The FC Cincinnati stadium project footprint could grow by roughly five acres, as the club is eyeing additional properties around the site.
Planned for a 2021 opening, the new FC Cincinnati stadium is currently being built on the city’s West End. In a potential move that would increase the project’s footprint, the club is working with the Port Authority–owner of the stadium–to finalize the acquisition of about five acres, including the site of an existing Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall and two properties on the south side of Wade Street. Should the purchases move forward, the project’s footprint will expand northward and grow to a total size of approximately 16 acres.
Technically, the size of the stadium itself would not change. Instead, FC Cincinnati plans to use the additional land for parking. Any proposed expansion of the project’s footprint would have to clear both the Cincinnati Planning Commission and the Cincinnati City Council. More from the Cincinnati Enquirer:
The 26,000-seat stadium footprint itself remains the same, with the new land acquired for parking, according to FC Cincinnati President and General Manager Jeff Berding.
“The site for the FC Cincinnati stadium is the same today as it was in early 2018,” Berding said. “However, as we anticipate how to solve for parking 26,000-plus fans in a manner that keeps them out of neighborhood streets, the addition of these few properties along Wade Street improves the overall development.”
The Cincinnati Planning Commission must sign off on the expansion, followed by new approval from Cincinnati City Council. Those meetings are set for next month.
People have a chance to comment during an April 22 Planning Commission staff meeting that is open to the public.
FC Cincinnati recently released new renderings for the stadium, the first since Kansas City sports architecture firm Populous took over design duties from Meis Architects. The club, which began MLS play last month as an expansion team, will play the 2019 and 2020 seasons at the University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium before moving into the new West End stadium.
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