If there’s one thing that’s certain about Cincinnati, this is a sports town.
Its passion for the Reds and Bengals is well known. UC and Xavier aren’t far behind. There’s the Cyclones and Freedom, too. And you can’t talk about Cincinnati sports without mentioning high school athletics.
But if there’s one segment that’s gone underserved, it’s that of the soccer fan.
There have been numerous attempts to kick start the beautiful game, but none had all the attributes to truly be successful. Some lacked connections to Cincinnati establishment or were short on sports business savvy. Most went without adequate financial backing. And none ever had star power or a facility that properly felt, well, professional.
So while passion for soccer has always lived on the banks of the Ohio, without all of that, success proved elusive.
FC Cincinnati want to change that.
Kicking off their inaugural season in the USL, FC Cincinnati are aiming to become the city’s third major league franchise.
Long-time Cincinnati Bengals executive and former city councilman Jeff Berding provides legitimate big league experience. Too, Berding’s relationships within the city have proven invaluable. Joining him is Cincinnati businessman, philanthropist and majority owner, Carl Linder III. Linder’s involvement supplies the type of backing rarely seen in American soccer, nevermind Cincinnati.
Also on board is the University of Cincinnati. Recently renovated Nippert Stadium will instantly rank among the USL’s finest stadiums.
Furthermore, US National Team legend John Harkes will be their first head coach. His name recognition has helped attract top talent, fans and media.
With a well-connected frontman, well-funded ownership, a world class facility, a star coach and a competitive side, FC Cincinnati seemingly check all the boxes that their predecessors couldn’t.
But the question remains: will the city embrace them?
The rise of several independent supporters groups would indicate ‘yes’. Die Innendstadt, The Pride and The Den want to provide the vibrant, energetic support seen at clubs around the world. If successful, they could have an enormous impact on the club reaching their targeted 10,000 fans per game. An undefeated preseason and partnerships with local youth clubs could also make that attainable. With several weeks until their April 9th opener, they’ve already sold over 4,200 season tickets.
So the pieces appear to be falling into place for Cincinnati to finally get the soccer team it deserves. Now, it’s up to the fans to show how much they want it.