FC Cincinnati: MLS Commissioner to visit next month

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - The issue Monday night, October 3: was FC Cincinnati's record-setting season just beginner's luck or the first step toward major league soccer in the Tri-State?
In their rookie season, the local side set league attendance records and outdrew a handful of teams at American soccer's highest level. So what's next? A lot of people thought the general manager of FC Cincinnati was off base when he said they would average 10,000 fans a game. They averaged 17,000 a game at Nippert. On the road, the crowds averaged less than 2,700.
They had 30,000 for Sunday's playoff game. Monday, the team said they will definitely be included in Major League Soccer's expansion process. It all ended with a disappointing loss but FC Cincinnati's first season made an impact.
Andrew Wiedeman has played professional soccer for seven years, “The last corner kick of the game was the craziest environment I've ever been a part of that I've seen in North American soccer. So there's something really special happening here.”
Special enough that a team in America's third tier is getting international soccer press. The excitement, the ticket sales, and style of play has prompted the commissioner of America's top league, MLS, to schedule a visit to Cincinnati in November 2016. It will not be just a courtesy call.
FC Cincinnati GM, Jeff Berding, said, “The commissioner doesn't visit every city that's interested in MLS expansion. He’ll come to cities that are strong contenders. We know that we'll be a part of the MLS expansion process and we'll submit ourselves humbly as a strong market that proved itself this year and put our best foot forward.”
Berding said increasing season ticket sales from 6,000 to 10,000 was an achievable offseason goal that would help sell the team to MLS. He said sharing a stadium with a college football team was not a deal breaker.
“It's a proven venue. We have 35,000 seats. We drew 30,000 yesterday. Why would be want to build a 25,000 seat stadium? That seems to be taking a step backward.”
The team put up big league attendance numbers. The games were televised. Sports marketing gurus said the original plan was working and working well.
“They built it from the beginning with this long-term objective of we want to become a Major League Soccer Franchise. An MLS franchise.”
MLS commissioner Garber will be in Cincinnati November 29. Berding said he will show him the city, he said his only regret was he didn't have a USL championship trophy to show off.
Commissioner Garber's visit will include a town hall-style meeting with FC Cincinnati fans. They'll get a chance to ask questions and find out more about the MLS expansion process.

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Americans love football, hardly surprising.