Gordon Bombay

I’m not entirely sure. The Rt. 85 and Metro Plus both use it now, but I’m not sure if they’re able to do so due to an improved ventilation system, or, since the service is so infrequent they don’t even have to worry about. After the 2018 flood, extensive refurbishment work was done to the RTC, but I don’t know if that included any changes to ventilation system.

Would the proposed, new “scalloped” facade feature lighting to give it that appearance? If that’s so—it looks great in the rendering, my only concern would that once two or three of those lights burn out, things will look ill maintained. But maybe I’m understanding it wrong?

Agreed. I’ve never heard great things about Greyhound and never found any of their options out of Cincinnati to be appealing when compared to Amtrak/Flights/Just Driving, but I at least always looked and considered it because the station was centrally located. Now, though, I wouldn’t bother (although, I certainly recognize it’s a privilege to be able to compare Greyhound to other options). Still boggles my mind that the Riverfront Transit Center isn’t used for intercity busses and more Metro routes. Although the location is challenging for some routes, I still feel that the RTC would be a much better passenger waiting area than Government Square (assuming the streetcar operations were shored up to be a bit more reliable and with better hours).

Coincidentally, I was by there on a Saturday night last weekend. It was about 7 p.m. with one Baron Bus and one Greyhound in the lot. There’s a fence around the area and what seem to be trailers for portable toilets (but not for passenger waiting). The whole area is lit by fluorescent lights and just looks like it’s storage for surplus buses. There’s nothing around in terms of food, coffee, hotels that’s walkable. The only way to reach the “station” is via car, or, as mentioned earlier—threadbare public transit.

You’re not a real Cincinnati bridge unless an 80s themed floating restaurant hits you twice.

All those politicians down at the shoreline and not one discussed the other vital infrastructure project needed there: the return of Jeff Ruby’s floating restaurant known as The Waterfront!

Was literally about to say the same thing. @Lazarusand I live in the same market and I watched it over-the-air on network television. We get it, you personally don’t like soccer.

Did you all walk uphill in the snow both ways after that laugh?

Sadly the latest news and rumors surrounding Queensboro haven’t been good. I sincerely doubt that club plays next year if ever (they have academy teams, but no USL-C team). Add the news regarding MLS’ NYCFC finally securing somewhat of a stadium plan and I think Queensboro is done.

Is there a rendering online anywhere? IIRC, the dream of Cleveland in MLS faded after the man leading the potential ownership group passed away, right? Coincidentally, before FC Cincinnati there were two pushes to get MLS in that market albeit behind the scenes. There was a real chance The Crew may have relocated at one point before Crew Stadium came about, and, The Bengals had pursued a franchise of their own for Paul Brown Stadium in the early aughts.

And how are they doing these days? 😉 But I do absolutely get your point.

I’m not entirely sure on that. If they’re truly independent, I don’t see why not? Also, looking more into the Rochester situation (currently the only non-affiliated, independent club in MLSNP), it looks like independent teams in the league can in fact participate in the open cup (a chance to face off against the Crew and Cincy). Still, for a market like Cleveland, USL-C would seem to be a better fit (although I’m sure MLSNP is less of a financial risk). When FC Cincinnati was in USL (both its third and second division iterations), playing “II” teams sucked.

That’s great news on the NWSL front, hopefully MLSNP becomes a better league or this group reconsiders USL-C.

I disagree given the state and trends of USL at this moment. USL isn’t just USL-C, it’s a collection of several leagues developing its own infrastructure from academies to stadiums. And while MLSNP may be the “true” minor league, that just typecasts this Cleveland franchise as such. USL-C teams meanwhile, exist at the 2nd Division as a technicality. And while those who follow such things know there’s still a wide gulf between USL-C & MLS, the common fan does not—which is how you get clubs with large local followings in cities such as Louisville, Sacramento, Tampa, and Detroit. They’re “2nd Division,” but don’t exist to just develop players for a parent organization. Their games and league can mean something + they can play for the Open Cup and if they win that… CONCACAFF Champion’s League. Meanwhile, MLSNextPro is simply just a development team. Additionally, none of the MLSNextPro clubs that exist currently or are being developed seem poised to “build MLS infrastructure” for future expansion teams. They exist mostly as “II” teams to develop players for the parent clubs. If Cleveland really wanted the best current option to push for an expansion franchise—they’d be better suited at following the USL model in the vein of Cincinnati, Orlando, Nashville, and Sacramento. Also, USL is a league that could potentially (but not anytime soon) apply for First Division status under the USSF guidelines Back in 2016, I was at the original FC Cincinnati team store waiting in line to buy a kit. I spoke with this couple behind me who had relocated from Seattle. They were Sounders fans, but were so happy that Cincinnati now had a team, not even realizing that FCC was (at the time) in the Third Division (USL’s previous ranking). Point is—clubs like FC Cincinnati, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Sacramento, and especially San Diego Loyal nowadays do a great job of marketing themselves as top tier organizations. They don’t come off as minor league and follow that up by presenting a “major league” face to fans. No MLSNextPro team is going to do that for the foreseeable future, nor is it likely that they’d aspire to that. Because that’s not why the league exists. Maybe I’m wrong and maybe MLSNP ends up developing independent clubs with their own identity, but it seems to me if you want that model—the answer is already there in USL either at the Championship or League 1 level. As for future expansion franchises—while good local support and attendance helps, the be all end all is money. I mean, Cincinnati had incredible fan support, but the real reason a mid-tier sports market got to cut the MLS expansion line in front of Phoenix, Tampa, San Diego, Vegas, St. Louis, Detroit, and so many others was…. Billionaire ownership and a stadium deal. I don’t see that happening for Cleveland anytime soon (although I’d love it if so).

Such a missed opportunity to have MLSNEXTPRO and not USL-C. Cleveland is an established major league market with a great reputation for support of its pro teams, and, although USL-C is technically “second division,” the independent clubs in that league do not act or feel “minor league.” Not to mention, a USL-C club could establish good rivalries in open cup matches against Columbus and Cincinnati in addition to regional USL rivals like Pittsburgh, an eventual Milwaukee club, Detroit, Indy, and Louisville. While MLSNEXTPRO serves a good technical purpose, its main purpose is not to provide a community with a local team they can truly rally behind (no matter what some suits want to believe).

I would LOVE that, but even with the levy that passed—I’m very, very skeptical that we’ll ever see real BRT in this city. I ride Metro regularly and once took the 78 from Downtown to Tri-County. Never again.

Didn’t at all sound like he was. Rather…

In a theoretical future where Cincy somehow gets a modern 20k seat arena with all the amenities, modern logistics (loading/unloading/lights/sound), etc., no act is going to opt for the lesser option (or, rather, whoever is managing said new arena is going to have pull with the regular touring acts such as Disney, WWE, etc). This isn’t the Coliseum vs The Gardens where the Gardens had a whole separate side business of hockey leagues, free parking, etc. What few acts *might* consider Heritage over a new place aren’t going to be enough to pay the bills. What Heritage has going for it now is solely seating capacity. A new arena would outclass it there and by every other metric. Acts looking for smaller seating? Well, they’ll go to NKUs arena, Cintas (where the Globetrotters have gone), or 5/3 (where AEW goes). Music? If you’re a large touring band such as the Chili Peppers, U2, etc., you’re going to go where you can get butts in seats and maximize your other opportunities such as merchandise (a massive hassle at Heritage). Need a smaller venue? Take your pick between any university arena, either riverfront music venue, a slew of theatres, river bend, PNC Pavilion, or even the Timberwolf at Kings Island (which announced a new summer concert series today). EDIT: and now the soccer stadium is hosting music. If there’s a new arena, Neiderlander will either be a partner in it or pack it in on the Riverfront. Their land will instantly be more valuable as an asset for sale than as a venue for anything other than the hockey team which they own (and can also sell the rights for to a new arena). Maybe, at the very least, they pick up some independent rodeo or off-brand Monster Truck tour for a few months before they demolish the place.

The Cyclones are owned by the same group who owns the arena and as much fun as their games can be—that franchise has never been a discussion point in the demand for a new facility. Even if a new arena comes and Heritage closes—minor league hockey franchises are a dime-a-dozen and it wouldn't be hard to get a new one (nor would it be hard to continue the Cyclones brand). I disagree with this analogy. The events hosted at The Gardens were not events that ever would've considered US Bank Arena (aside from the brief period of wrestling boom when the Gardens was WWF exclusive and US Bank WCW exclusive). The Shrine Circus often switched between The Gardens and UC's campus, never going to USBA even after Ringling folded. As for boxing? Well, neither arena hosted a major boxing event in the past thirty years. If anything, UFC is the big combat sport and you can bet that would go to a new arena. The Gardens land was also not always prime for redevelopment. What the Gardens truly succeeded in was not just having the AHL Mighty Ducks (that team an arrival out of spite for the Cyclones moving Downtown and would've kept the Clones out of business had they successfully become the "Railraiders" in 2005), but the fact that it was also a facility for youth hockey. Both the large rink and its extra facility hosted several local leagues, workshops, etc. Heritage Bank won't have that. It is when you're sitting on valuable real estate and the value of your building quickly goes from "meh" (currently) to "lol" if it's made totally obsolete by a newer arena. Not to mention, who's to say Neiderlander isn't brought in as a partner with a new arena?

Awhile back, I went to check out that abandoned subdivision west of 9/27. There are still two homes back there, both occupied. If you want to see some photos and read about it though, here's the link (just skip the first few paragraphs of rambling if you want historical detail on the subdivision): https://ronnysalerno.com/queencitydiscovery/flight-and-former-front-yards

so… not good news for Ohio?

I was an FCC season ticket holder this season and caught the streetcar to every home match I attended, usually several hours before the match to visit friends at a bar. Even on weeknights, the train is filled fairly well with fans. After the match is a different story—the thing is absolutely packed at both Washington Park stations. Really cool to see.

Couldn’t agree more and I appreciate your perspective as well! The NURFC really is a gem in this city.

I’m a big fan of the NURFC. While I agree that there are exhibits that are solemn and serious, the place does also work as a nice event space that can be uplifting and hopeful. There are also exhibits that rotate through beyond the subject matter of slavery. I’ve attended several events there (both as a guest and as an employee of an invited organization) that were very well done and tasteful. At one point, my former partner and I almost had our wedding there. We were both NURFC members and loved the idea of being able to promote the museum,—not just for its mission, but what it represents to the city and region, as well as ourselves. We loved the place and saw it not just as picturesque venue with good space, but a chance to share something special. Comparing it to “having your wedding at the Holocaust Museum,” is a bit dramatic in my opinion. Ultimately, NURFC wasn’t the venue we chose, but that was mainly due to logistics.

That crowd is already to the Northwest and Downtown. If a developer wanted to market units to the casino’s core audience, they’d probably be better off building a retirement home.