Bridgeport Bluefish To Leave City After 20-Year Run

BRIDGEPORT, CT — Sept. 17 will mark the end of an era at Harbor Yard. For the past 20 years, the Bridgeport Bluefish brought an unconventional brand of professional baseball to the Park City, standing as one of downtown’s premier attractions.

With the team’s contract coming to a close at the end of the 2017 campaign, Mayor Joseph Ganim opted against renewing the team’s deal. Instead, the two-term mayor and an unidentified selection committee opted for a deal with developer Howard Saffan and concert promoter Live Nation to bring 25 concerts per summer to the harbor. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Bridgeport Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

“Bridgeport is excited and ready for this next step in revitalizing our city with positive development and providing music entertainment by bringing in a partner and company like Live Nation,” said Ganim in a statement Monday.

The mayor’s office announced that Saffan and Live Nation have teamed up to form “Harbor Yard Amphitheatre, LLC” which will invest $15 million to renovate the 5,000-seat ballpark into a “boutique amphitheater.” Ganim says the city will retain ownership of the facility, and the investment will be made through a private/public partnership.

Saffan, the owner of SportsCenter of Connecticut in Shelton, told the Connecticut Post the venue would also hope to host other events such as graduations and beer festivals. The deal must still clear City Council.

“It is an honor to be awarded the RFP,” said Saffan. “Harbor Yard Amphitheater will be a 'game changer' for the City of Bridgeport.”

A Boutique Ampitheatre

Saffan and Live Nation were up against two competing bids from the Bluefish and an unidentified organization looking to bring professional soccer to the city. Saffan was previously involved with the neighboring Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

This next chapter of Bridgeport’s future is bright with the benefits and experience of a world known entertainment company like Live Nation, and the historic success of Saffan as a venue operator, to bring in concerts and shows that will certainly put Bridgeport in the forefront as a destination place for family and friends,” said Ganim.

The move leaves not only the Bluefish without a home, but the University of Bridgeport baseball team as well. According to the Connecticut Post, school officials are planning to approach the city with a request to play at Seaside Park.

The plans for the venue are set to be announced Thursday during a press conference to present the new corporation and the plans for its redevelopment.

“This is an exciting opportunity to further enhance what is happening in Bridgeport’s downtown,” said Office of Planning and Economic Development director Thomas Gill in a statement. “Live Nation is a nationally owned company that will be able to bring entertainment to be enjoyed by Bridgeport and surrounding towns throughout Connecticut.”

Making a Splash

The news of the team’s demise comes during a historic season. It’s celebrating its 20th season at the ballpark and is also in first place in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball’s Liberty Division.

"We are proud of the 20-year run the Bridgeport Bluefish have had," said Bluefish principal owner Frank Boulton in a statement. "While we are disappointed the City decided to turn the ballpark into a 29-date concert venue, we wish them the best of luck, and we hope that all Bluefish fans will come out to support their first-place team as they drive towards a championship."

From a competitive standpoint, the team won five division championships and one league championship. However George Estrada, vice president of facilities at the University of Bridgeport, which leases the park from the Bluefish for college baseball games, told the Post the team “struggled” to be successful.

In recent seasons, the team grabbed national headlines on several occasions. The infamous Pete Rose, banned from Major League Baseball for allegedly gambling on games, served as a guest manager in 2014. In 2016, USA softball star Jennie Finch became the first woman to manage a professional baseball team when she led the Bluefish to a 3-1 victory over the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on May 29, 2016.

Later that season, the Bluefish became the first team to offer a contract to former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, when the football star controversially announced plans to pursue a career in professional baseball.

A deep list of major leaguers also took the field at Harbor Yard. The embattled Jose Canseco visited Bridgeport as a member of the Newark Bears. Among Bridgeport’s top MLB alumni are Jose Offerman, Willy Mo Pena and Adam Greenberg.

“We’ve enjoyed 20 years of successful entertainment with Bluefish Baseball and all that the Bluefish and owner, Frank Bolton have done for our community,” said Ganim.

Image via Jessica Hill/Associated Press