Potential Bridgeport MLS team | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Potential Bridgeport MLS team

Price0809 said:
Did this weird story end officially?
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No. They have signed a full roster of players and coaches (with UConn alum Shavar Thomas as HC) and based on online videos appear to be having scrimmages with other minor league (allegedly including a scheduled scrimmage with Athletic) and college squads. They are scheduled to play their first league game at FC Cincinnati 2 in a little over a week with home games beginning in April at locations "across Connecticut." They are spending money to field a team that I doubt many will see and probably won't last a season. In the meantime they are claiming they are still committed to building a stadium but not in Bridgeport.

Frankly, I don't think it's grift as much as being clueless. Fielding a team without even confirmation of financing much less shovels in the ground for a stadium made no sense and was doomed from the start. $100M+ for a stadium to house a team in MLS Next Pro, a 3rd division league of under marketed reserve teams that often barely outdraw the number of players, officials and staff on the field, was never going to happen. Yes, I know RI spent $130M for a USL Championship team stadium, an investment that they'll never get back, but it was an insane political response to having lost the Red Sox AAA team to Worcester. At least USLC is a league of teams trying to establish first-team identities whereas in MLSNP the independent teams are outliers.
 
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kibblesnbits said:
No. They have signed a full roster of players and coaches (with UConn alum Shavar Thomas as HC) and based on online videos appear to be having scrimmages with other minor league (allegedly including a scheduled scrimmage with Athletic) and college squads. They are scheduled to play their first league game at FC Cincinnati 2 in a little over a week with home games beginning in April at locations "across Connecticut." They are spending money to field a team that I doubt many will see and probably won't last a season. In the meantime they are claiming they are still committed to building a stadium but not in Bridgeport.

Frankly, I don't think it's grift as much as being clueless. Fielding a team without even confirmation of financing much less shovels in the ground for a stadium made no sense and was doomed from the start. $100M+ for a stadium to house a team in MLS Next Pro, a 3rd division league of under marketed reserve teams that often barely outdraw the number of players, officials and staff on the field, was never going to happen. Yes, I know RI spent $130M for a USL Championship team stadium, an investment that they'll never get back, but it was an insane political response to having lost the Red Sox AAA team to Worcester. At least USLC is a league of teams trying to establish first-team identities whereas in MLSNP the independent teams are outliers.
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I see they went with the uber creative "CT United FC" name.

They should play home games in Storrs.
 
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ZooCougar said:
I see they went with the uber creative "CT United FC" name.

They should play home games in Storrs.
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Why do they not play at the Hartford Athletic’s stadium? Hartford/CT gov paid $14 million to renovate the stadium and Hartford/CT gov plans to spend another $25 million in stadium improvements.
 
kibblesnbits said:
No. They have signed a full roster of players and coaches (with UConn alum Shavar Thomas as HC) and based on online videos appear to be having scrimmages with other minor league (allegedly including a scheduled scrimmage with Athletic) and college squads. They are scheduled to play their first league game at FC Cincinnati 2 in a little over a week with home games beginning in April at locations "across Connecticut." They are spending money to field a team that I doubt many will see and probably won't last a season. In the meantime they are claiming they are still committed to building a stadium but not in Bridgeport.

Frankly, I don't think it's grift as much as being clueless. Fielding a team without even confirmation of financing much less shovels in the ground for a stadium made no sense and was doomed from the start. $100M+ for a stadium to house a team in MLS Next Pro, a 3rd division league of under marketed reserve teams that often barely outdraw the number of players, officials and staff on the field, was never going to happen. Yes, I know RI spent $130M for a USL Championship team stadium, an investment that they'll never get back, but it was an insane political response to having lost the Red Sox AAA team to Worcester. At least USLC is a league of teams trying to establish first-team identities whereas in MLSNP the independent teams are outliers.
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It is amazing the grifting that goes on for these sports teams. Local gov subsidizing the building of their stadiums. Look at the Hartford yard goats. The city of Hartford spent $72 million on building the stadium and had to get bailed out by the state.
 
JwittersPAC said:
Why do they not play at the Hartford Athletic’s stadium? Hartford/CT gov paid $14 million to renovate the stadium and Hartford/CT gov plans to spend another $25 million in stadium improvements.
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MLS and USL are competitors now. And way too many scheduling conflicts.
 
JwittersPAC said:
It is amazing the grifting that goes on for these sports teams. Local gov subsidizing the building of their stadiums. Look at the Hartford yard goats. The city of Hartford spent $72 million on building the stadium and had to get bailed out by the state.
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The stadium is an overwhelming success. Judicious investment.
 
Waquoit said:
The stadium is an overwhelming success. Judicious investment.
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Right keep believing that. No one who goes to Yard Goat games goes into Hartford before or after the game. It is a cheap event for families to go to and immediately drive home after the game. The only winner was the owner of the team who could move his team from New Britain to a new stadium in Hartford without paying a dime.
 
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CL82 said:
He should just buy the Rent from the state, freeing up the money for an on-campus stadium. Everyone wins.
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Do you think MANSFIELD is going to allow it? Mansfield will try to block it. Unless the town's culture changed, Mansfield will be against it. Also, your need road upgrades, again, Coventry will be against it, if the road will hurt them...
 
ArtTheFan said:
Do you think MANSFIELD is going to allow it? Mansfield will try to block it. Unless the town's culture changed, Mansfield will be against it. Also, your need road upgrades, again, Coventry will be against it, if the road will hurt them...
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I'm sure they would, but given that there are places on campus, for example in the athletic campus, that do not require any permissions from Mansfield, they would just be shouting into the wind.
 
CT United FC, which is 2-1 in MLSNP, finally announced locations for some of its home games. As some speculated, they will play their opener on April 11th at Morrone Stadium. They will also play their next two home games in Storrs. Five summer games are scheduled for Yale's Reese Stadium. That leaves 7 games with location TBA.
 
pepband99 said:
The rare double Euro cosplay.

They couldn't have snuck a Real or City or AC in there too?
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It's literally the most bland name imaginable. Literally should just name Connecticut Soccer Team.
 
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Connecticut United | connecticutunited.com

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