Saving Dillon explains the economic importance and cultural impact of American soccer stadiums then offers a transformative vision to purposefully design them to build community wealth and civic pride.
Join our book launch list.
Saving Dillon is an extraordinary story of
political corruption and community exploitation.
Saving Dillon: The Grassroots Fight Against The Ruling Class Capitalism Building American Soccer Infrastructure is based on Thomas Clynch’s tenacious public advocacy for the responsible revival of Dillon Stadium, a historic public venue in his hometown of Hartford, Connecticut.
While leading the restoration of Dillon Stadium, Clynch is solicited for bribes by public officials. When he refuses to pay, his company is removed from the project in favor of more willing bad actors. Clynch becomes a relentless activist defending the future of the community’s stadium. His advocacy leads to a federal investigation, felony convictions, a decade of polarizing litigation, and thrusts him into an innovative career at the intersection of public policy and social impact.
Saving Dillon chronicles the nefarious efforts to rebuild Hartford’s public stadium with a critical analysis of the misguided motivations of ambitious politicians and the malfeasance of complicit bureaucrats serving selfish private interests. But as Clynch exposed the corruption in Connecticut’s capital city, he discovered a disturbing trend of public stadium projects deepening socioeconomic divides in cities across the country.
The resulting body of work establishes a comprehensive case study of Dillon Stadium’s local consequences then extrapolated to reveal how ruling class capitalism is building a national ecosystem of community wealth extraction and white supremacy culture through America's soccer infrastructure. Clynch offers profound insights on the oppressive societal ramifications, accelerating cultural decay, and the impact on United States Soccer.
Saving Dillon offers a transformative vision for America’s soccer infrastructure to be designed more equitably in pursuit of building community wealth, cultural liberation, and multigenerational prosperity.
A Decade of Advocacy
Stadiums have become monuments to
the ruling class capitalism crushing America.
America Has A
Stadium Problem
Taxpayers Are About to Subsidize a Lot More Sports Stadiums
Public Financing of MLS Stadiums Warrants
a Red Card
Stadium Subsidies Are Massive Ripoffs That Don’t Help Cities
But communities are fighting back.
Let’s Build Stadiums for Public Benefit.
Accountability in Public Service
We must demand accountability and integrity from public officials to end political corruption and restore public trust.
Build Community Wealth
Public projects must focus on building community ownership to achieve equitable, multigenerational prosperity.
Dismantling Racism
We must reconstruct our public institutions to more accurately ensure diverse and inclusive leadership.
Stadiums are an expression of a community’s identity, values, and cultural spirit. We must recognize them as important civic assets and treat them as critical multigenerational investments.
Meanwhile, soccer teams are a unique vehicle for social change. They represent the character of a community – honoring the past, appreciating the present, and sharing ambition for our future.
We must fundamentally understand the purpose of stadiums is Community Development rather than Economic Development. The difference between these two approaches is how we define success and measure the outcomes of public investment.
Community Development provides resilient, sustainable socioeconomic growth driven by local leadership. This is an ongoing process that requires continuous collaboration, public participation, and democratic governance to ensure the equitable distribution of wealth and power.
So Your City Wants to Build a Stadium?
We support government, municipalities, community associations, and team owners seeking progressive solutions for public stadium design and development.
-
Leadership & Clarity of Purpose
-
Public-Private Partnership Agreements
-
Financial Modeling & Resource Development
-
Community Benefits & Labor Agreements
-
Public Participation & Community Engagement Plans
-
Social Impact & Public Policy Design
-
Neighborhood Preservation & Anti Displacement Initiatives
-
Environmental Sustainability
Thomas Clynch
Thomas founded Civic Mind in 2011 as the political and economic climate of the “Great Recession” created a market in demand of social impact through community organization, creativity, and collaboration.
His blend of social entrepreneurship and public interest advocacy has made him a recognized leader in community wealth building and socioeconomic justice.
He was a Master of Public Administration Fellow at the University of Connecticut where he earned the David B. Walker Award “recognizing a tireless dedication to public service.”