Hide Transcript Show Transcript

WEBVTT WITH THE LETTERS O OR N. CREWS WERE CLEARING LAND AT THEPOTENTIAL SOCCER SITE IN OAKLEYTODAY.FC CLOSING IN ON AN OPTION FORTHE NECESSARY PARCELS.THE PROPERTY IN NEWPORT REMAINSIN THE GAME.FC TELLING US POINT BLANK IT'SONE OR THE OTHER.WHICH LEAVES PAUL BROWN STADIUMBEING KICKED OUT OF PLAY BY FCAND KICKED BACK ONTO THE FIELDBY HAMILTON COUNTYCOMMISSIONERS.>> FC SAYING IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.WELL, THAT'S GOING TO MAKE ITDIFFICULT THEN.JOHN: REPUBLICAN CHRIS MONZELSAYS NOT SO FAST ON NIXING PBS.THEY'RE STILL STUDYING THENUMBERS AND SAYING TAKE A LOOKAROUND THE LEAGUE. MR. MONZEL: JUST GO UP NORTH TODETROIT WHERE THEY'RE BIDDINGFOR AN MLS EXPANSION.THEY'RE TRYING TO PUT FORD FIELDINTO PLAY, WHERE THE DETROITLIONS PLAY.>> PAUL BROWN STADIUM IS ALOSING BID.IT'S NOT A WINNING BID, AND I'MNOT INTERESTED IN LOSING.JOHN: FC'S JEFF BERDING STRESSESIT'S A SOCCER-SPECIFIC STADIUMOR BUST.MR. BERDING: WE'RE A FAVORITE TOGET THE BID.BUT TWO OTHER CITIES, NASHVILLEAND SACRAMENTO, HAVE STADIUMPLANS.THEY'VE CHECKED EVERY BOX.JOHN: WHEN COMMISSIONERS CHECKTHEIR EMAIL, THEY'LL FIND ALETTER SUPPORTING A NEW STADIUMFROM GEORGE BRUNEMANN, ONETIMEHEAD OF THE LOCAL TEA PARTY.HE WRITES THE FOOTBALL STADIUMDEBACLE OF 20 YEARS AGO IS ANEXAMPLE OF HOW NOT TO USE PUBLICFINANCING.DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT THAN THEPROPOSAL THAT JEFF BERDING ISPUTTING FORWARD.FC HAS HEAT MAP STUDIES AND FANSURVEYS SHOWING THEIR BASE WOULDFOLLOW THEM WHEREVER.>> OH, ANY OF THOSE LOCATIONSPROBABLY.I MEAN, IF MY COUSIN INVITED METO ANOTHER GAME, I'D BE THEREFOR SURE.I'VE SEEN ONLINE THE PLANS, ANDIT LOOKS LIKE A BEAUTIFULBUILDING.JOHN: BY THIS TIME NEXT WEEK, FCINTENDS TO SELECT THE SITE>> HAMILTON COUNTY LEADERSEMPHASIZE THEY NEED TO KNOW HOWMUCH THE CITY IS WILLING TO KICKIN, AND SO FAR THERE IS ONLY

Advertisement FCC president on MLS bid: Soccer-specific stadium or bust Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The ongoing debate about a new FC Cincinnati soccer stadium may soon take on the drama of an overtime shootout.All three Hamilton County Commissioners have not ruled out Paul Brown Stadium as a location for a Major League Soccer bid.But, FC Cincinnati has, and that sets the stage for high drama early next week.The team must take a bid to New York in early December and have a plan in place by the end of the month.An announcement about where a new stadium would be built is expected late next week. FC Cincinnati president and general manager Jeff Berding said Friday that once commissioners bury themselves in the numbers provided to the county administration, they will realize PBS is unworkable.Commissioner Todd Portune has been the most adamant about consideration of existing facilities, telling us both the football stadium and Nippert Stadium on the UC campus meet the objectives of MLS.Crews were clearing land at the potential soccer site in Oakley as FC Cincinnati closed in on an option for the necessary parcels.The property in Newport remained in the game as FC Cincinnati told us point blank it's one or the other.While Paul Brown Stadium was being kicked out of play by the FC Cincinnati organization, it was kicked back onto the field by Hamilton County Commissioners."FC saying it's not possible, well, that's going to make it difficult then," said Commissioner Chris Monzel.He also said one look around the league indicates existing stadiums should be considered."Just go up north to Detroit where they're bidding for an MLS expansion. They're trying to put Ford Field into play where the Detroit Lions play," noted Monzel.However, Berding labeled Paul Brown Stadium a losing bid, saying it's a soccer-specific stadium or bust."We're a favorite to get the bid," stated Berding. "But, two other cities -- Nashville and Sacramento -- have stadium plans. They've checked every box."When commissioners check their email, they'll find a letter supporting a new stadium from George Brunemann, onetime head of the local Tea Party.He writes the football stadium "debacle" of 20 years ago is an example of how not to use public financing.He characterized that plan as "...dramatically different than the proposal that Jeff Berding is putting forward."By this time next week, FC Cincinnati intends to select the site. An announcement would likely come next Thursday. With discussions going on behind the scenes, local governments may have more to say about the direction they see in the early part of next week.MLS intends to name two cities for expansion. The bids must be in next month.