FC Cincinnati saw a record number of season tickets renewed for the 2020 MLS season during last month’s annual renewal period, and the club hasn't yet finished its entire 2020 renewal process.
More than 15,000 seats – of the club’s 20,000-plus 2019 season tickets – have already renewed for next year, and anyone with season tickets will have the first priority among other Season Ticket Members to secure a seat in the West End Stadium when it opens in 2021. Of course, fans can still purchase season tickets for next season, but the early renewal period was the first opportunity for fans to add or update their current ticket accounts.
“This is, hands down, by far the most amount of season tickets we’ve ever had at this point in the calendar year,” said Jeff Smith, FCC’s vice president of ticket sales and services. “To have 15,000 at this point is a testament to the long-term worthiness of FC Cincinnati.
“Take into consideration the challenging year on the field, we’re still back at Nippert Stadium with no major stadium enhancements planned and we’ve adjusted pricing to better prepare for the new stadium … This club was built to sustain long-term versus a year here or there where you have dips and losses,” Smith added.
Ahead of FC Cincinnati’s mid-week match against Atlanta United FC, the Orange and Blue rank third in MLS for average attendance at 27,702 fans per game. Atlanta and Seattle are first and second – but play in NFL stadiums.
With more than 20,000 season ticket holders in 2019, that number is expected remain level, if not rise slightly, in the club’s final season in Nippert Stadium before relocating to the new West End Stadium for the start of the 2021 season.
Renewals for 2020 launched Aug. 5 and formally ended at the end of the month. That doesn’t mean supporters still can purchase season tickets or add to their current ticket packages, though. The renewal period was a first chance for season ticketholders to adjust their seat location, add to their accounts and more – before seats go on sale to the general public.
For context, the club’s 15,000 renewals through August would produce an average attendance higher than a handful of MLS clubs have seen this season. A full listing of the current MLS average attendances are available at Soccer Stadium Digest.
