeport lawmakers sought a $127 million public invest- ment package for the project. Swan- ston previously said he could raise up to $750 million in private capital for the broader stadium complex. CTSG lobbied hard for support, but lawmakers requested an economic impact statement before committing to the funding, and by February of this year, it was clear Gov. Ned Lamont was not going to sign off on any state investment. The outcome left Swanston out several million dollars. "That's frustrating. It would have been a home run for the state," he said during a recent interview, adding that he doesn't see a path forward for the Bridgeport project in the foreseeable future. "But you know, if you can't afford to lose, don't play the game." Infrastructure investment Swanston is a Connecticut-based entrepreneur and investor who co-founded ad-tech firm Tru Optik, which was sold to TransUnion for more than $100 million in 2020. A former UConn track athlete, he has since focused on a mix of business ventures and large-scale sports and entertainment projects. Connecticut Sports Group was formed in 2024 and has attracted outside investors, including former UConn basketball star and 2025 Entrepreneur André Swanston spent years pursuing a waterfront soccer stadium complex in Bridgeport before CT United FC shifted plans to Norwich's Dodd Stadium. HBJ Photo | Steve Laschever

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