Why can't MLS realize that the atmosphere at Nippert is incredible and make an exemption? ESPN put them on ESPN1 vs. Chicago just because it would better than a lot of MLS games.

 

Here's a post re: this from some guy on reddit:

 

In order to make ends meet, an MLS FC Cincinnati is, quite literally, going to need to sell and monetize every aspect of the club -- and that simply isn't possible at Nippert Stadium. Let's just look at the "big" aspects and see where it doesn't work:

 

Naming Rights: UC (shortsightedly, but that's a different bag of worms entirely) agreed a long time ago to never rename Nippert Stadium. They also agreed to never rename the actual field itself (named after a former AD at the school). There is, as best anyone can figure, nothing that can be done about this. Naming rights to your average professional sports stadium easily run over $1m per year, and go even higher. That's revenue directly out of FC Cincinnati's pocket every year.

 

Concession & Merchandise: Nippert stadium doesn't have the ability to offer premium concessions, where most teams make the bulk of their food money these days (it's no coincdence that every ballpark in America is upgrading from hot dogs and popcorn). For one, there's no ability to actually cook food inside the stadium, and for two there's no additional space available to build new concessions. Similarly, there's limited ability to offer merchandise for sale on matchday. Most, if not all, teams wants to have their team shop on premsies to get the captive audience that comes for matches each week. There's simply no space to build a team shop on Nippert's footprint. Again, all of those lost sales on matchday is money out of FCC's pocket.

 

Seating Reconfiguration: Nippert's all-bench seating is fine for a minor-league soccer club, but when prices go up are people really going to be OK with metal bleachers for a premium price? Chairback seating is almost a must at any modern stadium facility (outside of a supporters section, where safe standing should be in place), and Nippert simply cannot accommodate it without massive restructuring. And, that's assuming you'd get UC to go along with it, given that chairback seating would significantly reduce capacity (eating into their bottom line for football sales).

 

Non-Soccer Event Hosting: Clubs have the ability to monteize their own stadiums when they aren't in use by hosting things like tournaments, other sporting events (college football bowl games, in some cases), concerts, etc. Nippert stadium doesn't work for these events because it's also in use by the university on a daily basis, if not by the football team, than by student organizations and activities.

 

I've described Nippert in previous posts as "Death by 1,000 paper cuts" -- some of the cuts are big (naming rights is a HUGE loss), some are small (not being able to sell a premium sandwich v. a brattwurst), but they all keep adding up. Financially, there isn't a workable model that leads you to FC Cincinnati surviving, as a successful MLS team, in a stadium like Nippert. Even if you could, in some fantasy universe, buy the building and "control it," you'd still need to solve the problem of Jimmy Nippert's name and the physics of fitting more facilities onto an already completely full footprint. Absent solutions to ALL of these issues, I don't see any way the math works there. And, at the end of the day, that's why MLS requires teams to own their own buildings and control all revenue streams coming in -- because they don't want to admit teams that can't pay their bills and/or can't run compettive teams.

The situation with FCC reminds me so much of what happened with MidPoint Music Festival.

 

MidPoint previously operated in venues that were not owned by MPMF's owners. It was popular with fans largely because of the really cool atmosphere that this created. You could see awesome bands in interesting venues, and the area around those venues was filled with energy and excitement. However the festival was only breaking even each year and not making a profit. In order to that that music festival into the big leagues and attract bigger headliners, it was sold to a new owner who moved it to venues that they owned or completely controlled. The new owners would be able to make a profit since they would get all of the revenue from ticket and alcohol sales, instead of having to share it with the venue owners.

 

Most long-time MPMF fans dislike the new format. Even though there are now bigger bands headlining the festival, fans miss the "underdog" feel of the old festival with its odd venues and up-and-coming bands.

^Maybe even the school district could be compelled to build and own title to the thing.  Chris Finney would have to waste a ton of time in the law library trying to figure out how to block that in such a way that his law firm could exploit it. 

 

The Lindners know that asshat is out there ready to pull his same old city charter b.s.  Get a charter on the ballot with confusing ballot language, confuse the public, get it passed, then sue, then settle.  Over and over again for the past 25 years until Cranley paid him $600k to go away. 

 

I'm honestly surprised COAST hasn't floated the idea of an Issue 9 style ballot initiative - basically, a short catch-all amendment that would prohibit the City of Cincinnati from spending any money on a new soccer stadium. It would probably pass.

The situation with FCC reminds me so much of what happened with MidPoint Music Festival.

 

MidPoint previously operated in venues that were not owned by MPMF's owners. It was popular with fans largely because of the really cool atmosphere that this created. You could see awesome bands in interesting venues, and the area around those venues was filled with energy and excitement. However the festival was only breaking even each year and not making a profit. In order to that that music festival into the big leagues and attract bigger headliners, it was sold to a new owner who moved it to venues that they owned or completely controlled. The new owners would be able to make a profit since they would get all of the revenue from ticket and alcohol sales, instead of having to share it with the venue owners.

 

Most long-time MPMF fans dislike the new format. Even though there are now bigger bands headlining the festival, fans miss the "underdog" feel of the old festival with its odd venues and up-and-coming bands.

 

I think this is an apt comparison, but not in all cases. Some MLS teams have a pretty dull atmosphere (the revs have passionate fans, but a cavernous stadium), while others enjoy a pretty rabid fan base in a great venue (Orlando/Toronto/ and especially Portland).

 

MLS isn't going to consider Nippert. They've made that clear. If FCC wants in, they'll need a stadium deal. To that end, it's up to the Public/their elected officials to decide whether or not they support a deal when or if that deal occurs.

 

There's a lot to consider.

The situation with FCC reminds me so much of what happened with MidPoint Music Festival.

 

MidPoint previously operated in venues that were not owned by MPMF's owners. It was popular with fans largely because of the really cool atmosphere that this created. You could see awesome bands in interesting venues, and the area around those venues was filled with energy and excitement. However the festival was only breaking even each year and not making a profit. In order to that that music festival into the big leagues and attract bigger headliners, it was sold to a new owner who moved it to venues that they owned or completely controlled. The new owners would be able to make a profit since they would get all of the revenue from ticket and alcohol sales, instead of having to share it with the venue owners.

 

Most long-time MPMF fans dislike the new format. Even though there are now bigger bands headlining the festival, fans miss the "underdog" feel of the old festival with its odd venues and up-and-coming bands.

FC has a sweetheart deal right now. Very lucky Nippert exists and they can use it. Although the fans are behind the support.

Why can't MLS realize that the atmosphere at Nippert is incredible and make an exemption? ESPN put them on ESPN1 vs. Chicago just because it would better than a lot of MLS games.

 

Here's a post re: this from some guy on reddit:

 

In order to make ends meet, an MLS FC Cincinnati is, quite literally, going to need to sell and monetize every aspect of the club -- and that simply isn't possible at Nippert Stadium. Let's just look at the "big" aspects and see where it doesn't work:

 

Naming Rights: UC (shortsightedly, but that's a different bag of worms entirely) agreed a long time ago to never rename Nippert Stadium. They also agreed to never rename the actual field itself (named after a former AD at the school). There is, as best anyone can figure, nothing that can be done about this. Naming rights to your average professional sports stadium easily run over $1m per year, and go even higher. That's revenue directly out of FC Cincinnati's pocket every year.

 

Concession & Merchandise: Nippert stadium doesn't have the ability to offer premium concessions, where most teams make the bulk of their food money these days (it's no coincdence that every ballpark in America is upgrading from hot dogs and popcorn). For one, there's no ability to actually cook food inside the stadium, and for two there's no additional space available to build new concessions. Similarly, there's limited ability to offer merchandise for sale on matchday. Most, if not all, teams wants to have their team shop on premsies to get the captive audience that comes for matches each week. There's simply no space to build a team shop on Nippert's footprint. Again, all of those lost sales on matchday is money out of FCC's pocket.

 

Seating Reconfiguration: Nippert's all-bench seating is fine for a minor-league soccer club, but when prices go up are people really going to be OK with metal bleachers for a premium price? Chairback seating is almost a must at any modern stadium facility (outside of a supporters section, where safe standing should be in place), and Nippert simply cannot accommodate it without massive restructuring. And, that's assuming you'd get UC to go along with it, given that chairback seating would significantly reduce capacity (eating into their bottom line for football sales).

 

Non-Soccer Event Hosting: Clubs have the ability to monteize their own stadiums when they aren't in use by hosting things like tournaments, other sporting events (college football bowl games, in some cases), concerts, etc. Nippert stadium doesn't work for these events because it's also in use by the university on a daily basis, if not by the football team, than by student organizations and activities.

 

I've described Nippert in previous posts as "Death by 1,000 paper cuts" -- some of the cuts are big (naming rights is a HUGE loss), some are small (not being able to sell a premium sandwich v. a brattwurst), but they all keep adding up. Financially, there isn't a workable model that leads you to FC Cincinnati surviving, as a successful MLS team, in a stadium like Nippert. Even if you could, in some fantasy universe, buy the building and "control it," you'd still need to solve the problem of Jimmy Nippert's name and the physics of fitting more facilities onto an already completely full footprint. Absent solutions to ALL of these issues, I don't see any way the math works there. And, at the end of the day, that's why MLS requires teams to own their own buildings and control all revenue streams coming in -- because they don't want to admit teams that can't pay their bills and/or can't run compettive teams.

 

This argument for the annual naming rights completely ignores the fact that there would be no construction debt service.  Do the math on a 30-year repayment of $250 million @4%.  We're talking at least $15 million per year to pay down stadium construction costs. 

 

 

But Jake, the revenue stream from the naming rights often increases in value over the years. Also you have to figure FC is paying a decent rental payment that will only go up if they become an MLS team.  Plus, depending how the bonds are structured, there will be opportunities to re-finance into lower debt service instruments down the line to free up cash. Having your own stadium just gives you leverage.

Somebody just posted this photo of FCC practicing at Nippert... but there are football lines painted:

 

Which is weird... because there were no football lines during Monday's friendly against Valencia, and FCC responded on Twitter that they will re-paint before Saturday's home match against Rochester. Is there some big football game/event this week that required painting the football lines?

 

Somebody just posted this photo of FCC practicing at Nippert... but there are football lines painted:

 

Which is weird... because there were no football lines during Monday's friendly against Valencia, and FCC responded on Twitter that they will re-paint before Saturday's home match against Rochester. Is there some big football game/event this week that required painting the football lines?

 

I am guessing that UC football has been practicing at Nippert. With the demo and rebuild of 5/3 Arena, the weight room was moved to the practice bubble.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/university-of-cincinnati/2017/07/25/play-ball-uc-fickell-set-first-preseason-practice/507740001/

 

First UC Bearcats Football practice is at 2:30 today. I expect a lot of re-striping happening this year due to the construction of the basketball arena/weight room.

Here's an aerial of the proposed West End site:

 

Since the USWNT will be playing at Nippert in September... last night's game between USWNT and Brazil was an exciting game to watch. The US were down 3-1 in the 79th minute... and then proceeded to score 3 goals in 9 minutes, ultimately winning 4-3.

 

http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2017/07/31/00/59/20170730-recap-wnt-wins-dramatic-4-3-comeback-vs-brazil-tournament-of-nations

 

The game was played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego with attendance of 21,096, though it seemed like less since Qualcomm is pretty massive and they didn't seat fans at all on the half of the stadium sitting behind the players. I hope we have a great turnout for the game on September 19th when the USWNT play New Zealand. Tickets can be purchased at:

http://www.ussoccer.com/schedule-tickets

^Already at 20,000 for USWNT in September. That match will probably be a sell out or at least close to it.

 

In other FC Cincinnati news, Todd Portune still insists on being blissfully oblivious: http://www.wcpo.com/news/government/hamilton-county-commission-president-todd-portune-says-hes-working-to-keep-team-at-nippert

UC is installing a new video board at Nippert, prior to the football home opener against Austin Peay on August 31: http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/university-of-cincinnati/2017/08/03/ucs-nippert-stadium-getting-new-video-board/537663001/

 

Here's what the new board will look like:

 

That means that the FCC home games in Sept (Sept 2 and Sept 16) will get to enjoy the new board, along with any post season matches played at Nippert. This is great news and will improve the fan experience a lot at Nippert.

 

Don't want to get too ahead ourselves, but if we win against New York Red Bulls on August 15th, and San Jose beats Kansas City... then we would play San Jose in the Open Cup finals at Nippert some time in September. (If Kansas City advances, the finals would be in Kansas City). The Open Cup Finals... in Nippert... with the new score board... oh man, it'd be awesome.

Cincinnati Business Committee weighs in on FC Cincinnati stadium bid

 

The influential Cincinnati Business Committee, which includes the region’s largest corporations, is urging the city and Hamilton County’s elected leaders to get on board with a new stadium for FC Cincinnati.

 

In a letter to Mayor John Cranley and Hamilton County commissioners, the CBC’s executive director, Gary Lindgren, touted the United Soccer League team’s impact on the region and urged them to help with FC Cincinnati’s stadium plans as it attempts to jump to Major League Soccer. The CBC’s members traditionally have included the CEOs of Procter & Gamble, Macy’s, Kroger, North American Properties, American Financial Group and other companies.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/08/07/exclusive-cincinnati-business-committee-weighs-in.html

FC Cincy / NY Red Bulls sold out.

Since the potential stadium sites were announced in June, the thought of a stadium in Newport has drawn up passionate arguments on both sides of the issue (and river). I wrote an article today about where the stadium would go in KY, what incentives there might be, and if it really counts as "Cincinnati."

 

Couple things I'd like to highlight:

- A Newport stadium would likely be the catalyst to finally starting some sort of mixed-use development like Ovation.

- I'd love to see riverboats shuttling people across the river like they do for Red's games.

- The view would be spectacular.

- Nearby Covington provides a lot of great spots for pre and post match activities.

 

You can read it here: http://queencitydiscovery.blogspot.com/2017/08/sun-sets-on-downtown-cincinnati-and.html

 

That's a great article, and I agree with most all of your reasons why Newport would still be a great choice. I have thought a lot about how to refer to the Cincinnati urban core in a more inclusive way, usually referring to the "basin" to include downtown Cincinnati, Newport/Bellevue and Covington but we need a better name for the urban core that includes both sides of the river. Most normal people don't really know what you are talking about when you call it the "basin" however. I also tend to be a smart a$$ when people ask what part of town I live or what part I'm from and say the South Side. It takes a few seconds for them to remember that Cincinnati doesn't have a South Side, but then they laugh and ask if I'm from Covington.

 

I believe that to encourage Cincinnati to continue it's momentum it also needs Newport and Covington to pick up the slack and help that process in a 'rising tides lift all boats' kind of way. I think it is important for them all to provide something unique and complimentary. Cincinnati for sports and arts, Newport for family activities, Covington for bars/smoking...

 

Also it isn't mentioned in your article, but it's worth reminding people that the New York Giants/Jets both play in New Jersey, the Redskins play outside of Washington D.C. in Maryland etc.

Friendly reminder

Tuesday, August 15th, 2017  |  8:00PM ET

NEW YORK RED BULLS

NIPPERT STADIUM | U.S. OPEN CUP

Tickets-SOLD OUT

Local TV-Star 64

Stream

Where is the best place to park? serious question.

Did they sell tickets for the upper deck? Is the sellout a full 40,000?

Did they sell tickets for the upper deck? Is the sellout a full 40,000?

 

They did sell out the upper deck, but it won't be 40,000. Due to the modifications made last winter (widening the field and cutting out the corners), the stadium doesn't have 40,000 capacity any longer. And because a lot of the seats are General Admission, they don't want to sell all the seats because they want people to be comfortable in the general admission sections. Jeff Berding spoke to these details in this Cincy Soccer Talk podcast: http://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2017/08/09/fc-cincinnati-jeff-berding-back

 

 

Where is the best place to park? serious question.

 

Parking garage across the street from Deaconess, on Straight St. and next to Stratford.

Best way to get up there, if not coming from the far North, is to take Ravine, off of Central Pkwy, up the hill to

Straight.

Cranley is meeting with the MLS commish Don Garber tonight in Cincinnati. Probably at Nippert during the game to help make the case for MLS to Cincinnati.

 

 

Just head down early and park in Corryville. Go to a bar beforehand and then walk to Nippert. My group will be at Mecklenburg Gardens (about a one mile walk) and leave for the stadium at 7.

 

They sold every ticket they feel comfortable selling. Their sellout is going to be somewhere around 33k-34k. Their sell out last year against Crystal Palace was 35,061. They removed seats with the renovation, and from the sound of it, they are limiting the number of GA tickets they sell so it's not too crowded. They apparently thought the Crystal Palace game was too many. From candid conversations I've had, they don't quite understand how UC Football sells 40k+ at Nippert. Unless they sell way more seats in the student section than FCC does in the GA section.

Just head down early and park in Corryville. Go to a bar beforehand and then walk to Nippert. My group will be at Mecklenburg Gardens (about a one mile walk) and leave for the stadium at 7.

 

They sold every ticket they feel comfortable selling. Their sellout is going to be somewhere around 33k-34k. Their sell out last year against Crystal Palace was 35,061. They removed seats with the renovation, and from the sound of it, they are limiting the number of GA tickets they sell so it's not too crowded. They apparently thought the Crystal Palace game was too many. From candid conversations I've had, they don't quite understand how UC Football sells 40k+ at Nippert. Unless they sell way more seats in the student section than FCC does in the GA section.

 

I think the main difference for football is that almost all of the tickets (except for the student section) are sold with designated seats. And, for the student section, I assume UC is willing to sell 1 ticket per seat (since students are ok squeezing in).

 

 

I didn't realize they just sold general admission tickets - so the seats aren't assigned? It makes sense that they take the total seat count and reduce it by ~12% then. The assigned bleacher seats at Nippert are very narrow - not many people are going to voluntarily pack in that tight. Unless you've got seat numbers forcing 20 people to sit on a bleacher meant for 20 people, you're probably only going to get 16-17 people on it. You'd have a couple thousand people standing around, unable to find seats, because every group of 4 in the place took up 5 seats.

 

College football stadiums in general pack people in like sardines, it's part of the atmosphere. Every one I've ever been to is like that.

I didn't realize they just sold general admission tickets - so the seats aren't assigned? It makes sense that they take the total seat count and reduce it by ~12% then. The assigned bleacher seats at Nippert are very narrow - not many people are going to voluntarily pack in that tight. Unless you've got seat numbers forcing 20 people to sit on a bleacher meant for 20 people, you're probably only going to get 16-17 people on it. You'd have a couple thousand people standing around, unable to find seats, because every group of 4 in the place took up 5 seats.

 

College football stadiums in general pack people in like sardines, it's part of the atmosphere. Every one I've ever been to is like that.

 

They sell GA tickets for the south end horseshoe and the upper decks. The rest of the stadium is assigned seating. Well, The Bailey is GA but it sold out before the season started.

I think the Upper Deck for this game is assigned seating. But typically, if they sell out the lower bowl, they just let people go up top and keep selling GA seats. The GA ticket gets you up there if it's a regular game.

Just a heads up for those fans interested that FCC will be presenting at a local customer experience conference.  DJ Switzer of FCC and Matt Dooley of Dooley Media will be appearing on 9/22.

 

http://amacincinnati.org/ignite/agenda/

Last night I drove home during the FC - NY Redbulls game around 9pm and noticed that almost every parking space had been taken on the W. Clifton hill from Vine uphill to the bend near Hastings St.  UC students aren't back yet.  So about 100 cars were parked that incredible distance away from Nippert for the game. 

 

Facebook page for no-new stadium group:

https://www.facebook.com/NoMoreStadiumTaxes

 

Featured today on Channel 9:

http://www.wcpo.com/sports/fc-cincinnati/citizen-group-calls-upon-mls-to-accept-nippert-stadium-instead-of-forcing-new-taxpayer-funded-venue

Quite the U.S. Open Cup Semi-Final last night at Nippert.  Sold-out stadium, wonderful atmosphere and some wild on-the-field action.

 

- FCC goes up 2-0 with a first-half goal at 31' and a second-half goal at 62'.

- NYRB ties it up with a 2-goal-in-4-minute flurry at 75' and 78'.

- NYRB nearly wins it at the end of 90 with a header that rings off the crossbar.

- Game goes to extra-time and NYRB gets a third goal in the 101th minute.

- FCC nearly ties it back up only two minutes when the NYRB keeper loses control of a diving save attempt and an FCC gets the ball with only him and an NYRB defender between him and the net. But the NYRB defender was able to make a game-saving save

 

So the Red Bulls advance to the U.S. Open Cup Final with the 3-2 win and the magical run of FC Cincinnati ends.

 

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2017-08-15-fc-cincinnati-vs-new-york-red-bulls/recap

^^Tuesday was move-in day for UC students living on campus

Wow, that WCPO article and group is an embarrassment. It's like when Portune thought he could get MLB to let the Reds stay in a half demolished Riverfront. MLS has said over and over again for new team to get an invite they must have a soccer specific stadium owned by the team. Otherwise there will be no MLS team in Cincinnati. 18 to 20 cities trying to get 4 spots in MLS and this kind of nonsense will cause Cincinnati to get passed over.

The City has blown their chance, the new stadium is going to be built in Newport. 

FC Cincinnati’s TV ratings soar

 

More than 60,000 Greater Cincinnati households tuned in to at least part of the telecast of FC Cincinnati’s semifinal U.S. Open Cup soccer match on Tuesday night, making it the second-most-watched show of the night.

 

FC Cincinnati’s 3-2 overtime loss to Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls posted a 6.1 rating, meaning 6.1 percent of all TV households in Greater Cincinnati tuned into the game broadcast on WSTR-TV (Channel 64), according to Nielsen TV ratings data.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/08/17/fc-cincinnati-s-tv-ratings-soar.html

That's a great article, and I agree with most all of your reasons why Newport would still be a great choice. I have thought a lot about how to refer to the Cincinnati urban core in a more inclusive way, usually referring to the "basin" to include downtown Cincinnati, Newport/Bellevue and Covington but we need a better name for the urban core that includes both sides of the river. Most normal people don't really know what you are talking about when you call it the "basin" however. I also tend to be a smart a$$ when people ask what part of town I live or what part I'm from and say the South Side. It takes a few seconds for them to remember that Cincinnati doesn't have a South Side, but then they laugh and ask if I'm from Covington.

 

I believe that to encourage Cincinnati to continue it's momentum it also needs Newport and Covington to pick up the slack and help that process in a 'rising tides lift all boats' kind of way. I think it is important for them all to provide something unique and complimentary. Cincinnati for sports and arts, Newport for family activities, Covington for bars/smoking...

 

Also it isn't mentioned in your article, but it's worth reminding people that the New York Giants/Jets both play in New Jersey, the Redskins play outside of Washington D.C. in Maryland etc.

 

Thanks so much for taking the time to check it out and read it over. Couldn't agree more about the rising tides lift all boats mantra, I feel like the Cov is starting to make some really positive momentum and my hope is that this stadium would be an impetus for Newport to take a more urban minded approach when connecting with Cincinnati.

 

Totally forgot to mention the Jets/Giants/RBNY thing, but didn't want to get too into the weeds about that and get people all hot and bothered about how "Columbus will still say they're Ohio's team."

 

For the record, only people in Columbus seem to care about The Crew.

I actually like the idea of calling NKY the "south side". The NKY river cities have been trying to push the "South Bank" moniker for awhile but it hasn't really caught on, other than the South Bank Shuttle.

other than the South Bank Shuttle.

 

If a stadium lands in Newport, I really think TANK could boost ridership on this with some tweaks. Market it as a way to connect that stadium with Covington and Downtown Cincinnati and have hours that actually help out people on weekend nights. With $1 a ride, these faux trolleys would be PACKED on match days. 

other than the South Bank Shuttle.

 

If a stadium lands in Newport, I really think TANK could boost ridership on this with some tweaks. Market it as a way to connect that stadium with Covington and Downtown Cincinnati and have hours that actually help out people on weekend nights. With $1 a ride, these faux trolleys would be PACKED on match days. 

 

Southbank Shuttle and Streetcar and maybe routes 1 and 85 need to have a unified 'circulator' fare

Don't Metro and TANK already have a unified stored value card and a monthly pass option for both systems? They should install some TVMs at the Southbank Shuttle stops, make the passes valid on both systems, and share the revenue.

other than the South Bank Shuttle.

 

If a stadium lands in Newport, I really think TANK could boost ridership on this with some tweaks. Market it as a way to connect that stadium with Covington and Downtown Cincinnati and have hours that actually help out people on weekend nights. With $1 a ride, these faux trolleys would be PACKED on match days.

 

Yes, no need to park in Newport is you don't want to.

Things that make you go hmmm...

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/08/29/cincinnati-ballet-hunting-for-new-larger-facility.html

How would this be related to anything FCC wise?

The ballet location is right next to where the proposed West End stadium would go. Come on man...

Here is the location:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1127013,-84.5222101,371m/data=!3m1!1e3

 

This would be a great location for a stadium.  Easy access from two major roads, plus a subway stop. 

When I read that story this was my very first thought as well. It's hard to tell how this site would work either as an alternate or in combination with the Stargel Stadium site, but it's interesting nonetheless.

Things that make you go hmmm...

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/08/29/cincinnati-ballet-hunting-for-new-larger-facility.html

 

Agreed.

"There is no set timeline for finding a new facility at this point. The organization still has about six years on its existing lease and overall the ballet is “very healthy” from a financial stand point. Fundraising for a new facility has not started at this point and it’s unclear what the total cost would be."

Pretty certain the ballet has been interested in finding a new location since before FCC has grown to what it is now, but that doesn't mean that FCC's success hasn't expedited their search.

 

I personally wonder if the story could be triggered or linked to the North Wing of the Main Library. Things that make you go hmmmm.