Patrick Brennan

pbrennan@enquirer.com

Futbol Club Cincinnati is again being lauded by Major League Soccer for an attendance feat, this time for the sellout crowd against Crystal Palace FC.

FC Cincinnati sold out Nippert Stadium for Saturday's friendly against Crystal Palace as a crowd of 35,061 attended. MLS officials noticed.

"We are certainly aware of the incredible crowd last weekend as FC Cincinnati and their supporters made a bold statement to the entire American soccer community," Dan Courtemanche, executive vice president of communications for MLS, told The Enquirer via email Thursday.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber also tweeted a congratulatory message Saturday night after the match concluded. The occasion was also praised by Palace manager Alan Pardew.

Since the Palace friendly, FC Cincinnati set yet another attendance mark. On Wednesday, the club broke the United Soccer League's single-season attendance record previously held by Sacramento Republic FC (158,516). With five home games still to play, Cincinnati has drawn 164,109 fans on the year.

Record crowd sees FC Cincy fall to Crystal Palace

Courtemanche said MLS expansion would be discussed at a pre-MLS All-Star Game board meeting in the San Francisco bay area, although an agenda for the meeting hasn't been set, so it's unclear if Cincinnati will be discussed.

The AT&T MLS All-Star Game kicks off next Thursday at San Jose's Avaya Stadium. The MLS all-star team is scheduled to play to Arsenal FC of the English Premier League.