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FC Cincinnati (MLS)

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FC Cincinnati
File:FC Cincinnati primary logo 2018.svg
Full nameFootball Club Cincinnati[1]
Nickname(s)Orange and Blue
FoundedMay 30, 2018; 5 years ago (2018-05-30)
StadiumNippert Stadium
Cincinnati, Ohio
Capacity33,800[2]
OwnerCarl H. Lindner III
ManagerAlan Koch[3]
LeagueMajor League Soccer
WebsiteClub website
Current season

FC Cincinnati is a soccer club based in Cincinnati, Ohio, that will begin play in Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2019. The team will succeed the lower-division team of the same name and was announced on May 29, 2018, when MLS awarded an expansion franchise to Cincinnati.[4] The club's ownership group is led by Carl H. Lindner III.

History[edit]

USL team[edit]

FC Cincinnati was a founded in 2015 and played for three seasons in the United Soccer League, the second division of men's soccer in the United States. The club quickly broke attendance records for second-division teams and gained the interest of MLS during its late 2010s expansion drive. The USL club's ownership group announced in 2016 that they would seek an MLS expansion franchise.[5] There was speculation[6] regarding the relationship the team would have with the Cincinnati Bengals, as well as a former Cincinnati soccer club, the Cincinnati Kings, as Jeff Berding was named as part of the ownership group.[7] Berding was employed by the Bengals and on the board of the youth soccer club Kings-Hammer FC.[8] The Lindner family, of American Financial Group which is headquartered in Cincinnati, was reported as the owner of the new team with Carl Lindner III representing the owners at the press conference.[9]

Then on August 12, 2015, FC Cincinnati announced that John Harkes would coach the new club and that the club would play in Nippert Stadium on the campus of the University of Cincinnati.[10]

General manager Jeff Berding talks about FC Cincinnati's inaugural season.

On April 16, 2016, FC Cincinnati broke the USL attendance record for a game, with 20,497 in attendance for the rivalry game against Louisville City FC, and, on May 14, against another rival Pittsburgh Riverhounds, broke its own record with 23,375 in attendance.[11] On September 17, 2016, the team broke the USL record again, when they drew 24,376 for their game against Orlando City B. The team broke its own USL record once again on August 5, 2017, when they drew 25,308 for their game against Orlando City B.[12]

On July 16, 2016, FC Cincinnati set the record for highest attendance at a soccer match in the state of Ohio when 35,061 people came for an exhibition game against Crystal Palace.

On October 2, 2016, FC Cincinnati hosted their first ever playoff match against Charleston Battery, losing 2–1 in the quarterfinals of the 2016 USL playoffs. In the process, the club broke the playoff and single-game attendance record at 30,187.[13]

On June 14, 2017, FC Cincinnati played their first match against a Major League Soccer team, Columbus Crew SC, during the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Cincinnati won 1–0, with player Baye Djiby Fall scoring the only goal of the game. In the process, Cincinnati broke the attendance record for the U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round with 30,160 tickets sold, only 5,000 behind their club attendance record of 35,061.

On June 28, 2017, FC Cincinnati played their second match against a Major League Soccer team, Chicago Fire, in the Round of 16 during the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Cincinnati would prevail 3–1 on penalty kicks after a 0–0 draw, with goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt stopping three of four penalty kicks. He totaled 10 saves during the match. The attendance of 32,287 was the second largest Modern Era crowd in U.S. Open Cup history. The match was televised nationally on ESPN.[14]

On August 15, 2017, FC Cincinnati were defeated at home in front of a sold-out crowd by the New York Red Bulls 3–2 in the US Open Cup semi-final. FCC was leading 2–0 in the second half before eventually losing in extra time.[15]

On April 7, 2018, the club set the USL attendance record for a home opener at 25,667 in a 1–0 loss to rival Louisville City.[16]

The players and staff celebrate clinching the 2018 USL regular season title.

On September 29, 2018, the club broke the USL attendance record once again, drawing in 31,478 in a 3–0 win over rival Indy Eleven.[17]

MLS expansion bid[edit]

The club began negotiations with Major League Soccer over a potential expansion franchise in early 2016, and Cincinnati was announced as one of ten cities that had expressed interest in the slots for teams 25 to 28.[18][19] MLS Commissioner Don Garber visited Cincinnati in December 2016 to tour Nippert Stadium and meet with city and club officials, complimenting the city and its fans.[20] FC Cincinnati formally submitted its expansion bid in January 2017, including a shortlist of potential stadium locations.[21]

On May 29, 2018, Major League Soccer announced that FC Cincinnati would join the league in 2019 as an expansion team.[22][23] A 21,000-seat stadium in the West End is scheduled to open in 2021.[24][25]

MLS expansion and inaugural season[edit]

On May 29, 2018, Major League Soccer announced that Cincinnati would join the league in 2019 as an expansion team under the FC Cincinnati brand.[26][27] A 21,000-seat stadium in the West End is scheduled to open in 2021.[28][29]

FC Cincinnati signed their first two MLS players, Fanendo Adi and Fatai Alashe, in July 2018. Adi was the team's first designated player.[30] Both players were loaned to the FC Cincinnati USL team for the remainder of the 2018 season.[31]

FC Cincinnati will select up to five players from certain MLS teams in the expansion draft, scheduled to take place on December 11, 2018.[32]

Stadium[edit]

FC Cincinnati will play at Nippert Stadium while their new stadium, FC Cincinnati stadium, is being built.[citation needed]

The FC Cincinnati stadium or West End Stadium is expected to open in 2021.[33]

Rivalries[edit]

Cincinnati has a potential in-state rival in Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew.[34] Cincinnati's USL team was drawn against the Crew in a US Open Cup match in 2017, known as Hell Is Real,[35][36] after a Christian-themed billboard on Interstate 71, the highway between Columbus and Cincinnati.[35]

Ownership[edit]

General manager Jeff Berding, MLS commissioner Don Garber, club owner Carl Lindner III, and Cincinnati mayor John Cranley at the MLS franchise announcement in 2018

Former Cincinnati Bengals executive Jeff Berding is the president and general manager.[37] The CEO and majority owner of the team is Carl Lindner III, CEO of American Financial Group, with Scott Farmer also a leading owner.[38][39]

Roster[edit]

Updated November 13, 2018[40]

No. Position Player Nation
2 Defender Kendall Waston  Costa Rica
3 Defender Forrest Lasso  United States
4 Defender Greg Garza  United States
5 Midfielder Nazmi Albadawi  Palestine
6 Midfielder Leonardo Bertone   Switzerland
7 Midfielder Roland Lamah  Belgium
8 Midfielder Víctor Ulloa  Mexico
9 Forward Fanendo Adi (DP)  Nigeria
11 Forward Darren Mattocks  Jamaica
13 Goalkeeper Jimmy Hague  United States
14 Defender Nick Hagglund  United States
15 Midfielder Allan Cruz (DP)  Costa Rica
16 Midfielder Eric Alexander  United States
17 Defender Mathieu Deplagne  France
18 Goalkeeper Spencer Richey  United States
19 Midfielder Corben Bone  United States
20 Midfielder Jimmy McLaughlin  United States
22 Goalkeeper Przemysław Tytoń  Poland
24 Midfielder Frankie Amaya (GA)  United States
27 Midfielder Fatai Alashe  United States
31 Forward Kekuta Manneh  Gambia
32 Defender Justin Hoyte  Trinidad and Tobago
33 Midfielder Caleb Stanko  United States
45 Midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma  Argentina
47 Defender Hassan Ndam  Cameroon
92 Defender Alvas Powell  Jamaica
93 Midfielder Kenny Saief (on loan from Anderlecht)  United States

Sponsorship[edit]

Period Kit Manufacturer Shirt Sponsor Ref.
2019 (planned) Adidas[41] Mercy Health Partners [42]

References[edit]

  1. Weingartner, Tana. "Football Club Cincinnati: Check Out FC Cincinnati's New Branding". Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  2. FCC staff (July 16, 2016). "Record Crowd Watches FCC Take on Crystal Palace". FCCincinnati.com. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  3. "FC Cincinnati's Alan Koch: The man to lead the club into Major League Soccer". Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  4. "FC Cincinnati to join MLS as expansion team". Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  5. PRESS, ANNE M. PETERSON, ASSOCIATED. "FCC official statement on MLS expansion". Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  6. Hollingsworth, Chad (May 10, 2015). "USL to Expand to Cincinnati in 2016".
  7. Monk, Dan (August 6, 2015). "Cincinnati Bengals exec Jeff Berding trying to bring a new pro soccer franchise to town". WCPO-TV.
  8. Switzer, D.J. (May 11, 2015). "revealed: USL in Cincinnati". Wrong Side of the Pond. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  9. Vicar, Nathan (August 12, 2015). "Details released about new FC Cincinnati pro soccer team". FOX10 News. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  10. "Report: FC Cincinnati set to announce 2016 USL expansion, John Harkes as head coach". MLSSoccer.com. August 11, 2015.
  11. Brennan, Patrick (May 14, 2016). "Another record crowd turns out to watch FC Cincy win". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  12. "Crowd count weekend soccer attendances".
  13. Kimura, Fumi (October 2, 2016). "Post-Season Ends in Loss To Battery, FCC Sets USL Playoff Record". Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  14. "PAIR OF UPSETS BY DIVISION II CLUBS HIGHLIGHT 2017 U.S. OPEN CUP ROUND OF 16". U.S. Soccer. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  15. "FC Cincinnati vs. New York Red Bulls – Football Match Report – August 15, 2017 – ESPN". ESPNFC.com. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  16. Rettig, Will. "Orange & Blue Fall in Home Opener". FC Cincinnati. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  17. "FC Cincinnati end final USL home slate with one more attendance record". mlssoccer.com. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  18. Couch, Ben (December 15, 2016). "MLS announces expansion process and timeline". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  19. "FC Cincinnati 'in talks' with Major League Soccer, but no solid plan in the works". WCPO. April 23, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  20. Hatch, Charlie (December 4, 2016). "MLS Commissioner Don Garber impressed by Cincinnati after midweek tour". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  21. Brennan, Patrick (January 31, 2017). "FC Cincinnati submits expansion bid to MLS". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  22. Brennan, Patrick (May 29, 2018). "It's official: FC Cincinnati has joined MLS, will begin play in 2019". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  23. MLSsoccer staff (May 29, 2018). "Cincinnati awarded MLS expansion club, will start play in 2019". MLSSoccer.com. MLS Digital. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  24. "Cincinnati awarded MLS expansion club, will start play in 2019" (Press release). Major League Soccer. May 29, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  25. Watkins, Steve (March 22, 2018). "Here's when FC Cincinnati plans to begin play in new stadium". Cincinnati Business Journal. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  26. Brennan, Patrick (May 29, 2018). "It's official: FC Cincinnati has joined MLS, will begin play in 2019". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  27. MLSsoccer staff (May 29, 2018). "Cincinnati awarded MLS expansion club, will start play in 2019". MLSSoccer.com. MLS Digital. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  28. "Cincinnati awarded MLS expansion club, will start play in 2019" (Press release). Major League Soccer. May 29, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  29. Watkins, Steve (March 22, 2018). "Here's when FC Cincinnati plans to begin play in new stadium". Cincinnati Business Journal. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  30. "FC Cincinnati signs Fanendo Adi, Fatai Alashe ahead of MLS move". espn.com.
  31. "Cincinnati Bolsters Squad with Adi, Alashe". uslsoccer.com. 31 July 2018.
  32. "FC Cincinnati can select 5 major league players for inaugural roster".
  33. Knight, Cameron (October 19, 2018). "FC Cincinnati stadium will break ground Dec. 19, open March 2021". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  34. Reed, Tom (June 14, 2017). "It's feeling real in Cincinnati". The Columbus Dispatch. GateHouse Media. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  35. 35.0 35.1 Murphy, Pat (June 14, 2017). "Massive Predictions: Hell is Real – Will Hell freeze over or take over Columbus following this U.S. Open Cup Derby?". Massive Report. SB Nation. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  36. Hatch, Charlie (June 14, 2017). "'HELL IS REAL,' and so is FC Cincinnati's threat to Columbus". FourFourTwo. Haymarket Media Group. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  37. Kay, Joe (May 29, 2018). "FC Cincinnati to join MLS in 2019 as league's latest expansion team". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  38. Strauss, Brian (February 1, 2017). "MLS expansion city profile: Cincinnati". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  39. Watkins, Steve (23 May 2018). "FC Cincinnati owner Lindner on MLS bid: 'I think we're going to get over the finish line'". Cincinnati Business Courier.
  40. https://www.fccincinnati.com/players
  41. https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/08/02/major-league-soccer-and-adidas-extend-landmark-partnership-through-2024
  42. "Major League Soccer Awards Expansion Team to Cincinnati". FCCincinnati.com. May 29, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.


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