Photo: Francisco Huerta Jr.
TQL Stadium in Cincinnati's West End
Is Cincinnati's TQL Stadium one of the best in the world? The public now has a say in that.
StadiumDB.com, which tracks construction, operations and history for soccer stadiums around the world, has included TQL Stadium on its list of nominations for Stadium of the Year for 2021. The contest is open to soccer facilities that opened last year.
Home to FC Cincinnati, TQL Stadium opened in the West End in 2021 after beginning construction in 2018 for more than $200 million and leveling neighborhood blocks near Central Avenue. The stadium has the capacity for about 26,000 fans and is named for Total Quality Logistics, a large freight brokerage firm based in Cincinnati.
[See photos from just before the stadium opened]
TQL Stadium is up against 22 other stadiums across the globe, including Lower.com Field in Columbus. Soccer fans can vote for up to five stadiums, ranking them with a star system. Vote at StadiumDB's website until midnight CET (6 p.m. in Cincinnati) on Monday, March 14
FC Cincinnati became the 24th team to enter the MLS as a professional soccer team in 2019. Before that, the team played in the second-division United Soccer League (USL) from 2016 to 2018.
FC Cincinnati will play 17 matches at home this year, a release says. Regular-season play is scheduled to begin Feb. 26, the earliest-ever start to a Major League Soccer season. The team's 2022 home opener will be March 5 against D.C. United. FCC revealed its new Junta Juvant kit in February.
The team finished 2021 with a 4-22-8 record, tying it with the 2019 season for losses.
In October, Cincinnati welcomed FIFA and U.S. Soccer as officials toured Paul Brown Stadium, soccer training facilities, hospitality venues and Fan Fest location options. Cincinnati is one of 17 U.S. cities vying to host a 2026 World Cup match. Officials expect that 10-11 cities will be chosen early this year.
In 2021, the Queen City was named as one of the best soccer cities in the United States. TQL Stadium played host to the United States Men’s National Soccer Team’s 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Mexico, plus the United States Women’s National Soccer Team (featuring Cincinnati’s own Rose Lavelle) trounced Paraguay during an international friendly there.
Stay connected with CityBeat. Subscribe to our newsletters, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google News, Apple News and Reddit.
Send CityBeat a news or story tip or submit a calendar event.
