USL club FC Cincinnati has surpassed the 10,000 mark for season-ticket sales, as the team "reached its goal" six weeks before it begins the '17 season, according to Erin Caproni of the CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER. Less than 100 seats "remain in the Bailey section at the north end of Nippert Stadium, which is home to the club’s most fervent supporters." Club and premium seats have "sold out, but seats in the stadium’s lower bowl remain available" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/7). In Cincinnati, Patrick Brennan writes surpassing 10,000 season-ticket sales is a "major feather in the cap of the club as it continues the ongoing application process" for MLS expansion. FC Cincinnati President & GM Jeff Berding has "targeted 10,000 season tickets for a while." He said that the number was a "kind of indicator of stability" for the franchise. Brennan: "This is a big deal for MLS aspirants" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 2/8).
IF YOU BUILD IT: In Cincinnati, Steve Watkins profiled architectural firm MEIS Founder Dan Meis, who is "working on new stadium designs" for FC Cincinnati. Meis has worked on several other MLS facilities and "looked at the other expansion candidates," but he chose to work with FC Cincinnati. Meis: "I wouldn’t want to be on another team." Berding said he has known Meis since he worked on the "award-winning design" of the Bengals' Paul Brown Stadium, which opened in '00. Meis "wouldn't divulge" potential stadium sites. But he said that they "will be in areas full of activity." Meis: "The surrounding area is important. MLS wants to see areas that are vibrant, even when it’s not game day. We’re working on two sites and both of them have their charm" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/7).
