FC Cincinnati's MLS expansion bid includes building a 21,000-seat stadium in the West End of the cityGETTY IMAGES
It appears USL club FC Cincinnati still has "work to do before the expansion hopeful can be considered for admittance" into MLS, according to Patrick Brennan of the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. FC Cincy officials said that the team, like other candidates, "discussed expansion with MLS officials while attending the inaugural match at Banc of California Stadium" in L.A. on Sunday. The team said that owners Carl Lindner III and David Thompson, along with President & GM Jeff Berding, "attended the meeting." Brennan notes the expansion bid includes building a 21,000-seat, $212.5M stadium in the West End of the city, and a development agreement with local officials has been "approved and financing has been arranged with the Greater Cincinnati Redevelopment Authority." However, a community benefits agreement with West End neighbors is "not complete and hasn't been approved by the city." No money can flow to the stadium "until after that approval." MLS Exec VP/Communications Dan Courtemanche said that a planned visit by league officials to "inspect the West End stadium site hadn't yet occurred." He "declined to give on a timetable for when the league's inspection visit might happen" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 5/3).
