Jimmy McLaughlin called it crazy.
When McLaughlin was recruited to join FC Cincinnati ahead of the 2016 inaugural season, the club said it hoped to average 8,000 people per match.
For context, the year before in 2015, the USL average was 3,362.
But then the first match at Nippert Stadium happened, when 14,658 fans attended and set the USL single-game record. The previous record was 11,569.
After that match, then Head Coach John Harkes said, “People are dying for this to happen in Cincinnati.”
So much has happened since.
FCC shattered every attendance record in the USL. The club’s 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run showed the country — and MLS — Cincinnati’s passion for its club and the sport. The 2018 regular season highlighted the Orange and Blue’s dominance on the field and in the stands.
“This club is honestly like nothing else in the world.” McLaughlin said in 2018. “I don’t think any club’s ever risen this quickly. It’s unbelievable to be a part of it and it’s a credit to everybody involved.”
Now, FC Cincinnati is days away from its first MLS match and weeks away home its home opener. Considering this is the club’s fourth season, it’s an impressive achievement on a rapid timeline.
But the growth hasn’t stopped.
On Tuesday, the club sold its 20,000th season ticket for the 2019 season. For context, FC Cincinnati is only the third MLS expansion club to hit as many season ticketholders before their first year. The other two clubs — Seattle Sounders FC and Atlanta United FC — currently play in NFL stadiums.
“It’s absolutely remarkable to have over 20,000 season-ticket holders,” FC Cincinnati Head Coach Alan Koch said. “It’s amazing and we’re going to need every single one of them, plus whoever else shows up to games this year, because we need to have a fortress mentality.
“We’re going to need our players, our coaches, our entire club to make Nippert Stadium an unbelievable place to play and a very, very difficult place for our opposition to play this year.”
In 2018, FC Cincinnati averaged 25,717 fans per match across its 17 USL home dates. That figure would’ve been fourth in MLS last season. (Third-place Toronto FC had 26,628 per game.)
If FCC attendance surpasses Toronto during the 2019 inaugural season, the club could have the third-largest average attendance behind Atlanta and Seattle. Again, both play in NFL stadiums.
“It’s amazing and it’s very, very special,” midfielder Corben Bone said. “I’m so proud of this club and everyone who works for it and the fans especially because they’ve continued to impress this entire country and world with their support. It’s an amazing thing.
“Hopefully we can put a product on the field that reciprocates the love they’ve shown and the support throughout the USL years and now into MLS. I’m very, very proud of it.”
During Cincinnati’s three seasons in the USL, supporters proved their passion and pride in the Orange and Blue. That won’t change.
If anything, the fan base will grow in the community, the Greater Cincinnati area, across the country — and even internationally — with MLS’ world-wide viewership.
Increased exposure and the team’s inclusion in EA Sports’ FIFA video-game series can only grow attention and relevancy.
FC Cincinnati fans have proven their passion. Tuesday’s milestone is another reminder. The home opener March 17 against the Portland Timbers will only reiterate it.
“Coming from the outside, I knew the numbers were big, but I didn’t know how passionate the fans were,” center back Forrest Lasso said. “Once I played in front of them, you could see how much they cared about the game, how much they cared about the team and the success of the team. You can feel it walking around the pitch on match days and you can feel it walking around the city.”
