Getting Close? FC Cincinnati Expects Visit From MLS Officials

In a statement, club executives say due diligence continues on a Major LEague Soccer expansion bid.

A rendering of a proposed new stadium for FC Cincinnati. Image via FC Cincinnati.

(Cincinnati, Oh.) - Cincinnati could be closer than ever to landing a Major League Soccer franchise.

FC Cincinnati officials say MLS executives are planning a visit to the city to finalize the team's expansion bid.

The soccer club released a statement Tuesday, saying that team owner and CEO Carl H. Lindner III, owner David Thompson, and president and general manager Jeff Berding attended the opening of LAFC’s Banc of California Stadium as MLS guests. The visit included discussions about the expansion bid.

“While extraordinary progress has been made, all of our work must be finalized – including various legal agreements with the City, Port, County and CPS and assessment of our interim MLS Nippert Stadium plan – before our bid will be 100 percent complete for final review,” the statement read.

Plans for a new soccer stadium eyed for Cincinnati’s West End neighborhood will be part of the review process before the league decides whether Cincinnati gets the second of two new MLS franchises. Sacramento and Detroit are also in the running for the expansion team.

The team statement said that FC Cincinnati must have complete due diligence to ensure a success.

An official club statement about FC Cincinnati's status in the @MLS expansion process. pic.twitter.com/Lh0rVLlRAO

— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) May 2, 2018