FC Cincinnati President & GM Jeff Berding has been open about the extent of his franchise's interest in the NWSL, and said that the team has "been in conversation" about expanding into the league, according to Patrick Brennan of the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. The ears of Cincinnati's soccer community "certainly perked up last week with the news" of the NWSL "expanding to nearby Louisville." Berding said, "The NWSL is growing. They had a very good growth year and we believe it will continue to grow." He added, "We're gonna have a brilliant stadium that we're privately funding down in the West End that would obviously work for NWSL. Are we interested? Yes. Have I had some conversations? Yes. Is there anything imminent to announce? No." More Berding: "Let's be clear, we have our hands full on getting a better 2020 on the men's side" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 10/29).
DOWN SOUTH: AMB Group Senior VP & Chief Communications Officer Brett Jewkes said that the organization is "considering starting an NWSL franchise in Atlanta, though there is no specific timetable for doing so." In Atlanta, Doug Roberson notes there were reports earlier this season about Atlanta United's "possible interest in an NWSL franchise." Jewkes in an email wrote, "We've had very preliminary discussions with the National Women's Soccer League about a possible franchise in Atlanta. We are evaluating a wide-range of factors to review and consider with no definitive timetable to complete that process. The growing success and appeal of women's soccer in America, both at the professional and amateur levels, is exciting and certainly worthy of our careful exploration" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 10/29).
