FC Cincinnati ready to recruit, play, stay in Cincy

FC Cincinnati’s introductory news conference was just the start of a fun-filled Wednesday for head coach John Harkes.

In addition to being a part of the 40-minute event held at the University of Cincinnati’s Lindner Center, Harkes and assistant coach Ryan Martin are scheduled to meet with soccer fans at local pubs over the next few days starting Wednesday night.

But there is also plenty of work to do for the United Soccer League’s 26th club, which will compete in the Eastern Conference starting in March 2016.

FC Cincinnati, which will play home games at Nippert Stadium, was formally announced at a news conference Wednesday morning. The new professional soccer franchise is led by principal owner Carl Lindner III.

Cincinnati.com reported Tuesday the team’s entrance into the USL.

Harkes – who was on the U.S. men’s national team roster 13 times and was team captain in 1995 – expects to be on the road quite a bit in the coming weeks, scouting players and identifying needs for the inaugural season.

“We’ve got to put a good product on the field – something (the community) can be proud of,” said Harkes, who led the D.C. United to back-to-back MLS Cup titles in 1996 and 1997. “I think there is huge potential here. I think this has been almost a sleeping giant in some ways.”

FC Cincinnati issued a news release Wednesday morning saying there are more 55,000 registered youth soccer players in Cincinnati, and the directors of the region’s four largest clubs (Cincinnati United, Kings Hammer, Ohio Elite and Total Futbol Academy) sit on the FC Cincinnati Advisory Board.

Jeff Berding, president and general manager of FC Cincinnati, said the team will work with all youth soccer clubs to develop relationships and strengthen the game's presence in the region. Berding had been with the Cincinnati Bengals for nearly two decades as director of sales and public affairs prior to joining the FC Cincinnati staff.

“FC Cincinnati will have the resources to develop the soccer fan experience and will deliver a high-level of professional soccer to engage Cincinnati’s soccer fan base as well as the growing global employee base in the region,” Berding said.

The USL is considered the strongest U.S. men’s pro soccer league below Major League Soccer (MLS).

The USL features 24 teams in 2015 across the United States and Canada. Rio Grande Valley was the 25th team to join the USL when it was announced July 15.

USL officials welcomed Cincinnati FC with open arms on Wednesday. Rivals in the USL for the team will likely include the Harrisburg City Islanders (of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania), Louisville City FC, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, New York Red Bulls II and the Saint Louis FC among others.

“We are thrilled,” United Soccer League President Jake Edwards told The Enquirer prior to the news conference Wednesday morning. “We have been working with the guys – with Jeff (Berding) and his team now for a better part of a year. We are bringing on a real sports town here. A great market.”

Berding said the team is allowed to start signing players immediately. FC Cincinnati held its first player personnel meeting on Monday.

Berding said the team will be visiting businesses to discuss potential sponsorship and partnerships. Berding said conversations will be ongoing with UC regarding Nippert Stadium in preparation for next season.

In the long term, Berding said FC Cincinnati will have a new soccer field with only soccer lines at Nippert Stadium.

In the 2016 season, Berding said it is likely FC Cincinnati will play on an existing field painted for the sport.

“We will not be playing on a field that shows football lines, football end zones or any other football markings,” Berding said.

The 2016 Easter weekend is the inaugural weekend of the USL season, which goes through the end of September. There will be 15 home and 15 away games as part of the regular season.

Berding said FC Cincinnati is allowed to sign up to seven international players, and it will do so.

The rest of the roster will consist of some graduated college players and some Major League Soccer players who are not under contract, Berding said.

And the FC Cincinnati roster will also include some MLS players seeking greater playing time for their development.

FC Cincinnati will not have a formal relationship with an MLS team, but Berding said the club will have a good rapport with several MLS teams.

“Our aspirations are to grow this thing and take it to the highest level we can here in Cincinnati,” he said. “We are FC Cincinnati.”

Former Columbus Crew president Mark McCullers is acting as a deputy to Berding and is assisting with player personnel.

More information on tickets and team may be found at www.fccincinnati.com.

Beginning tonight, Harkes and Martin will meet with soccer fans at local pubs. Dates and locations include:

Wednesday, Aug. 12

6-7 p.m., The Brass Tap, 251 Calhoun St.

7:30-8:30 p.m., The Pub at Rookwood, 2692 Madison Road

9-10 p.m., Rhinehaus, 119 East 12th St.

Thursday, Aug. 13

6-7 p.m., Listermann Brewing Company, 1621 Dana Ave.

7:30-8:30 p.m., O’Bryon’s, 1998 Madison Road

9-10 p.m., Hap’s Irish Pub, 3510 Erie Ave.

Friday, Aug. 14

6-8 p.m., Next Chapter, 940 Pavilion St.

8:30-10 p.m., 50 West Brewery, 7668 Wooster Pike

Saturday, Aug. 15

9:30 a.m. to noon, Molly Malone’s, 112 East Fourth St., Covington