FC Cincinnati
 | |||
| Full name | Futbol Club Cincinnati[1] | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | FCC | ||
| Founded | August 12, 2015 | ||
| Stadium |
Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, Ohio | ||
| Capacity | 20,000 (expandable to 40,000) | ||
| Owner | Carl H. Lindner III | ||
| General Manager | Jeff Berding | ||
| Head Coach | John Harkes | ||
| League | USL | ||
| 2016 | Inaugural Season | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
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FC Cincinnati is a United Soccer League (USL) club that began play in 2016. The team was announced on August 12, 2015. The club's ownership group is led by Carl H. Lindner III. John Harkes currently coaches the team.
History
In May 2015, rumors of a new USL club in Cincinnati started to be reported by the news media. There was much speculation[2] 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.[3] Berding is employed by the Bengals and on the board of the youth soccer club Kings-Hammer FC.[4] The Linder 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.[5]
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.[6]
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.
Stadium
FC Cincinnati plays home matches at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, also home to the Cincinnati Bearcats football. Nippert Stadium is a 40,000-seat stadium designed for America football and recently renovated to accommodate Soccer. FC Cincinnati artificially limits the stadium's capacity for USL matches, with certain seating sections covered with tarpaulins.
Rivalries
Cincinnati's geographic rivals will include Louisville City FC, who are located 100 miles away from Cincinnati. The Pittsburgh Riverhounds, located less than 290 miles away is the second closest USL team from Cincinnati.
Cincinnati also has a rivalry with the Charlotte Independence, known as the Queen City Cup Challenge.
Ownership and team management
FC Cincinnati officially introduced John Harkes as its first head coach on August 12, 2015. Harkes had previously acted as the New York Red Bulls assistant coach from July 2006 to November 2007. Ryan Martin is the top assistant coach.
Former Cincinnati Bengals executive Jeff Berding is acting as the President and General Manager.
Club Culture
Before the first match, there are three active supporters groups. Die Innenstadt is based on Cincinnati's "inner city" neighborhoods including Downtown and Over-the-Rhine. Die Innenstadt is hosting its match day activities at Mecklenburg Gardens and all away matches at rhinehaus. Die Innenstadt kicks off the home opener each season with a march up the steep public staircase along Ohio Avenue to Nippert Stadium. The Pride is a supporter's group that was founded before the official club announcement in August 2015 with match days at The Brass Tap. The Den is a supporter's group geared towards families.
Several chants and songs have been established by the supporters groups. After each FC Cincinnati goal, supporters repeat the chant "WE don't, WE don't, WE don't mess around, HEY!". It was started at a Die Innenstadt watch party for the second ever match, a friendly against KR Reykjavik. The chant was borrowed from an old game show on 700 WLW called Sports or Consequences in which host Gary Burbank and a collection of in-studio panelists would take questions from Cincinnati sports fans. If they got the question right, the hosts would celebrate by doing this chant. The show ended when the host retired in 2007, but many Cincinnati sports fans still remember the show fondly.
Broadcasting
On February 23, 2016, FC Cincinnati announced ESPN 1530 as the Official Radio Partner for the organization. ESPN 1530 will air all of FCC’s regular-season home matches. FC Cincinnati has also penned an agreement with Moerlein Lager House, which will be the official home of the ‘Coach John Harkes Show’. Hosted by Tom Gelehrter of 4th Floor Creative, the show is scheduled to air biweekly on Tuesdays from 6-7:00 p.m. on ESPN 1530 and will kick off March 22nd.[7]
On March 25, 2016, FC Cincinnati reached an agreement with Sinclair Broadcast Group to have WKRC-TV, WSTR-TV and CinCW 12.2 televise all home games, including playoff games. 9 games air on WSTR, 4 on CinCW, 2 on Local 12. Tom Gelehrter will call play-by-play with Kevin McCloskey and Paul Rockwood as color analysts. Lindsay Patterson will serve as sideline reporter.[8]
All live USL matches are streamed on-demand in high definition free at https://www.youtube.com/user/USLPRO
First Team Roster
Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, the nation is determined by place of birth.
- Last updated: February 24, 2016[9]
Achievements
Minor trophies
- IMG Suncoast Pro Classic (1): 2016[10]
Year-by-year
| Year | USL Regular season | Position | USL Cup Playoffs |
Additional Honors |
U.S. Open Cup | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | L | D | GF | GA | Pts | Conf. | Overall | ||||
| 2016 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 2nd | 2nd | N/A | N/A | N/A |
International opponents
| February 20, 2016 2016 IMG Suncoast Pro Classic | FC Cincinnati | 2–2 |  KR Reykjavík |
Bradenton, Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Spencer  76' Bone 88' |
Report | Pálmason 58' Beck 71' |
Stadium: IMG Academy |
| February 27, 2016 2016 IMG Suncoast Pro Classic | FC Cincinnati | 4–0 |  HB Køge |
Bradenton, Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wiedeman 58', 77' McLaughlin 65' Dell 90' |
Report | Stadium: IMG Academy |
Sponsorship
| Period | Kit Manufacturer | Shirt Sponsor | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015− | Nike | Toyota | [11] |
References
- ↑ Coolidge, Sharon. "Carl Lindner III bringing new pro soccer team to Cincy". www.cincinnati.com. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ↑ Hollingsworth, Chad (May 10, 2015), USL to Expand to Cincinnati in 2016
- ↑ Monk, Dan (August 6, 2015), Cincinnati Bengals exec Jeff Berding trying to bring a new pro soccer franchise to town
- ↑ Switzer, D.J. (May 11, 2015), revealed: USL in Cincinnati, Wrong Side of the Pond, retrieved August 11, 2015
- ↑ New United Soccer League franchise to play at UC in 2016, August 11, 2015
- ↑ Report: FC Cincinnati set to announce 2016 USL expansion, John Harkes as head coach, MLSSoccer.com, August 11, 2015
- ↑ "OFFICIAL RADIO PARTNERSHIP WITH IHEARTMEDIA AND SIX OTHER SPONSORS ANNOUNCED". FC Cincinnati. FC Cincinnati. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
- ↑ "FC Cincinnati, Sinclair Strike Television Deal". FC Cincinnati. FC Cincinnati. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- ↑ "Roster". USL. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- ↑ "FC Cincinnati Takes IMG Classic Title". United Soccer League. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
- ↑ "Cincinnati Unveils Jersey, Major Sponsorships". United Soccer League. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
External links
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