FC Cincinnati stadium will break ground Dec. 19, open March 2021

Cameron Knight | Cincinnati Enquirer

Show Caption Hide Caption Alan Koch previews FC Cincinnati versus Nashville SC in USL Cup playoffs FC Cincinnati head coach Alan Koch this week discussed his club's quarterfinal-round USL Cup playoff match against Nashville SC.

Construction is scheduled to begin on the FC Cincinnati stadium in West End on Dec. 19, team officials said Friday.

FC Cincinnati and Turner Construction held a news conference to outline construction plans and revealed details of the schedule.

Demolition of Taft IT High School's Stargel Stadium will come first.

FC Cincinnati is scheduled to take possession of the site on Nov. 16, but officials said they were willing to work with Cincinnati Public Schools regarding specific dates.

If Taft's football team makes the playoffs, effectively extending their season, the Senators will still play their home games at Stargel, Turner Construction Vice President Dave Spaulding said.

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After the demolition begins, Spaulding said between 200 and 400 workers will be on the site daily for the duration of construction, which presents an issue for parking.

Turner is working with parking garages throughout the city to provide that parking so that on-street parking and neighborhood lots and garages aren't overwhelmed.

There are still questions about the final gameday parking plan for the stadium. Spaulding said limited underground parking is being explored as well as on-site parking for workers and the media, but the hope is that people will park throughout the Downtown, Over-the-Rhine and West End since games typically take place on Saturday evenings.

The stadium design has also yet to be finalized. Former Mayor Mark Mallory, who now works for FC Cincinnati, said the bright orange color "skin" on the structure will be made with lights, so the color could be changed or turned off.

"This is close to the landing zone, but it will be tweaked," Spaulding said of the design plan presented Friday.

A website, ohio.turnerconstruction.com/fccincinnati, has also been created allowing local businesses to register with Turner Construction for contracting opportunities.

Spaulding said he expects there will be more than 60 different bid opportunities for the construction process, tenfold more than usual, so the project can employ local business and reach its goal of 25 percent minority- and women-owned business contracts.

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Turner Construction's headquarters sits near the intersection of Downtown, Over-the-Rhine and West End. The company came to Cincinnati in 1903 and was involved in the construction of Queen City Tower and the recent renovations of Union Terminal and Nippert Stadium.

Spaulding said Turner is responsible for building about half the Major League Soccer stadiums in the country and about 450 new stadiums and renovations.

The grand opening of the stadium is scheduled for March 1, 2021.

Mallory said it will be a "huge day of celebration for the city."