Kevin Pflanz grew up a Reds fan and longs for the days when the “Nasty Boys’’ were the hottest sports ticket in town, going wire-to-wire to win the World Series in 1990.

"I was 7, but I remember going to the games with my parents and how exciting it was,'' said the 36-year-old from Pleasant Ridge.

Today, Pflanz is still a rabid sports fan, but he's changed his game-day colors from red to the orange and blue of Cincinnati's newest professional sports franchise, FC Cincinnati.

"I still love baseball, but it’s not as fun as going to the soccer games,’’ he said. “You’re drinking and singing the whole time. There are more things to do. It's like nothing else I’ve ever been to.''

Pflanz is not alone.

He was surrounded by like-minded fans Sunday at rhinehaus bar in Over-the-Rhine, where a frenzied crowd gathered to watch FCC win its first Major League Soccer road match against the New England Revolution.

FCC is now 2-1-1 through four MLS matches, including a 3-0 win against the Portland Timbers in its inaugural home-opener at Nippert Stadium. The match drew a sellout crowd of 32,500; they play at home again Saturday night.

More: Are the Reds losing ground to FCC in battle for fans?

FCC's winning ways and infectious game-day atmosphere aren't just drawing fans away from the Reds. The excitement surrounding FCC has also attracted some of the Reds' biggest corporate sponsors.

Hometown sausage maker and longtime Reds' sponsor Queen City Sausage recently cut its advertising spending with the baseball team to become an official FCC sponsor, owner Elmer Hensler told The Enquirer.

"I had to do it,'' Hensler said. "I'm still great with the Reds. But FC Cincinnati means more business for Queen City Sausage.''

He pointed to FCC's historic home debut as a prime example.

"We ran out of product (during the game). What's that tell you? You gotta go where the money is,'' Hensler said.

Queen City will be joined this year by hometown favorites Skyline Chili, LaRosa’s Pizzeria, United Dairy Farmers and Frisch’s Big Boy offering a variety of stadium fare at FCC games.

It's a new era for the Reds, who for the first time will compete for fans and advertising dollars against another major league sports franchise during the bulk of their season.

FCC's 34-game regular season extends from March 2 through Oct. 6, including 17 games at Nippert.

The Reds will kick off their season Thursday on Opening Day and play 162 regular-season games through the end of September.

The Reds scheduled includes 79 home games at Great American Ball Park, and two official home games in Mexico.

The Reds' and FCC's schedules overlap on seven home dates - including this Saturday (though the games aren't at the same time.)

But the sheer number of games the Reds play here means Cincinnati is still largely a baseball town.

And the Reds still hold a commanding share of local sponsorship dollars, recently signing Frisch’s, LaRosa's, Graeter’s Ice Cream and Montgomery Inn to long-term deals.

Queen City is also under contract for the long term and will continue to provide the Reds' official brats and metts.

Still, Phil Castellini, the Reds' president and chief operating officer, called Hensler's decision to shift money to FCC a "bummer.''

“It doesn’t make me happy that I had a reduction in total (ad) spending,’’ Castellini told The Enquirer last week. "But I get it. I understand the business.''

Castellini said the Reds performance on the field is at least partly to blame.

"The timing of an excellent brand and team launch that FCC had happened to align with one of our least competitive on-field products in a decade,'' he said.

The Reds have struggled to field a competitive team since last making the playoffs in 2013, and total attendance fell last year to its lowest level in more than 30 years.

More: Reds end 2018 season with lowest attendance since 1984

But Castellini is confident the team is poised for a turnaround.

He said the recent acquisitions of outfielders Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig, in addition to other roster moves, has the Reds ready to "compete not only in this (National League Central) division but in the game in a way that we haven’t been in a couple of years.''

“The most money we’re spending is to put (talent) on the field to get more competitive to hopefully win more games and attract more fans.’’ Castellini said. "W.I.N. That is the focus.''

While winning is the priority, the Reds have also stepped up spending to improve the game-day experience for fans and rekindle their passion for the team.

Fan outreach has been even more pronounced this year than in years past because the team is celebrating its 150th anniversary.

Many of the promotions and giveaways at the ballpark this year, including a commemorative bobble-head series, will carry the 150th-anniversary theme.

More: Reds going retro for their 150th year

That includes the Reds Rockin’ 150 Open House on July 5 when the ballpark will be open to the public and feature appearances by current and former players, in addition to food and other entertainment.

Before that, the team is set to unveil a completely renovated Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum, incorporating more technology and historical artifacts to enhance the fan experience.

On May 4, the Reds will also unveil The 1869 Pavilion in the southwest corner of Great American Ball Park as a tribute to the original 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings that started it all as the first openly salaried professional ballclub.

The value of the Reds' storied history and brand awareness should not be underestimated, said Jackie Reau, CEO of Game Day Communications in Cincinnati.

"As a marketer, if you want to sell more beer, more chili, more whatever by linking your name to a sports franchise, the best advice is to advertise with both,'' Reau said. "I’m seeing our clients shift (advertising) dollars to be with the Reds and FCC.''

Pete Buscani, executive vice president of marketing for LaRosa's, couldn't agree more.

The company signed on as the official pizza of FCC last year, which was also the first year of a five-year corporate partnership with the Reds.

Buscani said it was important for LaRosa's to stick with the Reds because the team plays so many games and attracts fans from a broad geographic region.

“At Great American, they pull from a four- or five-state area,'' Buscani said. "That's part of our strategy for expansion. The logic is somebody’s going to come from Lexington and have LaRosa’s at the game and remember it when we build there.''

But FCC has established another pizza-loving fan base that LaRosa's simply couldn't ignore, Buscani said.

“It’s the biggest story that’s happened in the past three years,'' he said, referring to FCC. "The last time I think the city felt anything like this was when the Cyclones (professional hockey team) first came to town. There was a lot of energy behind them, but this is seven times as much.''

Head to head

Reds' regular season: March 28-Sept. 29

FCC's regular season: March 2-Oct. 6

Number of Reds home games: 81 (including two in Mexico)

Number of FCC home games: 17

Overlapping home dates: March 30, July 6, July 18, July 21, Aug. 17, Sept. 7, Sept. 21.