Connecticut Bicentennials

Connecticut Bicentennials (1977)
Full name	Connecticut Bicentennials
Nickname(s)	Bicentennials; The Bi's
Founded	1975
Dissolved	1977
Stadium	Yale Bowl ; Dillon Stadium
Capacity	70,000
League	NASL
Home colors	Away colors

The Connecticut Bicentennials were an American soccer team that competed in the North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1975 to 1977. Originally founded as the Hartford Bicentennials, the team relocated to New Haven, Connecticut after the 1976 NASL season. At the end of 1977 season, the team was sold and relocated to California becoming the Oakland Stompers.

History

Founded in 1975, and owned by local businessman Bob Darling, the team's name was a reference to the upcoming bicentennial anniversary of the United States founding in 1976. The team began play during the 1975 NASL Indoor tournament, finishing second in Region 2 and missing the final four on goal difference.^[1] Prior to the 1975 outdoor season, the Bicentennials signed fourteen players from the 1974 American Soccer League (ASL) champions Rhode Island Oceaneers, including goalkeeper Arnie Mausser, Charlie McCully, and Mohammad Attiah, as well as hiring the Oceaneers' head coach Manny Schellscheidt and General Manager Michael Bosson.^[2]^[3] The Bicentennials finished their inaugural season in last place of the Northern Division with a record of six wins and sixteen loses and an average attendance of 3,720 playing their home games at the Dillon Stadium which they shared with the Connecticut Yankees of the ASL.^[4]^[2] After the season, Bosson was replaced by the GM of the Connecticut Yankees Rudi Schiffer and, along with the signing of three European players, the contract of goalkeeper Arnie Mausser, who had allowed a record 50 goals during the season, was sold to the Tampa Bay Rowdies.^[2]^[5]^[6] Schellscheidt was replaced by Bobby Thompson after a 2-3 start to the 1976 outdoor season.^[7] The team ended the 1976 season with a record of twelve wins and twelve losses and averaging 3,420 fans per game.^[4] The team relocated to New Haven, Connecticut and rebranded as the Connecticut Bicentennials before the 1977 season.^[8] Playing their home games at the Yale Bowl, the team finished the 1977 season in last place of the Atlantic Conference Northern Division with a record of seven wins and nineteen losses.^[4] The Bicentennials drew their biggest crowd ever, with 17,302 fans in attendance, for their 1977 home opener against the New York Cosmos featuring Brazilian star Pelé, but averaged only 3,848 fans for the season.^[9] Citing low gate revenues and the cost to adequately light the Yale Bowl for night games, Darling sold the team to Milan Mandarić who relocated the team to Oakland, California for the 1978 season, where they became known as the Oakland Stompers.^[10]

Year-by-year

Year	League	W	L	T	Pts	Regular season	Playoffs	Avg. attendance
1975	NASL indoor	1	1	—	2	2nd, Tournament Region 2	Did not qualify	2,682
1975	NASL	6	16	—	61	5th, Northern Division		3,720
1976		12	12	—	107	4th, Atlantic Conference, Northern Division		3,420
1977		7	19	—	72	5th, Atlantic Conference, Northern Division		3,902

References

^ Holroyd, Steve. "History of Indoor Soccer in the USA". Retrieved December 27, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c Robinson, Ken (March 16, 1976). "Hartford Bicentennials soccer club undergoes front-office clean-up". The Morning Record. p. 9. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
^ Orr, Michael (2012). The 1975 Portland Timbers: The Birth of Soccer City, USA. Arcadia Publishing Incorporated. ISBN 9781614233138.
^ ^a ^b ^c "North American Soccer League". RSSSF. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
^ "Rowdies Add A 'Yank'". The Evening Independent. November 25, 1975. p. 1C. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
^ Blankenship, Ken (January 29, 1977). "Hammond's signing clouds Mausser's future". St. Petersburg Times. p. 6C. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
^ "People in Sports". Eugene Register-Guard. May 11, 1976. p. 2B. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
^ Mitchell, Charles (January 5, 1977). "Bicentennials Comes to Yale". The Hour. p. 29. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
^ Robinson, Ken (May 9, 1977). "Bicentennials fall to Pele & Cosmos". The Morning Record and Journal. p. 12. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
^ "Bicentennials leaving state for California". The Morning Record and Journal. September 16, 1977. p. 10. Retrieved December 27, 2021.

[NASL_Indoor-1] Holroyd, Steve. "History of Indoor Soccer in the USA". Retrieved December 27, 2021.

[Robinson-2] Robinson, Ken (March 16, 1976). "Hartford Bicentennials soccer club undergoes front-office clean-up". The Morning Record. p. 9. Retrieved December 27, 2021.

[3] Orr, Michael (2012). The 1975 Portland Timbers: The Birth of Soccer City, USA. Arcadia Publishing Incorporated. ISBN 9781614233138.

[NASL-4] "North American Soccer League". RSSSF. Retrieved December 20, 2021.

[5] "Rowdies Add A 'Yank'". The Evening Independent. November 25, 1975. p. 1C. Retrieved December 27, 2021.

[6] Blankenship, Ken (January 29, 1977). "Hammond's signing clouds Mausser's future". St. Petersburg Times. p. 6C. Retrieved December 27, 2021.

[7] "People in Sports". Eugene Register-Guard. May 11, 1976. p. 2B. Retrieved December 27, 2021.

[8] Mitchell, Charles (January 5, 1977). "Bicentennials Comes to Yale". The Hour. p. 29. Retrieved December 27, 2021.

[9] Robinson, Ken (May 9, 1977). "Bicentennials fall to Pele & Cosmos". The Morning Record and Journal. p. 12. Retrieved December 27, 2021.

[10] "Bicentennials leaving state for California". The Morning Record and Journal. September 16, 1977. p. 10. Retrieved December 27, 2021.

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v t e Trinity Health Stadium
Current tenants	Hartford Athletic Hartford City FC AC Connecticut AC Connecticut Women
Former tenants	Connecticut Crushers Connecticut Yankees Hartford Bicentennials Hartford Charter Oaks Hartford Knights Hartford S.C. New England Nightmare UConn Huskies (men's) (women's)

v t e North American Soccer League (1968–1984)
Broadcasters USSF CSA Portal NASL (2011–2017) First overall draft picks
Seasons	1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
Soccer Bowls	1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
Predecessors	USA 1967 Final NPSL 1967 Final
Indoor seasons	1971 1975 1976 1978 1979 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1983 1983–84
Conferences	1968 East West 1976–1977 Atlantic Pacific 1978–1980 American National
Related	Soccer Bowl broadcasters NASL Indoor Championship
Clubs	Atlanta Apollos Atlanta Chiefs Baltimore Bays Baltimore Comets Boston Beacons Boston Minutemen Boston Shamrock Rovers† Calgary Boomers California Surf Chicago Mustangs Chicago Spurs² Chicago Sting Cleveland Stokers Caribous of Colorado Connecticut Bicentennials Dallas Tornado Denver Dynamos Detroit Cougars Detroit Express Edmonton Drillers Fort Lauderdale Strikers Golden Bay Earthquakes Hartford Bicentennials Houston Hurricane Houston Stars Jacksonville Tea Men Kansas City Spurs Las Vegas Quicksilvers Los Angeles Aztecs Los Angeles Wolves Memphis Rogues Miami Gatos Miami Toros Minnesota Kicks Minnesota Strikers Montreal Manic Montreal Olympique New England Tea Men New York Cosmos New York Generals New York Skyliners¹ Oakland Clippers Oakland Stompers Philadelphia Spartans² Philadelphia Atoms Philadelphia Fury Pittsburgh Phantoms² Portland Timbers Rochester Lancers San Antonio Thunder San Diego Jaws San Diego Sockers San Diego Toros San Francisco Golden Gate Gales¹ San Jose Earthquakes Seattle Sounders St. Louis Stars Tampa Bay Rowdies Team America Team Hawaii Toronto Blizzard Toronto City¹ Toronto Metros Toronto Metros-Croatia Tulsa Roughnecks Vancouver Royals Vancouver Whitecaps Washington Darts Washington Diplomats Washington Whips
¹ United Soccer Association team that did not join NASL upon merger with NPSL. ² National Professional Soccer League team that did not join NASL upon merger with USA.