FC Cincinnati Recap 2020

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone recaps the 2020 FC Cincinnati season. 

FC Cincinnati Recap 2019

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone recaps the 2019 FC Cincinnati season. 

FCC Fan Fest

Can't get enough FC Cincinnati soccer? Well the orange and blue have you covered. FCC will host their very first fan fest on August 4 at Nippert Stadium. The event is free and will start at 6 p.m.

Every player on the FCC roster will be available for autographs which is more than enough reason to go in my opinion. There will also be a kid's mini clinic as well as bubble soccer and skill challenges. Other activities include a locker room tour and playing the FIFA video game on the stadium video board.

To me, this sounds like a great experience for all FCC fans as this will be the most access to the team that the club has offered. Autograph sessions, locker room tours, and other activities should make the night a fun one. Hopefully this event becomes a yearly tradition like Redsfest has for the Cincinnati Reds. It will keep current fans engaged with the team while creating new ones at the same time.

USMNT to the 513

Nippert Stadium has been the home of FC Cincinnati since their inaugural United Soccer League season in 2016. Fans saw the team host Crystal Palace F.C. in 2016, the memorable Open Cup victories over the Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire in 2017 were under the Nippert Stadium lights, and FCC’s first win in Major League Soccer was in front of a packed home crowd on St. Patrick’s Day 2019. This Sunday, another memorable soccer moment will happen as the United States Men’s National Team will play Venzeula in the team’s final preparation match before the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup. 

The game is set to begin at 2 PM on Sunday June 9 and marks the first ever visit to the Queen City by the USMNT. It will be broadcasted nationally on FOX and will further show why Cincinnati is Soccer City, USA. Tickets are currently on sale via ussoccer.com.

In my opinion, this is one of the coolest sporting events to come to Cincinnati. The players on the USMNT are supposed to be the best that America has to offer and getting to see them play in my own backyard is incredible. I bought tickets to this game a few weeks ago and have been counting the days until kickoff. 

I believe that we will win!

An Unforgettable Night

March 17, 2019, will go down in history as one of the best nights in the history of FC Cincinnati. The team had its inaugural Major League Soccer home opening match in front of a sold crowd at Nippert Stadium. 32,250 people not only witnessed FCC take to the pitch as an MLS team in Cincinnati for the first time, but they also saw the lads in orange and blue shutout the defending MLS Western Conference Champions Portland Timbers 3-0. It was an unforgettable night and truly one of the most exciting and fun sporting events I have ever attended. 

This night truly had a big league feel when compared to previous United Soccer League matches I had attended in the past. The march to the stadium by the Bailey seemingly stretched for miles and miles and was louder than in years past. Skydivers descended upon the stadium with one towing an American flag. Gary the Lion, the team’s mascot, stood on a stone pillar and was pumping up the crowd as FCC’s MLS flag was raised. Fireworks lit up the sky during the National Anthem and once again moments before kickoff. It was as much a spectacle as the actual match.

After being dominated in a week 1 loss to Seattle Sounders FC and seemingly finding their groove in a week 2 draw against Atlanta United FC, FCC came out with a new energy against the Portland Timbers and were in control for a majority of the match. The blue and orange took their first ever lead when captain Kendall Waston headed in a ball in the first half that sent the sold out crowd into a frenzy as chants of “FCC” echoed throughout Nippert Stadium. Allan Cruz extended the lead with one of the best goals in team history as he backfooted a ball into the corner of the net in the second half to give FCC a 2-0 lead over the Timbers. Minutes later, Mathieu Deplagne scored to extend the FCC lead to 3-0. Spencer Richey turned in a brilliant performance as goalkeeper and earned a clean sheet as FCC notched their first ever MLS win.

As a diehard FCC fan, I could not have asked for a better night. The atmosphere was comparable to that of a playoff game, the pregame festivities had a true big league feel, and the performance by the team on the field was nearly flawless. The hype for FCC’s first ever MLS home opener was off the charts high, and the newest franchise in Major League Soccer not only lived up to it but surpassed it by miles in my opinion. I was at the team’s very first home opener during its United Soccer League days in 2016, and I had a blast at the game. Their first ever MLS home opener blew that game out of the water, and I can honestly say it was one of the best sporting events I have ever attended. Well done, FCC. With the eyes of the professional soccer world watching, you showed why Cincinnati is Soccer City, USA, and created a night that will be forever etched in the minds of the FC Cincinnati faithful. 

Major League Crest

Earlier in November, FC Cincinnati unveiled their new team crest in preparation for their 2019 Major League Soccer debut. The new logo has an updated appearance from its United Soccer League counterpart and features a few details that pay tribute to the city of Cincinnati. 

The overall shape of the crest is inspired from the West End which is where the team’s stadium will be built. The font used on the crest for “FC Cincinnati” is said to be both German and modern and the way Cincinnati is displayed symbolizes how the city is on the rise. The winged lion has been given an updated look and is holding a sword to show how the club is ready for battle. The crown on the lion’s head is for the Queen City, and the three tiered wing commemorates the team’s USL seasons prior to joining MLS. It’s tail is in the shape of a capital “C” for Cincinnati, and the winged lion logo was retained to showcase the franchise’s winning spirit. 

I the crest was leaked a few days before the it was officially unveiled, and it received mixed reviews from fans. Personally, I love it. It looks sleek and much more professional than the USL logo. It also features Cincinnati much more prominently than the hold crest. I think as time goes on, more people will appreciate the new crest. I will always have a soft spot for the original USL crest as that is the symbol of the team that captured the attention of the soccer world and helped propel the franchise to MLS. I will continue to wear and obtain merchandise with both logos and support the team no matter what.

Go FCC!

FC Cincinnati Recap 2018

FC Cincinnati may have completed only its third season, but it was by far its biggest year in the team's short existence. Attendance records were shattered, on field performances were fantastic, and a call up to Major League Soccer made 2018 an unforgettable year for the orange and blue. Here's a recap of the year 2018 for FC Cincinnati.

The year started immediately after the team pitched their bid to MLS just before Christmas of 2017. Nashville had already been awarded one of two coveted MLS expansion slots and Cincinnati, Sacramento, and Detroit were left to compete for the last one. The three remaining cities had an issue with their bid, and it seemed that whoever straightened things out first would be awarded with an MLS expansion team. For FC Cincinnati, it was the soccer specific stadium situation that was holding up things. Newport, Oakley, and the West End were all tagged as possible areas for a stadium, but no deals had been locked down and no plan had been officially put into motion. This sparked a massive saga that dragged out for months of where the stadium will be built and who would pay for it.

Meanwhile, FCC head coach Alan Koch was preparing for his second season as the team's leader and had been traveling around the world recruiting players. New faces such as Emmanuel Ledesma, Nazmi Albadawi, and Forrest Lasso were joining returning players from the 2017 team such as Justin Hoyte and Danni Konig as well as FCC OGs Jimmy McLaughlin, Kenny Walker, and Corben Bone.

The team definitely had a new look not only with the acquisition of its many new players, but it's uniforms as well. Gone were the blue, orange, and white uniforms that mimicked the look of the United States Men's National Team as the team unveiled new, sleeker kits that featured a striped look with diamonds. The new look of the team combined with the impending MLS bid made the 2018 FCC season the most hyped sporting story in Cincinnati, and the season hadn't even started yet.

Once the lads took to the pitch, they got off to a bit of a slow start as it took time for the combination of returning and new players to develop some on field chemistry. Once they began to gel, they dominated the United Soccer League and notched big wins over New York Red Bulls II and arch rival Louisville City FC. They continued to pack Nippert Stadium with soccer crazed fans as attendance records were continually set and broken seemingly week after week. The team also strung together a 23 match unbeaten streak in route to capturing the USL Regular Season Championship. They knocked off future MLS rival Nashville SC in the first round of the playoffs in a dramatic penalty kick thriller before ending their USL tenure with a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Red Bulls II.

With the team taking care of business on the field, Jeff Bearding and Carl Linder III were taking care of business off the field to secure the MLS bid. After a nauseating months long debate of where the stadium should be built, the West End was officially announced as the future soccer specific stadium site for FCC once a deal was reached between the team, the city, the West End, and Cincinnati Public Schools. It was the final piece of the puzzle that FCC needed to secure its place in MLS. On May 29, 2018, MLS officially announced that FCC would be joining the league as an expansion team and would being play in 2019. The city celebrated as thousands gathered at Fountain Square to participate in the most historic sports moment that Cincinnati has seen in quite some time.

In conclusion, FCC's third season was a massive success. Even though the team fell short of winning the USL Cup, they did win the USL Regular Season Championship, set numerous attendance records once again, and most importantly, secured its spot in the highest American professional soccer league. Individual USL honors were awarded to Forrest Lasso, Emmanuel Ledesma, and Alan Koch. Lasso won the USL Defender of the Year award, Ledesma won the USL Most Valuable Player award, and Koch won the USL Coach of the Year award. All three are returning to FCC as part of its MLS team in 2019. I thoroughly enjoyed FCC's 2018 campaign and cannot wait for them to step foot on an MLS pitch in 2019. If their MLS debut is anything like their 2018 USL swan song was, Cincinnati is going to be in for a fun ride.

Soccer Stadium Sneak Peak

One of the requirements that FC Cincinnati needed to meet before the team was welcomed into Major League Soccer was a soccer specific stadium. Everybody in the Queen City knows about the months long drama that unfolded as the team, the city, and Cincinnati Public Schools battled for months on a deal that benefitted all parties involved. Needless to say, a deal was reached and FCC became the newest MLS expansion team earlier this summer. The stadium appears to have been worth all the debate as the franchise unveiled initial design concepts that have left many soccer fans and reporters speechless.

The early designs for the stadium are gorgeous in my opinion and should the designs come to fruition, the fan experience for an FCC match should be one of the best in MLS. The seating capacity is estimated to be between 25,500 to 26,500 which is an increase from the original concept that the team unveiled earlier this year. The amount of seats would also make the stadium one of the largest soccer venues in the country. Part of the expanded seating options is the larger Bailey section which is expected to be double the size of the current Bailey section in Nippert Stadium.

Perhaps the most prominent feature of the stadium’s early design is the canopy roof. The canopy will go around the entire bowl and cover all seats. It will also serve as a way to help keep noise levels down in the surrounding West End neighborhoods while also increasing the volume inside the stadium to keep the pitch rocking. The canopy is also is also made of ethylene tetrafluoro-ethylene (ETFE) foil technology. This is cool feature as it allows for a variety of colors and patterns to be displayed on the canopy’s surface. It has been reported that the design stage will continue into 2019 with a target stadium opening date of March 2021. 

I am a fan of the stadium design and cannot wait to see the finished product when it opens in 2021. The fan experience at Nippert Stadium is phenomenal, and I think it will be even better in the new stadium. For now at least, it appears that the stadium will be worth the drama. The early designs are gorgeous, and the stadium should make an excellent home for Cincinnati’s newest major league team. 

FC Cincinnati USL Regular Season Championship Shirt Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes an FC Cincinnati USL Regular Season Championship shirt and a Cincinnati Royals pennant. 

FCC Playoff Pricing and Seating

With FC Cincinnati having secured at least a two seed in the United Soccer League Cup Playoffs, the team has announced times and ticketing information for their first two playoff matches should FCC advance past round 1. Tickets will be made available in increments with priority going to current season ticket holders, followed by 2019 season ticket deposit holders, and finally the general public. 

Starting Monday, September 24 at 9 a.m., current 2018 USL season ticket holders will have first dibs at obtaining playoff tickets. This season ticket holder exclusive purchasing window will be four days long. Starting Friday, September 28 at 9 a.m., 2019 season ticket deposit holders will have the next crack at purchasing tickets. The remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public on Monday, October 1 at 10 a.m. 

For those wondering how much tickets will cost, FC Cincinnati has answered that question as well. For the first round, and if necessary the second, tickets prices will remain the same as they have all season meaning you can purchase a ticket for as low as $10. Should FCC make it to the Eastern Conference Finals and the USL Cup Finals and if those matches are played at Nippert Stadium, ticket prices as well as the seating map will mirror that of the 2019 Major League Soccer season. 

At the time that this post was written, FC Cincinnati is currently in first place in the USL East and is close to clinching the overall number one seed in the playoffs. Should they do that, then the road to the USL Cup will go through Nippert Stadium. There has never been a more exciting time to be an FCC fan. Hopefully the team can cap their final USL season with a USL Cup Championship before they begin MLS play in 2019.

Playoff Bound!

FC Cincinnati could not have asked for a better start to the month of September. Not only did they win a thriller against United Soccer League rival Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, but they also were the first team to punch their ticket to the USL Cup playoffs. The win also helped cushion their lead in the USL East standings. At the time that this post was written, FCC has a 13-point lead over second place Louisville City FC and a 14-point lead over the Riverhounds who sit in third. The September 1 victory was big for the club, but it did not come easy.

The first half featured unusually sloppy play from FCC as the offense had trouble getting anything going, and the Riverhounds took advantage. They fired off numerous shots but the defense, mainly goalkeeper Spencer Richey, was able to repel the Riverhounds' offensive attack. For FCC, Emanuel Ledesma's soft tapper was inches away from finding the back of net until a Riverhounds defender cleared the shot. Not to be outdone, Richey came up big and had some key saves that kept the sides even at 0-0 when the first half ended. 

While defense reigned supreme in the first half, the second featured both teams' offenses finally breaking through. Despite sailing a penalty kick over the head of Richey early in the second half, the Riverhounds still managed to strike first when a shot got by Richey in the 57th minute to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. The score remained that way for a majority of the second half, and it looked like FCC's unbeaten streak was about to be broken. It wouldn't be until the final 10 minutes of regulation when FCC finally broke through the stingy Riverhounds defense. 

Dekel Keinan headed in a free kick from Ledesma in the 80th minute to knot things up at 1-1 sending the crowd that packed Nippert Stadium into a frenzy. Eight minutes later, Fanendo Adi, the club's first player guaranteed a spot on next season's Major League Soccer roster, fought through two Riverhounds defenders and scored from just inside the 18 to give FCC a 2-1 lead. Nipper Stadium erupted as Adi ran toward Coach Alan Koch for a celebratory embrace that became an entire team group hug. The defense held during the final two minutes and through four minutes of stoppage time to give FCC a dramatic 2-1 win over the Riverhounds as well as a spot in the playoffs.

I was in attendance for the match, and I can honestly say it was one of the best sporting events I have ever witnessed in person. In terms of drama and thrilling action, it ranks right up there with the three 2017 Open Cup matches against MLS teams that emanated from Nippert Stadium. The win was a big one as it helped cushion FCC's lead in the standings. In terms of playoffs, it is the third consecutive year that the three-year-old franchise has qualified for postseason play. As exciting as a match that it was, FCC has to put it in the rear-view mirror as they have a tough road matchup against Louisville City this weekend. Hopefully they notch another win and continue to build momentum toward the playoffs.

A World Class Training Facility

A major league team needs a major league training facility, and Major League Soccer's newest franchise appears to have settled on a location. On Tuesday June 26, 2018, FC Cincinnati officially announced plans to construct a training facility in Milford, Ohio. As of now, the agreement is pending between FCC and local government entities of both Clermont County and Milford. 

The training complex will be built on the site of the former Expressway Park. Rumors were swirling that FCC bought the park when the former owners released a notification that the season's softball leagues would be cancelled. FCC's training facility is scheduled to be operational by July of next year with all site work finished by the end of 2019. The team plans to relocate to the complex in January and will use temporary facilities until the work is complete. 

Costing $30 million to construct, the complex will sprawl across about 23 acres of land and will host a variety of soccer related events such as FCC academy matches and local soccer tournaments. There are plans for three full sized and fully lighted soccer fields as well as a designated area for goalies. There are also plans for a 30,000 square foot multilevel building for the MLS team and a 6,500 square foot center for the academy teams.

In conclusion, this sounds like a state of the art training facility for Cincinnati's newest major league team. I have seen a few pictures online of what the complex might look like, and I've liked what I've seen so far. This process also seemed to be much smoother than the stadium saga, and I am beyond thankful for that. 

There is still a lot of work to be done before the start of next year's MLS season. I believe the team is still working with the University of Cincinnati to finalize the necessary upgrades to make Nippert Stadium ready for the 2019 season while FCC's soccer specific stadium is being built. They are also in the process of assembling an MLS roster while focusing on the current United Soccer League season. If you thought the journey to get into MLS was chaotic, I have a feeling that the trek to the start of the MLS season will be a wilder rider. Regardless, I cannot wait for FCC to finally step foot onto an MLS pitch.

FC Cincinnati Pennant Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes an FC Cincinnati pennant.

No Magic This Year

In 2017, FC Cincinnati's run in the Lamar Hunt Open Cup took the city by storm. They upset two Major League Soccer teams before falling to a third in extra time in the semi finals. Crowds of over 30,000 people packed Nippert Stadium to watch the United Soccer League franchise face off against some of the top soccer teams in the country. The electricity surrounding those matches put Cincinnati on the world soccer map and helped the franchise land its MLS expansion slot a few weeks ago. A week after the MLS announcement, FCC played host to Minnesota United FC of MLS. Instead of feeling like a must see sporting event, it felt like a friendly with not much on the line. 

I think that can be attributed to FCC finally being awarded a spot in MLS. Last year's Open Cup run was viewed by the city as a chance to show MLS that we belong in the league. As a result Nippert Stadium was the place to be when an MLS team came to town for the Open Cup. It also helped that FCC played some of the more well known teams from the league. Columbus Crew SC is an instate rival from about two two hours north of the city. The Chicago Fire was one of the hottest teams in the league at the time and won the MLS Cup in their first year of existence in 1998. The New York Red Bulls, like the Crew, were one of MLS' inaugural teams. While Minnesota United is an MLS team, they are pretty new and have not really established themselves in MLS yet which could attribute to why interest in his match was down when compared to last year's matches. I believe only a little over 15,000 showed up for the match which is well low of last year's Open Cup attendance numbers and FCC's regular season attendance average. With FCC now going to play MLS teams every week starting in 2019, the interest in playing an MLS team in the Open Cup and the fact that it was a less established franchise contributed to the lack of hype surrounding the match.

I also think that the team is focusing their efforts on winning the USL Cup. I feel like this was evident by the fact that their backup goalie, Spencer Richey, was in the game and their two leading scorers in Danni Konig and Emmanuel Ledesma did not even dress for the match. This was probably done to let them rest for their league game. I say that because this is their last season in USL before they make the jump to the big leagues next year meaning it is their last chance to win the USL's top prize. As an MLS team, FCC will still play in the Open Cup and will have all the advantages that come with being a part of MLS such as starting the tournament during a later round. There would also be no greater USL swan song for FCC than to win the championship before they take the MLS pitch in 2019.  

In conclusion, even though FCC's Open Cup run may have been shorter than last year's and lacked the spark that set the soccer world on fire, they will still have many more chances to win an Open Cup Championship. For the USL Cup, it's now or never. Hopefully FCC can give the city of Cincinnati a USL Championship before making a run for the MLS Cup. 

Getting Closer...

 A few weeks ago, FC Cincinnati’s last piece in its Major League Soccer expansion bid seemingly fell into place when both Cincinnati Public Schools and Cincinnati City Council approved a deal that made the West End the future site of an FCC soccer specific stadium. FCC appeared to have all the boxes checked. Fan support and a strong ownership group were there from the beginning. However, the stadium situation was a total mess. It rotated form Oakley to the West End to Newport to no sites are in play back to the West End. Despite all the drama, a stadium deal was secured and speculation that MLS would vote on FCC’s bid at the next board of governor’s meeting ran rampant. Ultimately no vote took place although MLS did issue a statement that appeared to have singled out FCC as the frontrunner.

Fast forward to April 29 when FCC general manager Jeff Berding and team owner Carl Linder III were spotted in Los Angeles at LAFC’s stadium opener. Taylor Twellman of ESPN said he believed Berding and Linder were there to meet with MLS and that he would be “shocked” if FC Cincinnati was not announced as the next MLS expansion team in 10-14 days. FC Cincinnati then released a statement on May 2 that sounded as if it contradicted Twellman.

The club acknowledged that they met with MLS but also noted that they still had to finalize various legal agreements with CPS, the city of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, the Port Authority, and Nippert Stadium. Apparently once everything is signed and finalized, the bid will be complete and ready for review by MLS. The franchise also stated that they are scheduling a visit to Cincinnati by MLS commissioner Don Garber and other MLS officials. While this visit may be to inspect the stadium site, the statement also noted that Garber and company will meet with club ownership.

While the statement that FCC issued is not great, it is good. Trying to read between the lines, it appears that FCC needs a few signatures on its agreements with the city and CPS among others in order to fully cement them as finished. MLS has been burned by stadium situations in the past so it makes sense that the league would want everything in place before an expansion bid is granted. The statement about Nippert Stadium seems to suggest that FCC could begin MLS play in 2019 should it receive the bid and if Nippert is approved as a temporary venue until the stadium is built. The other statement that popped out at me was that Garber and league officials will meet with club ownership. If the visit were to just inspect the site, I think that would have been mentioned. In fact, the West End site is not mentioned at all in the statement. Could the visit be to iron the out last details of the bid and schedule an MLS announcement? Only time will tell.

Soccer Stadium Sickness

Despite the end of March drawing closer and the fact that both the MLS and USL seasons have started, FC Cincinnati soccer fans are still waiting to know if the franchise will move up to the top tier soccer league in America. Everybody knows by now that the hold up is the stadium site. On March 16, FC Cincinnati reviewed the Cincinnati Public Schools land swap counter offer and conceded the West End. In a nutshell, the franchise said they are not going to build the stadium in the West End and instead focus on sites in Oakley in Newport. The West End debate that raged on for what seemingly felt like an eternity had finally ended. Or so we thought…

As I type this post, apparently CPS voted to approve a potential land swap with FCC should the franchise agree to their terms. Not long after, Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune said that FCC general manager Jeff Bearding told him that there is still interest in the West End. I do have my doubts on how factual Portune’s statement is considering how he is the same guy who could not understand why Nippert Stadium and Paul Brown Stadium would not be accepted by MLS. He even reiterated that Nippert and Paul Brown Stadium are viable solutions this past weekend. If it is true and FCC is still pursing the West End, I only have one thing to say. You have got to be joking me.

The residents of the West End have made it very clear that they do not want the stadium. The debates were nonstop. I understand that the site is very suitable for an MLS soccer stadium as it is close to an urban core. However when the residents constantly say they do not want it and CPS makes a counter offer that FCC already said they cannot afford, I see no reasonable explanation as to why the franchise is still pursuing this site. I am sick of it, and I just want the entire stadium situation to end.

FCC needs to focus on either Oakley or Newport. The West End had its chance. Bearding himself has said they will not build the stadium there if is not wanted. The entire city has known for about a month that the West End does not want the stadium. In Oakley, FCC has said that a stadium can be built on old the Cast-Fab site. The preliminary results of the traffic study show that a stadium can be built there but there will definitely need to be adjustments and improvements to the roads in Oakley to accommodate the added traffic. The reception in Oakley however has been lukewarm at best. Newport has the Ovation site which has been described as shovel ready. FCC has a memorandum of understanding with the site owner to build the stadium. The reception in Newport seemingly has the full support of Northern Kentucky as the area is practically begging FCC to build the stadium on Kentucky’s shores of the Ohio River.

I have said it before, and I will say it again. I love FC Cincinnati. I want them to get into MLS. To do that, they need to lock down a stadium site. It has been a straight up fiasco to this point, and the possibility that the West End site may not be dead after all absolutely drives me crazy. I prefer Newport, but I am also fine with Oakley. Please just pick a site, FC Cincinnati. The March 31 deadline is quickly approaching. The MLS expansion clock is ticking. Fans are sick and tired of the stadium arguments and of waiting for an announcement. I am begging you. Pick a site, finalize the MLS bid, and net the biggest win that Cincinnati has had in a long time.

This is the Month

FC Cincinnati’s Major League Soccer expansion process has officially been going on for over a year. What started in January of 2017 was supposed to conclude before Christmas. Nashville was the first city to be awarded one of two MLS expansion slots in December. The other three finalists, Cincinnati, Detroit, and Sacramento, would have to wait as Commissioner Don Garber said the next slot will be awarded before the MLS season starts in March.

The 2018 MLS season is less than a month away and for FC Cincinnati, the light at the end of the tunnel might finally be coming into view. As traffic studies and last minute stadium negotiations wrap up, we may have an answer as to whether or not FCC will receive an MLS bid over the next few weeks. If Don Garber does in fact pay a visit to the Queen City, it will cap off a very eventful month for the franchise.

February started with talks of FCC pursuing the West End and meeting with Cincinnati Public Schools to perhaps work out a stadium deal. The new kits (which look incredible) were unveiled on February 5, and the team’s preseason schedule is currently underway. After releasing Tommy Heinemann, the club appears to have made its final signing by bringing aboard Blake Smith. Aside from preseason match results, the big news that FCC fans will be checking for is MLS expansion. Barring more delays, Cincinnati should have its answer in a few weeks.

Another Successful Season

The 2017 season of FC Cincinnati came to a close as the lads fell in their first round playoff match to the Tampa Bay Rowdies by a score of 3-0. While the early postseason exit was a disappointing way to end the year, there is no denying that FCC’s second season of existence was one that that the city of Cincinnati will never forget.

Numerous attendance records were shattered, thrilling soccer unfolded in front of raucous crowds at Nippert Stadium, and there was the amazing run in the Open Cup that became the summer sports story in Cincinnati. FCC made it all the way to the semifinals before falling to Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls 3-2 in extra time. Before that loss however, FCC took out two storied franchises of MLS in Columbus Crew SC and the Chicago Fire. They defeated their in state rivals in the first ever “Hell is Real Derby” by a score of 1-0. They followed that up with a nationally televised victory over the Fire that came down to penalty kicks. When most fans think of the 2017 FCC season, they will most likely think of the Open Cup run.

Not everything was good about the season. FCC struggled mightily on the road and lost almost every match they played outside of Nippert Stadium. Mitch Hildebrandt regressed and was a step below his 2016 form. There was coaching turmoil that resulted in a change of leadership right before the season started. There is also the argument of how to fund and where to build a soccer specific stadium should FCC attain an expansion bid from MLS.

Despite those negatives, there is no doubt that 2017 will be remembered fondly by soccer fans in Cincinnati. FCC bolstered their MLS bid with record setting crowds, they played three MLS squads and defeated two of them, and they firmly established themselves as a big time player in the Cincinnati sports scene. Hopefully they hear good news from MLS in December and have continued success in 2018.

A Really Stupid Requirement

If you have been following FC Cincinnati’s attempt to attain a Major League Soccer expansion bid, then you know all about the argument dealing with where to build FCC’s proposed soccer specific stadium and who should pay for it. It is arguably the biggest sports story of the year as FCC’s fate as a potential MLS expansion team could live and die on whether or not the franchise can cement a stadium plan. In my opinion, the fact that MLS prefers soccer specific stadiums is really stupid.

As far as I know, they are the only American professional sports league that has a stadium requirement. Major League Baseball and the National Football League have shared stadiums and the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League share arenas. I know for a fact that some MLS teams have played in NFL stadiums. For example, Atlanta United FC shares Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL and had over 70,000 fans in attendance for a match.

I realize that during the early days of MLS, teams often played in very empty football stadiums which probably prompted MLS to prefer soccer specific stadiums as they are smaller. What I do not think MLS has realized is that the sport of soccer in America has grown. Kids all over the country grow up playing it and both domestic and international matches are shown on television pretty frequently. The world’s game has become a bonafide American sport. So why would MLS want to hamper its rise by containing teams in smaller stadiums?

As a diehard FC Cincinnati fan, I want the team to finalize a soccer specific stadium plan and get an MLS bid. I don’t care how its funded or where it’s built, just as long as a plan is in place and MLS commissioner Don Garber names FC Cincinnati as an MLS expansion club. From a logical standpoint though, I cannot help but think that the requirement of a soccer specific stadium is outdated, does more harm than good, and is really stupid.

Save the Derby

Early last week, it was reported that Columbus Crew SC might be leaving the state of Ohio for Austin, Texas, at the end of the 2018 season. This stunning announcement not only affects the Crew and their fans, but it may also affect FC Cincinnati and their bid to become a Major League Soccer expansion team. In some ways it can benefit the franchise, but the Crew’s potential exodus may also hurt FC Cincinnati.

The obvious reason that the Crew heading for Austin would hurt FC Cincinnati is that the budding instate rivalry between the two Ohio teams would be no more. The “Hell is Real Derby” had its first installment this past year during the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Fans of both franchises packed Nippert Stadium and created an atmosphere that was nothing short of electric. The action on the field was intense, fans were talking trash in the stands, players were jawing backing and forth on the field, and the first match of the “Hell is Real Derby” became an instant classic. FC Cincinnati fans celebrated the 1-0 victory, and Crew fans dreamt of vengeance on the pitch. With the Crew possibly leaving Ohio, the first chapter in the rivalry might be the only chapter. Due to that lack of an instate rivalry and the amazing atmosphere it created, MLS might pass on accepting FC Cincinnati’s expansion bid.

Just as obvious as the Crew’s possible Ohio exit could hurt FC Cincinnati’s MLS chances, it is also very obvious how it could be beneficial to the Cincinnati soccer squad. Should the Crew leave, MLS would not have a team in the state of Ohio. Many people think that this would clear the way for FC Cincinnati to join the league. Sports Illustrated and Fox Sports soccer expert Grant Wahl thinks the Crew’s exit all but assures that FC Cincinnati and Detroit attain MLS bids.

Personally, I want the Crew to stay in Ohio. The first match of the “Hell is Real Derby” was one of the best sporting events I have ever attended. The atmosphere was electric, and the sports hate between the two opposing Ohio soccer teams was pure and full of vitriol. It was an incredible way to introduce a possible flagship MLS rivalry to the soccer world. If FC Cincinnati does get into MLS, I do not want it to be because Columbus lost their team. It sucks when sports franchises leave a city and essentially desert their fan base. Even though FC Cincinnati and the Crew are rivals, I do not want Crew fans to have to lose their team. Hopefully the Crew can sort out their stadium situation and stay in Ohio allowing the “Hell is Real Derby” to continue should FC Cincinnati attain an MLS expansion slot.