Cincinnati wants MLS team 'in the short term'

Last month, Louisville City FC operating manager Wayne Estopnal suggested that if one of Louisville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis or Nashville earn a spot in Major League Soccer, "I doubt that another one does."

Officials with the new FC Cincinnati, set to join the United Soccer Leagues next year, are trying to fast track their move.

According to an article in the Cincinnati Business Courier, recently announced FC Cincinnati has 500 season ticket pledges already with a goal of 10,000 before starting play next year at Nippert Stadium on the University of Cincinnati's campus.

Team president Jeff Berding told the Courier, "We want to be in the MLS in the short term. I didn't leave the Bengals (where he was director of sales and public relations) because I wanted to run a USL team for the next 10 years. I want to run an MLS team.

"(Owner) Carl Lindner wants to own an MLS team. If we can build a successful franchise here, we'll have every opportunity to get in."

Season tickets in Cincinnati will range from $120-$295. Also, FC Cincinnati plans to offer a student rate equating to $3 a match.

Louisville City FC season passes started at $180 with benefits including discounted merchandise, player meet-and-greets and first change at playoff tickets.

The new Cincinnati club will play in the same Eastern Conference as Louisville City FC starting next year.

"The goal is not to build a profitable enterprise that's spitting profits back to the owners," Berding told the Courier. "The goal is to get an MLS franchise. If paid attendance is the number one criteria for that, let's spend money, have a good team and don't charge too much for tickets. Together we can build this thing."

In Indianapolis, the North American Soccer League's Indy Eleven are averaging 9,983 fans per game with a losing product on the field. Louisville City FC closed its regular-season home slate Wednesday averaging crowds of 6,765 in USL play.

Nashville FC plays in the National Premier Soccer League, sanctioned lower on the U.S. Soccer ladder than the NASL and USL.

One potential roadblock for FC Cincinnati: The Columbus Crew already represent Ohio on the MLS map. Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee are without a top-level professional club.