CINCINNATI — FC Cincinnati’s new home is now open. After more than two years of construction, Total Quality Logistics Stadium opened Saturday.
According to our news partners at WCPO, the stadium opened Saturday with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The stadium features 26,000 seats, a vintage beer hall-style club and a 360-degree roof. Over 14,000 feet of LED lights contribute to the first-of-its-kind lighting technology.
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The West End Pride youth soccer teams got the honor of playing the inaugural games.
Photographing the West End Pride teams do their thing on the fresh pitch of TQL Stadium. ⚽️ 🥅 pic.twitter.com/yiziaTbNLU
— Half-Vaxxed Phil (@CincinnatiPhil) May 1, 2021
MLS Commissioner Don Garber joined in the opening celebrations. WCPO noted that Garber toured the facility Friday and said everything in the stadium “feels perfect.”
“For me, it’s an emotional sort of reckoning to think we have owners that will make the commitments that they’ve made, cities that see the value of a great stadium in an environment like this that is right downtown connected to the heartbeat of the city,” Garber said.
It’s rare in life that things you do exceed your expectations, but @TQLStadium has.
— Don Garber (@thesoccerdon) May 1, 2021
It is spectacular and I can't wait for @fccincinnati & its fans to experience it on May 16. pic.twitter.com/L3OoywLIu8
Club President Jeff Berding said there was a determination to make sure everything involved in the planning and construction of the stadium was done correctly.
“We want the best stadium in Cincinnati. We’re going to shock people to show this is what we’ve done in Cincinnati,” Berding said.
WCPO reported that Saturday’s opening celebrations featured Garber, Berding, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio Senator Rob Portman, Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley, FC Cincinnati CEO and Controlling Owner Carl Lindner III and Managing Owner Meg Whitman.
Season ticket holders get to see their seat in person and tour the stadium on Sunday, but they will have to wait a little longer to see the club take the pitch. FC Cincinnati’s home opener is set for May 16 and 4 p.m. They will take on Inter Miami CF.
Cox Media Group
