Soccer team CT United has found a home — but it’s not in the new Bridgeport stadium that its backers had hoped for.
Norwich City Council has approved a multiyear lease with the Connecticut Sports Group to operate Dodd Stadium and bring CT United FC to the venue.
Owned by the City of Norwich and originally constructed with state support, the stadium has hosted minor league baseball for many years, most recently as the home of the Sea Unicorns.
But the facility has faced financial and operational challenges, including a need for critical infrastructure repairs.
The deal with Connecticut Sports Group includes coordination between the club, city and state on roofing, HVAC, electrical systems, ADA compliance, and field and drainage improvements.
“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,” said André Swanston, managing partner of Connecticut Sports Group and co-owner of CT United FC.
CT United will play in Major League Soccer’s NEXT Pro League, a developmental league for the MLS. CT Sports Group also hopes to host a team from a new women’s league, WPSL Pro, which is launching in 2027.
CTSG has positioned the originally planned Bridgeport stadium complex for the team as a live-work-play destination that would also include more than 1,000 housing units, create 1,300 permanent jobs, and generate $3.4 billion in statewide economic impact.
The group sought state funding for surrounding infrastructure for the project including roads, sewerage, and amenities like a riverwalk, but so far, lawmakers have not committed to the project.
