Organizers are confident a project that includes bringing an MLS Next Pro soccer team to Connecticut will have a transformative effect on the region. But a year after the pitch was made public, questions remain regarding just how much money the project could cost taxpayers, and whether a stadium will come to fruition in time for the team to play its first games in Bridgeport in 2026. Last week, the Bridgeport Planning & Zoning Commission tabled for the time being any consideration of the stadium and larger development while the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection assesses the project under a coastal review procedural process. Swanston has invested more than $1 million himself in the project to date. But far more than that will be required to underwrite the cost of the stadium and additional development like apartments, a hotel and other recreational draws like restaurants to have the project pay off for investors. The stadium facility alone could cost $75 million according to a budget document from earlier this year reviewed by CT Insider, not including “soft” costs like design work or any cost overruns during construction.
https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/business/article/ct-united-bridgeport-swanston-mls-soccer-altchek-19829047.php