Dear Hartford Athletic Fans,
Over the past four months we have signed 20 new players, hired a new coaching staff and moved into a beautiful new training facility, making this off-season one of the busiest and most challenging in my long career. Our team has been working tirelessly to bring in top tier talent to compete on the field, and enhance the fan experience on match day. With the regular season just a few days away, I’m excited to share some updates on what we’ve been working on that I’m sure will get you just as fired up as we are for the 2024 season.
The First Team roster and coaching staff have been completely transformed, starting with Head Coach and General Manager Brendan Burke. Brendan, a native of New England, brings the most proven success of any Head Coach in Club history, holding a 146-99-72 record over eight years as a professional and a Western Conference Finals appearance with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the 2022 season. Winning the US Open Cup last season with MLS side Houston Dynamo, Brendan was the perfect man for the job. He’s a proven winner and has constructed a dynamic and exciting roster for the 2024 campaign.
Joining Brendan is Assistant Coach Aaron Wheeler, and Goalkeeper Coach Dan Gaspar. Aaron played in MLS as part of his successful 11-year career as a professional, and played for Brendan in Colorado Springs during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Coach Gaspar returns for his second year with the Club and boasts one of the best coaching resumes in the country, having coached eight different national teams, three collegiate teams, and six other professional clubs.
Regarding the roster rebuild, Brendan and the staff have worked around the clock to identify 24 new players and four re-signings to build our squad with top tier talent. A blend of experienced veterans and young sensations, this is a group filled with players who know what it takes to win at the professional level and will be a ton of fun to watch. Attacking firepower was added with the signings of Michee Ngalina (2022 USL Championship Young Player of the Year), former MLS Champion Romario Williams, Enoch Mushagalusa, and Marcus Epps, who have scored a combined 150 professional goals. Jamaican international winger Deshane Beckford is a dynamic playmaker from the outside flanks, and the 19 year old Mamadou Dieng is an extremely athletic striker bound to be a prolific goal scorer. We have a seasoned presence in our midfield brought by the MLS-experienced Jay Chapman and Marlon Hairston, along with Anderson Asiedu and our longest tenured player Danny Barrera, who have put together fantastic careers in the USL Championship. Joe Schmidt joins the team after winning the USL Championship Final with Charleston a year ago, and Emmanuel Samadia, Beverly Makangila, and 18 year old academy signing Ian Shaul round out our midfield.
The back line was bolstered by all-league defenders Joe Farell and Thomas Vancaeyezeele, along with Jamaican international Jordan Scarlett, who have each been a part of playoff runs to the USL Championship Final. Triston Hodge returns for his second season in Hartford, joined by MLS draft picks Joey Akpunonu and Rece Buckmaster, along with Senegalese defender Pele Ousmanou. We have a stellar goalkeeping unit, led by former Liga Portugal keeper Renan Ribeiro, along with 2023 League One Champion Brooks Thompson, Siena College standout Greg Monroe, and academy signing Justin DiCarlo.
As we have every season since 2019, we continue to invest in enhancements to the Trinity Health Stadium experience. Debuting in May, the brand new fully enclosed Liberty Bank Suites will take premium hospitality to a new level. Take a trip to the opposite side of the stadium and check out the new Corner Kick Party Suites, perfect for soccer-lovers who want to watch the beautiful game up close. Back again for the 2024 season, the Goal Zone is the best backyard cookout setting for your large friend groups right behind the north goal. The THS party tents let you feel the passion of the diehard fans in your own area, putting you right next to the supporters section in the southeast corner. Of course, all of our VIP Hospitality packages come with catered food and beverage options.
We’re also taking our game presentation up a notch with the installation of new LED field boards that will light up the stadium all night long and make goal celebrations that much more exciting. We’ll also be continuing our pregame happy hour party, by opening the stadium two hours prior to every match, giving fans access to our craft beer garden with live music, our mini pitch, field games, and food trucks.
We’ll host seventeen “Parties” and USL Championship matches over the next 8 months, and have an incredible promotional schedule this season. There will be six $2 Beer (and soda)/ $1 Hot Dog nights, and six new theme nights and giveaways including a $1k Cash Giveaway, Pizza Appreciation Day, Dillon Bobblehead Giveaway, and Grateful Dead Night with a pre-match concert to name just a few. We’re also bringing back some other fan favorite promotions including Athletic-Con, Daym Drops Night and Dillon’s Birthday. There’s a night for everyone at Trinity Health Stadium this season!
If you’re unable to make it to a match this season, you’ll be able to find all 34 of our USL Championship matches on a streaming platform or broadcast television. We’re excited to announce that Joe D’Ambrosio and Mark Donaldson will return as our broadcast team for the second consecutive year. Most games will be available to watch on MyTV9 and ESPN+ once again, with select matches appearing on ESPN2, CBS Sports Network and the Golazo network. With more places to find our matches this season, we’ll always let you know where you can find Hartford Athletic on your screen whether we’re at home or on the road.
Season Ticket Memberships come with some amazing perks (e.g. priority line for concessions, preferred parking, discounts and more) in addition to savings on single game ticket prices and the pride of saying you’re a Season Ticket Member. Please visit hartfordathletic.com/seasontickets or call 860-298-9233 for more information.
This is going to be a season to remember. We can’t wait to see you at our home opener on March 23rd and throughout the season. As we continue to build momentum, come show your support for the new Hartford Athletic coaching staff and players. Get your tickets early and “Come for the Party and stay for the Soccer.” If you have feedback, questions, or just want to drop a note of encouragement for the squad feel free to email me at nsakiewicz@hartfordathletic.com.
Warmest Regards,
Nick Sakiewicz
Chief Executive Officer, Hartford Athletic
