FC Cincinnati (buying, stadium, MLS)

[chet_kinkaid]

I would agree with chemistry guy,when I lived in Tampa we had MLS.. The level of play is not great,being a fan of premier league etc,its actually a tier below aaa baseball to be honest,and you already get about the same attendance,in the city proper,without the huge baggage and cost of MLS..the tv ratings of MLS are also very bad ,there's no real benefit of MLS over the current league..you might eventually get less attendance,and it will be in Newport..I always say the nfl,MLB,nhl, nba,is worth the cost but not this.

[ms12345]

Cincinnati and Hamilton county offered to pony up a sizable chunk of money for improvements if they go to Oakley. I agree with poster above that staying at UC would be the best. I personally don't believe the government should ever take tax money out of working people's pockets and hand it over to professional sports organizations. IMO big time college sports generates every bit as much excitement as professional, maybe more.

[WILWRadio]

If this team's front office has any brains they will work out a deal with Newport. Right now they are in danger of getting a MLS team because they keep trying to put the stadium in a place where it is either not wanted or has infrastructure issues. Take the path of lease resistance for God's sake.

[censusdata]

Lots of newer MLS stadiums are hardly in core urban neighborhoods, is there a reason Cincinnati is required to have a prime real estate location? Nashville is building a suburban stadium, Philly built one in a suburban ghetto that makes Hamilton look upscale. Seattle Sounders share a team with an NFL team.

[cincydave8]

MLS has required expansion teams to build teams in the Urban Core. Nashville's is just a few miles from downtown and is not in the suburbs. Look at the attendance for teams like Philly, Dallas, Chicago, Colorado and NE versus teams like Portland, Atlanta, Orlando and Toronto. The later have urban stadiums. Seattle, Atlanta and NE share with NFL teams, yes. Those teams share owners and are able to maximize revenue that way. MLS will not let you use another teams stadium unless it's under the same ownership. Also, NE is looking to build a soccer specific stadium in Boston.

People can poo poo on MLS for not being as good as the ELP or La Liga but soccer is growing in this country. Millennials are pushing that growth and it's only a matter of time until MLS is as big as or bigger than MLB, NFL and the NBA. Sports popularity change over time. Boxing, Horse Racing and Track used to be the biggest sports in this country.

FC Cincinnati needs to be in the MLS because life in the minor leagues is too uncertain. Google NASL or the Rochester Rhinos for two current reasons to see why.

[unusualfire]

Why not put it at the hamilton county fairgrounds? That's in the urban core. And they are ending the fair soon if not already.

[WILWRadio]

The in fighting going on in the City and Hamilton County is ruining any chances that a stadium will be built. And sadly this same problem is negatively impacting the residents and businesses beyond the soccer team.

[censusdata]

Originally Posted by unusualfire

Why not put it at the hamilton county fairgrounds? That's in the urban core. And they are ending the fair soon if not already.

I wondered the same. It's a large enough site and in the heart of the city. The fairgrounds should be moved off 275 in western HC anyway.

[Nomomo07]

Originally Posted by censusdata

I wondered the same. It's a large enough site and in the heart of the city. The fairgrounds should be moved off 275 in western HC anyway.

Because it is near absolutely nothing else entertainment-wise. The reason for the urban core stipulation is to ensure there is enough surrounding infrastructure to support the stadium. The current problem the Columbus Crew is having is that their stadium is currently surrounded by nothing but parking lots. Soccer is not yet at the level of the NFL or MLB, so you can't just hope for people to show up. You have to build a brand and an experience for both current and prospective fans. It isn't just about being centrally located.

[cincydave8]

Per press conference this morning, deal appears to struck to build the stadium in the West End. Assuming this holds true, all eyes turn to MLS Commish Don Garber.