Bridgeport’s expansion team appoints U.S. soccer legend Robin Fraser to club’s board
Bridgeport’s MLS Next Pro expansion team, CT United FC, has appointed U.S. soccer legend Robin Fraser as Chief Sporting Advisor of the club’s board.
His history as a professional player and coach will help shape the launch of the franchise.
“It’s always been our goal to bring MLS to Connecticut and our MLS Next Pro team and free Academy are critical steps along our path,” André Swanston, Founding Partner of Connecticut Sports Group (CTSG), said in a release. “Our experience with technology and innovation coupled with Robin’s strategic leadership will prepare us to excel on and off the field.”
Fraser will oversee all sporting aspects of the club, including initial staffing decisions for both CT United and CT United Academy.
The Kingston, Jamaica native was the L.A. Galaxy’s first-ever draft pick in 1996. The five-time MLS All-Star made 27 appearances for the U.S. Men’s National team. The two-time MLS Defender of the Year also played for the Colorado Rapids (2001-03) and Columbus Crew (2004-05).
Fraser knows his way around the Northeast, as he was key part of the coaching staff for the New York Red Bulls. He helped the team achieve the MLS Supporters Shield in 2015. The 57year-old became an Assistant Coach for Toronto FC, aiding the club to clinch both the Supporters Shield and MLS Cup in 2017.
Most recently, Fraser has served as the head coach of Colorado Rapids. He led the club to win the Western Conference Championship in 2021 and was runner-up for MLS Coach of the Year.
“I will always be a coach at heart, but I am thrilled for the opportunity to help the CT United FC ownership group build not just a staff and roster, but the foundation of a club culture Connecticut fans can be proud of,” said Fraser in a release.
CT United FC will participate in MLS Next Pro, a lower-division league associated with Major League Soccer. MLS Next Pro launched in 2022 and currently has 27 teams, mostly owned by MLS franchises.
The Connecticut franchise was the idea of tech entrepreneur Swanston, who lives in Ridgefield. Last October, Swanston launched an effort to land an MLS franchise.
In January, Swanston gained approval from Bridgeport’s planning and zoning commission to build a stadium on a parcel of land along the Pequonnock River. This spot is home to the vacant Shoreline Star Greyhound Park.
The proposed stadium will initially seat between 7,500 and 10,000 people. The long-term hope is to land an MLS and/or National Women’s Soccer League team.
Eventually, the development could include a park, a hotel and hundreds of residential units adjacent to the stadium. Swanston said he’d ideally have the stadium complete in time for the 2025 season, a target he called “ambitious but possible.”