Connecticut United FC

Last updated
Connecticut United FC
Connecticut United FC.jpg
Full nameConnecticut United FC
FoundedJanuary 9, 2024;2 months ago (2024-01-09)
StadiumNew Waterfront Stadium
OwnerAndré Swanston
League MLS Next Pro

Connecticut United FC is an American professional soccer team based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Founded in 2024, the team plans to make its debut in MLS Next Pro in 2025.

Contents

History

On January 9, 2024, MLS Next Pro awarded an expansion team to a group from the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut. [1] [2] The ownership group, named Connecticut Sports Group, consists of businessman André Swanston and his wife Michelle Swanston. [1]

Stadium

The club plans to play at a new stadium to be located on the waterfront at a former dog-racing track; stadium plans were approved by the Bridgeport government in November 2023. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Major League Soccer</span> Professional soccer league in the United States and Canada

Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men's professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport's highest level in the United States. The league comprises 29 teams—26 in the United States and 3 in Canada—since the 2023 season. MLS is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnesota United FC</span> American professional soccer club

Minnesota United FC is an American professional soccer club based in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, metropolitan area. The club plays in the Western Conference of Major League Soccer. The club began play in 2017 as the league's 22nd club, and replaced the North American Soccer League (NASL) franchise of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Expansion of Major League Soccer</span>

Major League Soccer has expanded several times since the league began play in 1996. Major League Soccer was established as the top level of professional soccer in the United States in 1993 with 10 teams and began play in 1996. It has expanded several times since 1998 into new markets across the United States and, since 2006, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USL Championship</span> Professional soccer league in the United States

The USL Championship (USLC) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began play in 2011. The USL is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation as a Division II league since 2017, placing it under Major League Soccer in the hierarchy. The USL is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orlando City SC</span> Soccer club in Major League Soccer

Orlando City Soccer Club, known as Orlando City SC or simply Orlando City, is an American professional soccer club based in Orlando, Florida. The club competes as a member of the Eastern Conference in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top division in the United States soccer league system. Orlando City SC began play in 2015 as the 21st franchise in MLS, succeeding the USL Pro team of the same name. In doing so they became the first MLS team in Florida since Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny both folded following the 2001 season. The team plays in Downtown Orlando at Inter&Co Stadium, which it owns and operates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inter Miami CF</span> American professional soccer club

Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami, known as Inter Miami CF or Inter Miami, is an American professional soccer club based in the Miami metropolitan area.

The History of Major League Soccer began in 1988, when the United States Soccer Federation pledged to create a Division 1 professional soccer league as a condition to FIFA awarding the 1994 FIFA World Cup to the United States. Major League Soccer was officially formed in 1995. The league began play in 1996 with 10 teams, and in 1998 grew to 12 teams. MLS experienced some difficulties in its first seasons, with the league losing money in the early years, resulting in two teams folding after the 2001 season. MLS has rebounded since then, with increased attendance and the development of soccer-specific stadiums. With an average attendance of over 20,000 per game, MLS has the third highest average attendance of any sports league in the U.S. after the National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball (MLB), and is the seventh highest attended professional soccer league worldwide. MLS currently has 29 teams, with further expansion to 30 teams planned with the addition of San Diego FC in 2025. As of 2023, MLS is the largest first division professional soccer league in the world by number of clubs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NWSL expansion</span> Expansion of the National Womens Soccer League

The expansion of the National Women's Soccer League began with the league's sophomore season in 2014, when the league expanded to a ninth team in Houston, and is an ongoing process that currently has seen five expansions, three direct or indirect relocations, and one contraction. The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) was established as the top level of professional women's soccer in the United States in 2013 in the wake of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association and Women's Professional Soccer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlanta United FC</span> American professional soccer team

Atlanta United FC is an American professional soccer club based in Atlanta. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tacoma Defiance</span> American soccer team based in Tacoma, Washington

Tacoma Defiance, formerly Seattle Sounders FC 2, is an American professional soccer team based in Puget Sound region of Tukwila, Washington, U.S. that competes in the MLS Next Pro, the third tier of the United States soccer league system, as the reserve team of Seattle Sounders FC. Formerly, 20 percent of the club was fan-owned through the non-profit Sounders Community Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto FC II</span> Canadian soccer team

Toronto FC II is a Canadian professional soccer team based in Toronto, Ontario, who play in MLS Next Pro, a third tier league of the United States soccer league system. It is the reserve team and minor league affiliate of Toronto FC as well as in partnership with Toronto FC Academy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USL League One</span> American professional soccer league

USL League One (USL1) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that had its inaugural season in 2019. The Division III league is operated by United Soccer League, the same group that operates the Division II USL Championship and other leagues. As of 2023, the league has 12 teams who play 32 regular season games, followed by playoffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nashville SC</span> American soccer club

Nashville Soccer Club is an American men’s professional soccer club based in Nashville, Tennessee. The team began play in Major League Soccer in 2020 as a continuation of the USL club of the same name and plays its home matches at Geodis Park. It is principally owned by John Ingram, owner of Ingram Industries, along with investors and partial owners the Turner family of Dollar General Stores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hartford Athletic</span> American soccer team

Hartford Athletic is an American professional soccer team based in Hartford, Connecticut. The club was founded in 2018 and started play in the USL Championship in 2019. It was the only pro soccer team in Connecticut from their inaugural season in 2019 until 2025, when Connecticut United FC will make its debut in MLS Next Pro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FC Cincinnati</span> American professional soccer team

FC Cincinnati is an American professional soccer club based in Cincinnati. The club plays in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer (MLS). The team was first announced on August 12, 2015 as a United Soccer League (USL) franchise which played from 2016 to 2018. On May 29, 2018, the club's ownership was awarded an MLS franchise, and the team began MLS play on March 2, 2019. The club's ownership group is led by Carl Lindner III with Jeff Berding serving as co-CEO. Currently, the role of general manager is held by Chris Albright.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Louis City SC</span> Major League Soccer team based in St. Louis

St. Louis City SC is an American professional men's soccer club based in St. Louis, Missouri. City SC competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference and joined in 2023 as an expansion team. The club was established in 2019 and plays its home matches at CityPark, a new soccer-specific stadium across from Union Station in Downtown West St. Louis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlotte FC</span> Major League Soccer team in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.

Charlotte FC is an American professional men's soccer club based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The team competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference. The team is owned by David Tepper, who was awarded the expansion franchise on December 17, 2019. It began play in the 2022 MLS season as the league's 28th franchise. Charlotte FC plays at Bank of America Stadium, which it shares with the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League, a team also owned by Tepper; the stadium capacity is reduced to 38,000 for most matches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MLS Next Pro</span> Professional soccer league in the United States and Canada

MLS Next Pro (MLSNP) is a men's professional soccer league in the United States and Canada that is affiliated with Major League Soccer. It launched in 2022 with 21 teams and now comprises 27 reserve sides of MLS clubs and 2 independent clubs. MLS Next Pro is classified as part of the third tier of the United States soccer league system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USL Super League</span> Professional womens soccer league in the United States

The USL Super League (USLS) is a future Division I professional women's soccer league in the United States. The league will be owned and operated by the United Soccer League. Originally planning to launch in August 2023, it is now slated to begin play in August 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleveland Pro Soccer</span> Soccer club

Cleveland Pro Soccer is the ownership group based in Cleveland, Ohio, of an independent men's professional soccer team that plans to participate in MLS NEXT Pro. The group is also presenting a bid in 2024 for the 16th expansion team in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

References

  1. 1 2 "Connecticut United Football Club Announced as Newest Independent Team to Join MLS NEXT Pro" (Press release). January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  2. "CONNECTICUT AWARDED MLS NEXT PRO EXPANSION TEAM" . Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  3. Phillips, Erica E. (January 9, 2024). "New minor league soccer team, stadium planned for Bridgeport". Hartford Courant . Retrieved January 9, 2024.