We love our sports here in Cincinnati — and we are true fans, never wavering even when our professional teams have less-than-stellar stats. So, we are more than excited to welcome a new pro sports team to the Queen City: FC Cincinnati Soccer!
FC Cincinnati is a newbie to the Cincy sports scene, playing its first game in 2016. You’ve likely heard of FC Cincinnati in the context of some impressive recent victories: the team won 4 of its 5 home games in May; and, more recently, FC Cincinnati pulled off an unbelievable win against the Columbus Crew on June 14th. This team is on fire! We attended the game last weekend against St. Louis; and, not only was it a win, but it was also loads of fun.
The team plays at UC’s Nippert Stadium (2700 Bearcat Way, Cincinnati, OH 45221), which is a beautiful and family friendly venue. Parking is $10 and you can use any of the campus parking garages surrounding Nippert Stadium. There is also a family area on the third floor where parents can nurse, feed and change small children.
The UDF Kids Zone is a pre-game must for kids; it’s located on the Sheakley Lawn next to Nippert Stadium and feature games, food and drinks, merchandise and all sorts of other fun things to get kids pumped for the games. There are opportunities to meet the players both pre- and post-game, and generally some kind of event or promotion for each home game.
Last Saturday, the FC Cincinnati team celebrated Pride Weekend with face painting, hair dying, button making and kid-friendly soccer activities before the game. The entire experience is very family friendly and fun, and the atmosphere inside Nippert Stadium is exciting and definitely appropriate for kids of all ages.
Soccer is basically a rite of passage for American kids, yet the professional soccer scene in this county is small. FC Cincinnati is not only a welcome addition to the Cincy sports scene, the team also provides a fun, inspiring and empowering experience for our kids. Definitely get your family tickets for one of the upcoming home games (the U.S. Open Cup match vs. Chicago is this Wednesday!), and cheer on FC Cincinnati with the passion that Cincy sports fans are known for!
