Conservative group: Don't give Cincinnati $4M for FC Cincinnati stadium project

COLUMBUS - A conservative think tank says giving Cincinnati $4 million for FC Cincinnati stadium infrastructure is a waste of state money.

The soccer stadium project – and $1.2 million requested for renovations to Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park – were among the Buckeye Institute's "Top 10 Worst Capital Budget Requests of 2018."

The conservative group would prefer lawmakers focus money on projects that help residents statewide rather than "pork."

"Simply put, it is hard to see how it benefits someone in Youngstown for Cincinnati to get a soccer stadium or how people in Cleveland benefit from renovations to COSI (Columbus' science museum,)" said Greg Lawson, research fellow at the Buckeye Institute, in a news release.

Cincinnati initially requested $10 million for infrastructure surrounding FC Cincinnati's new stadium. But business groups and state lawmakers whittled the ask down to $4 million. Even so, it's the largest request on Hamilton County's wish list.

If Major League Soccer does not offer FC Cincinnati a bid by the end of 2018, that money would be redirected to other Hamilton County projects, Senate President Larry Obhof told The Enquirer.

These projects are part of a more-than $26.2 billion budget to pay for infrastructure and local projects statewide. Lawmakers intend to send the bill to Gov. John Kasich before the end of March.