To our FCC Family,
Three years ago, after our inaugural season in MLS, I wrote a post-season letter to our fans where I stated that FC Cincinnati was built to win – and committed we would get back to being a winning team. I did not expect getting there to be so challenging. Thank you for your patience and ongoing support as we overcame a poor transition into MLS and re-booted our soccer leadership this year.
Looking back to the start of 2022, as we entered our fourth season in Major League Soccer, we did so with three core values in mind, the same values we pledged when we launched our franchise seven years ago. We always aim to be: 1) family friendly, 2) visible in the community, and 3) a winning team.
This season has been a success on all three fronts. We clinched our club’s first berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs and had our first postseason win against the New York Red Bulls! When we brought on Chris Albright as General Manager and hired Pat Noonan to be the Head Coach, they were tasked with reshaping the culture of this team and setting new, winning standards that will guide us as the team moves into the future. We are thankful and blessed by the impact Chris, Pat and their staff has had on the team this year.
You, our incredible supporters, have been the foundation upon which all of this was built. You have endured a few difficult years, and we are proud to have finally delivered exciting soccer and winning results during a successful MLS season. Your loyalty is greatly appreciated.
The energy at TQL Stadium this season was electric. Our fans’ presence, passion and unwavering support created a tremendous stadium atmosphere, which helped fuel remarkable performances from a young and hungry team. This enthusiasm contributed to prestigious recognition on the world stage, with TQL Stadium named “Best Venue of 2022” by The World Football Summit in late September at an awards event in Madrid, Spain.
We set new records across the board this season. We earned 46 points, the most in club history and the largest season-over-season increase in the league. We scored 64 goals, fourth best in MLS, including the night that no one will forget, our 6-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes on September 10th. We are grateful for and excited by our outstanding players.
Our performance on the field earned league-wide and international recognition for several of our players, who etched their names into the history books for FC Cincinnati and Major League Soccer. Our captain, Luciano Acosta, led the league in assists with 19, and he and Brandon Vazquez were named to the 2022 MLS All-Star team, the first FC Cincinnati players to earn this honor. Vazquez and Brenner became the first teammates in MLS history to both score 18 goals in a season, and Brenner was one of three finalists for MLS Young Player of the Year.
I thank God, our talented leadership team, and our exceptional employees for a successful season. Thank you to our fantastic partners, Mercy Health, TQL, First Financial Bank, Procter & Gamble, Kroger and the many others who have been with us this season. Without your financial support, our success would not be possible.
While we celebrate the success of this past season, this is only the beginning. We aren’t done building. We aren’t done improving. We continue to focus on enhancing your stadium experience, bringing competitive players to Cincinnati, and developing our youth academy program and our newly formed MLS Next Pro Team – all important contributors to further solidify the winning culture of this club.
Cincinnati, thank you for an unforgettable season! We are excited about the future.
Many thanks and appreciation,
Carl H. Lindner III
Controlling Owner & Co-CEO
