Tuesday was a pretty great day for the City of Cincinnati. When it’s Mayor the honorable John Crawley dedicated this day as Orange and Blue in honor of their local soccer club, FC Cincinnati, being admitted into Major League Soccer for the 2019 season.
The highlight for this city historical moment or seen as the next big thing or significant step.
However, this day is a major one for the squad of Queen City after Major League Soccer the honorable Commissioner Don Garber officially making the announcement in the majestic installations of Rheingest Brewery and thousands in Fountain Square.
As the City of Nati will become the 26th entry after Nashville and Miami already awarded a franchise.
I do recall in my youth growing up in San Diego when I heard about Cincinnati I related Queen City to that mighty Red machine managed by the late Sparky Anderson as well the days of Ken Anderson and the Bengals.
Yes, baseball and football were the sports that highlighted this city sports being among the nation winning franchises, but imagining soccer or football, as its call in the world, not in those days, no way!
That was then and now is a new City as vibrating and with a dynamic economic growth and diversity as well its growing fan base considered in league circles in the States as solid, energetic and passionate.
Imagine a project conceived by fans on the city east side in coffee shops and for another former NFL executive on his table taking a serious approach on this project on pizza and beer. That was the way this amazing project is now a reality.
Everything started with a friendly match between FC Cincinnati and Crystal Palace celebrated in the American side in University of Cincinnati Nippert Stadium when it showed up a record 35,061 fans.
After that match, this squad started a meteoric rise, showing off an all-around acceptance, and so far breaking all sorts of attendance records in their current association of play the USL. Such rise that caught the attention of one of America’s utmost of entrepreneurs and current Commissioner of Major League Soccer, Don Garber.
The FCC already has a strong supporters group that can easily equal to the current fans bases known for their die hard supporters, originality and following in the Timbers Army, Emerald City Supporters, Southsiders and Sons of Ben to mention a few.
Still do not count this Midwest squad of lacking supporters group, with a total of five and one section of their temporary home already baptized as the Bailey by one of the supporters group. These groups in the Die Innenstad, The Pride, The Legion, Queen City Firm and the Bailey Bastards.
All of these groups today were very vocal and with a lot of originality in their chants, for sure all these will make an all-around impact in 2019 when the Cincy Boys make their debut in America’s top soccer association.
The inception of the FCC for sure will raise the bar in contested competitions with their cross state foes and current MLS squad Columbus Crew that already these two have selected a name as the “Hell is Real” Derby. This comes allusive to a Christian themed sign in Ohio’s I-71 Columbus- Cincinnati highway.
So far, this squad after its inception in 2016, they have built a contender under manager Alan Koch who has made a feisty and determined squad a tough one, very well playing one on one against MLS teams currently when they face off in the US Open Cups.
In the eyes of its visionaries in Carl Linder III Group and its CEO Jeff Berding that NFL former executive, that brought and made possible the magic of the beautiful game along a bold City Council and Mayor of this city that at the end deliver.
Very well, this club will still use Nippert Stadium as their home until their new colossus in the West End neighborhood conclusion in 2021 with a capacity of 21,000 fans, man this game is catching on.
Welcome to Major League Soccer FC Cincinnati, what took you so long?
FC Cincinnati
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