PX: 3 questions ahead of Tuesday's FC Cincinnati stadium debate

It's been really quiet lately on the FC Cincinnati stadium front.

But the public debate will heat back up on Tuesday night. Soccer fans are expected to show up en masse for a 7 p.m. public meeting at the Hamilton County Board of Elections in Norwood to implore commissioners to spend taxpayer money on a new stadium.

The commissioners will discuss the county's dozen or so "big box" projects, but no decisions will be made. Everything from needs (Western Hills Viaduct) and wants (soccer stadium) will be on the table. Of course, FC Cincinnati leaders and supporters say a $200 million stadium is a necessity for the club to receive an admission ticket to Major League Soccer.

RELATED: Here's where FC Cincinnati is looking to build new stadium

MLS is set to decide on its two expansion franchises before Christmas, and the league requires prospective new clubs to have a soccer-specific stadium – or at least a plan in place for one.

On that front, it's nearing crunch time for FC Cincinnati. Here are three questions to ponder ahead of Tuesday's meeting:

1. Why isn’t a plan in place yet?

Simply put, FC Cincinnati President Jeff Berding is exhausting every option in order to get the stadium built in Cincinnati and nothing has come together yet.

Originally, Berding had hoped to have a plan wrapped up and ready to present to MLS by Labor Day. But he told our soccer beat guy Patrick Brennan this week it could take until November to have a plan in place, still in time to meet the MLS' mid-December deadline.

This timetable indicates the club needs to wait until after the city election before finishing an Ohio-side stadium plan. Taxpayers remain bitter about footing the bill for Paul Brown Stadium, and it'd be political suicide for mayoral and council candidates to say they're on board with spending public money on a stadium before Nov. 7.

The fact Berding is pushing the deadline also could indicate he remains confident in Newport as a solid backup location.

Meanwhile, the club remains committed to paying $100 million for a stadium. Berding has been working to raise private money, and he told Brennan the club has hired a firm to look at stadium naming rights. Brennan will have more on Cincinnati.com next week.

2. If a sales-tax increase is off the table, can the city and county do anything?

There are some public-funding options that don't affect all taxpayers that could be cobbled together between city and county. Here's a look at those:

"JOCK TAX." Led by then-Councilman David Pepper, City Council voted in 2002 to apply a 2.1 percent earnings tax on visiting athletes, musicians and other professional entertainers. The so-called "jock tax" brings in around $1 million a year. State law allows for cities to charge a "jock tax," and Columbus also imposes one on visiting pro athletes.

TICKET SURCHARGE. The county can implement a small fee on sports-game tickets. It's 25 cents for each Reds and Bengals ticket.

ADMISSIONS TAX. This city tax currently stands at 3 percent, and is applied on tickets to Bengals, Reds, Music Hall and other entertainment events. It can be increased to 5 percent. However, any effort to hike the tax would likely receive big push back from the Reds and Bengals. It also would require a vote of the people.

HOTEL TAX. Both the city and county aren't able to raise the hotel tax because each have hit the highest rate possible. The state legislature could raise the limit, but a bill likely would need a Republican co-sponsor to have a shot.

All of these potential options come with challenges, but don't underestimate Berding's ability to get things done. The former Cincinnati city councilman is regarded as one of the smartest political minds in the region, and he's liked by Democrats and Republicans.

And don't forget Berding was one of the main masterminds behind the campaign to get the stadium tax passed to build the riverfront stadiums. He did that despite facing intense opposition.

3. Is Nippert a viable long-term option?

If FC Cincinnati wants to stay in the minor leagues, then yeah. Commissioner Todd Portune, who's built a reputation for opposing the stadium tax, is a proponent of the soccer club staying at UC's stadium. It's been a great home through the first two years of the team's existence. FC Cincinnati has consistently drawn MLS-sized crowds, and fans are emotionally attached to Nippert.

Politics Extra loves the Nip, too, but emotions can't play into this long term. It's a business decision, and the fact is Nippert Stadium probably won't work. MLS wants its clubs to control all stadium-generated revenues, something FC Cincinnati can't do at UC's stadium.

Plus, Nippert has infrastructure shortcomings. Narrow concourses and limited concession stands are a real problem. PX attended the final regular-season home game last Saturday, and waiting more than 20 minutes in line for a hot dog and beer doesn't cut it in soccer. There are no TV timeouts and quarter breaks. The game clock never stops except for halftime.

The hunch here is fans are going to quickly fall in love with a new stadium, regardless of where it ends up.

Politics Extra is a column looking inside Greater Cincinnati and Ohio politics. Follow Enquirer political columnist Jason Williams on Twitter @jwilliamscincy and send email to jwilliams@enquirer.com.