Freestore Food Drive

Die Innenstadt Vice President Timo Breitenstein and Rhinehaus' Wonder Brown at our first ever charity event.

It's nearly 4 AM and my apartment living room is currently occupied by three yellow barrels filled with canned goods, macaroni boxes, hygiene products, and so many other things. Over the course of a few hours, DI members and our friends at Rhinehaus donated hundreds of items for the Freestore Foodbank. Everything will be dropped off to them later this week. 

I'm ecstatic. 

Not just because FCC and Omar Cummings took it to St. Louis FC. Not just because the team snagged three points. Not just because so many DI faithful crowded into the barroom once again to chant, sing, and watch the team. 

I'm ecstatic that so many people took the time to donate from their own pantry, to swing by the grocery store and pick something up to give, to drop something off in advance, to make a cash donation, to give a few moments to their neighbors in need. I'm blown away by how awesome our friends at Rhinehaus are and how great my fellow DI members can be. 

Tonight was about more than just soccer or rooting for a team. Tonight was the start of giving back to the community around us. 

More photos from the night:
 

The Beautiful Game in a Beautiful Place

FC Cincinnati drew 14,658 fans to its inaugural home opener on April 9, 2016 against Charlotte Independence at Nippert Stadium. 

"FC Cincinnati breaks USL attendance record … again" That was one headline after 23,375 soccer fans filled Nippert Stadium to see FC Cincinnati host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on May 14th.  Only four weeks earlier 20,497 fans had set a new USL regular-season attendance record, but on May 14th the crowd in Nippert Stadium set a new all-time record for attendance in the USL.  Don't be surprised if you see that headline again and again because FC Cincy fans and Nippert Stadium have the potential to push the USL attendance record even higher.

Fans packed into the lower bowl of Nippert Stadium.

But before we even think about what the future holds, let's look back at the history of Nippert Stadium.

The University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium in its soccer configuration.

Soccer was not in mind when stadium construction began in 1915.  However, it might be hard to convince supporters who are enjoying FC Cincinnati's inaugural season in Nippert that it isn't a soccer stadium, or that it is over 100 years old. The University of Cincinnati football team first played on the site of Nippert Stadium in 1901. The early stands were simple wooden bleachers built on the surrounding hillside.  Lights were added in 1909 because the football team had co-op students who worked during the day and had to practice at night. (UC pioneered "cooperative education" in 1906.)  

Nippert Stadium sits at the heart of The University of Cincinnati's campus and uptown Cincinnati. In this photograph, the pavillion/club seat structure can be seen at center, while the scoreboard is seen at right. 

Construction of the stadium continued after 1915 as it was built section by section until its completion in 1924.  James Gamble Nippert Memorial Stadium (capacity 12,000) was dedicated on November 8, 1924. The events leading up to that dedication and the story behind the name bear retelling.

The stadium's dedication plaque.

Jimmy Nippert was a law student, following in the footsteps of his father who was a judge, and he played center on the football team. The University of Cincinnati football team, founded in 1885, began their long-standing rivalry with Miami University in 1888. It was during the 1923 meeting of these two rivals that the beginning of the tragedy occurred.

The Cincinnati-Miami game was played on Thanksgiving Day in 1923. The field that day was described as "a sea of mud" due to heavy rains. Despite the conditions, and despite suffering a spike wound during the game, Jimmy Nippert played the entire game. Only after the game was it apparent that Jimmy had suffered a serious cut on his right leg.

The memorial to Jimmy Nippert at the top of the stadium's south stands.

The wound became infected. Blood poisoning developed. All of the efforts to save Jimmy Nippert's life failed. He died on Christmas Day, 1923.  There is a monument at south end of the stadium behind the student section which immortalizes Jimmy Nippert's last words: 

        "Five more yards to go - then drop."

Jimmy Nippert's mother, Maud Gamble Nippert, was the daughter of James Gamble. James Gamble was the son of one of Procter & Gamble's founders (as well as the creator of Ivory soap!). He donated the funds to finish the construction of the stadium which would be named James Gamble Nippert Memorial Stadium to carry on the memory of his grandson.

If you would like to read more about Jimmy Nippert, click here and here.

This picture above illustrates what Nippert Stadium would have looked like in 1924: small.  The building at the top of the horseshoe is still there, and is linked to Nippert in an interesting way.  It was built in 1910 as a women’s gymnasium through the generosity of Jacob Schmidlapp who wished to use his wealth to help women.  The former Schmidlapp Gymnasium was converted to the Dieterle Vocal Arts Center through the generosity of Louise Dieterle Nippert and her husband Louis Nippert.  Louis Nippert was the younger brother of Jimmy Nippert and owner of the Cincinnati Reds from 1973-1981.

The former Schmidlapp Gymnasium (now the Dieterle Vocal Arts Center) is an iconic structure at the stadium's south end. 

Nippert Stadium has undergone a number of expansions and renovations over the past century. The first expansion was in 1936 and doubled the stadium capacity from 12,000 to 24,000. This involved lowering the field twelve feet, which explains why Nippert looks somewhat different in the drawing!

A look at Nippert's steep seating.

Seating capacity was increased to 28,000 by adding an upper deck on the east side in 1954, and increased again (to 35,000) by expanding the upper deck in 1992.  The impressive five-story pavilion recently added on the west side of the stadium added suites and premium seating, pushing Nippert’s total capacity over 40,000.

The stadium's club and suite level was added in the winter of 2015-16. For 2016 FC Cincinnati matches, the club level has been completely sold out to season ticket holders.

While Nippert's seating capacity is over 40,000 for college football, the soccer configuration features various sections that are tarped off to limit seating to a little over 21,000. Even with the reduced capacity of 21K, Nippert Stadium is one of the largest soccer venues in the USL.  

Nippert's seating capacity is usually artificially reduced for soccer through the use of tarps bearing FCC imagery. For matches where attendance is high (like the league record setting one against Pittsburgh), the tarps are removed. 

If USL stadiums were categorized like T-shirt sizes, seventeen would be either Xtra-Small (2,000-3,500) or Small (4,000-5,000). Four would be Mediums (6,000-8,000) and seven would be size Large (9,000-16,000 range).  Nippert Stadium is one of only five USL stadiums which have seating capacities over 20K (Xtra-Large). The fact that Nippert Stadium offers the opportunity to keep expanding seating capacity at will is a huge advantage.  Various soccer clubs across the country are looking to build a new soccer stadium, but face a number of dilemmas: where? how big? who is going to pay for it? Perhaps MLS's Orlando City has the worst dilemma: they have already outgrown their new 19,500 seat stadium and it has yet to open!

FC Cincinnati is building a tremendous fan base and part of that is due to the Orange and Blue playing in Nippert Stadium. The atmosphere and intimate setting of Nippert are certain to draw more and more fans, and as that happens the atmosphere will only be more electric.

Nippert Stadium holds immense character as well as history. 

But more and more fans will not be a problem. Every seat in Nippert has a good, if not, great view and adding more seats is as simple as removing a tarp. Cincinnati is not done setting attendance records (the upper deck will have its tarps removed and be available for attendees at FCC's upcoming match against EPL side Crystal Palace). Who knows what the USL attendance record will be by the end of the season?

View from the stadium's North stands known as "The Bailey" during FCC matches.

As the inaugural season continues, FC Cincinnati and its fans will continue to help write the story of a historic stadium. While their short history so far may only be a footnote in a tenured past, one must wonder: what does the future hold for soccer and Nippert stadium?

...but that question is part of a much larger one surrounding the club's future and that's a story for another day. 

Until then, Nippert's charm and character remain unmatched in the USL, connecting a new team with historic Queen City roots.

It's a beautiful place to take in the beautiful game. 

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Article by Tom Niehaus.

Photography by Ronny Salerno.

Louisville Travel Plans

After this current string of home matches, FC Cincinnati will be hitting the road to Louisville for the Dirty River Derby's second round (of three) on Saturday, June 25th. Although Louisville City FC won the first matchup 3-2, we're hoping that the Orange & Blue can deliver a road win in similar fashion. 

If you're looking to head down and join up with fellow Cincy supporters, here's the travel plans: 

LCFC's front office has been kind enough to reserve certain sections specifically for visiting FCC fans. If you're looking to get a ticket in one of these sections, you can do so by visiting this link and entering the code FCC2016. What originally started as one section has now become three, so be sure to join us in cheering on the boys in hostile territory. 

If you're not looking to drive down, our friends at Rhinehaus have also been awesome enough to organize a bus trip to get you there and back again. You can visit this link and purchase either a combination game ticket/bus ticket or simply just a ticket for the bus ride to and from. 

Keep in mind: the bus will be leaving Rhinehaus promptly at 2:30 PM and should arrive in Louisville at 4:30 PM. 

You also don't have to be a DI member to take advantage of the bus. Everyone is welcome!

While some are planning to tailgate in Slugger Field's parking lot, others plan to meet up with the Coopers, one of Louisville's supporters groups, at Against the Grain Brewery nearby. 

So with that in mind, if you plan to join us, here's where we'll be sitting:

Remember, Louisville City plays on a minor league baseball diamond and Slugger Field is home to our Reds' AAA affiliate the Louisville Bats. With the seats reserved for us, we'd have a great view of left field and maybe even catch a fly ball or two. However, since this is soccer in a baseball stadium, we'll be at a bit of a weird angle. Nevertheless, it'll be great to be surrounded by fellow visiting fans. We have a habit of breaking league attendance records (with crowds of 23,375 and 20,497), maybe we can help Lou City break their personal record of 8,414.

All joking aside, Louisville and its fans have garnered a great reputation in the USL. I had the pleasure of meeting several when they came to visit Cincinnati earlier this season. I'm looking forward to seeing those folks and seeing our team on the road. The matchup is sure to be competitive as LCFC currently stands at the top of the Eastern Conference standings and as we contend for the Dirty River Derby.

TRAVEL TIP: If you're in the mood for some local food while visiting, Louisville features a Hard Rock Cafe! Just in case you want to remember what the 90's were like and munch on exotic cuisine such as "Red Hot Chili Poppers."

See you on June 25th in the Slugger Field cheap seats!

The Beat of The Bailey

Bjorn Knudsen and his bass drum lead the march into The Bailey at the inaugural home match.

The two bass drums pound away at every match. At the front and heart of the Bailey: the war drums. They keep the tempo, set the pace, and complement the growing throngs of those chanting along as the inaugural season has progressed. The thunderous lead can be heard all around Nippert and is yet another example of the community and tradition that has been forming around a team that was announced not even a year ago.

The drummers bring the Bailey together; in a way, it's an example of Die Innenstadt's motto adapted from the city's motto: Juncta Juvant or "Strength in Unity."

But who are these Bailey drummers, and what is it like to be one?

Bjorn Knudsen (left) and Fox Gibson (right).

Bjorn Knudsen and Fox Gibson became friends in their days at Miami University; such close friends that Fox served as the best man in Bjorn's wedding. They're soccer fans, followers of clubs like the Columbus Crew and Bayern Munich before their local team, FC Cincinnati, came along. Right away, they knew they wanted to use their musical talents to add something special to the matches. "I knew I wanted to have a bigger part in the supporter section than just being there and cheering," says Bjorn. "I said to Fox: hey man, let's get some drums.

"It's not just a match, it's a 90 minute dance party in the Bailey," says Fox. He's right, these guys help keep the environment moving from the way they add their drums to the national anthem right up until the final whistle.

Fox and Bjorn showing off their initial drum for the first home match. Since that April 9th game, they've added a second bass drum and have been joined by several other drummers.

"My favorite thing about drumming in the Bailey is the feeling of community that is around as we drum. It's great to be a part of something new, and start new traditions. It's also a lot of fun to make noise and pump the team and fans up," say Bjorn.  

Fox adds: "I've found that the people in the supporter groups that help us write the songs and lead them in the Bailey are some of the best people I've met in Cincinnati. I'd probably still want to drum and sing even if there were only a few of us, but the turnout of fans and supporter groups have been so strong and their drive to learn songs and cheers has been amazing."

Antoine Hoppenot and Luke Spencer holding up the inaugural drum head after the entire team signed it.

Bjorn and Fox have become fixtures, but in the most recent match against Richmond you may have noticed even more drums popping up and joining these guys. However, did you notice we had a guest drummer that evening as well? Bob Brumberg was kind enough to tell the following story of what it was like to be a Bailey drummer for the Richmond match.

"My Night as a Bailey Drummer"  by Bob Brumberg

Bob manning one of the bass drums while filling in for Fox.

Sunday morning came way too soon. I flinched as I got out of bed...my back and shoulders screaming with pain. Even my wrists were sore. And where the hell did this blister come from? Honestly probably not too different than most Sunday mornings post home FC Cincinnati matches (hey those liter mugs at Mecklenburg are heavy...you can get a blister from that!).

But this pain was different, almost welcome. This pain came with a sense of satisfaction. For one night, one glorious night, I was a Bailey drummer.

If you've been to an FC Cincinnati game, you've no doubt heard the drums. The constant thumping, keeping the beat to whatever cheer or chant the Bailey is yelling. Front and center, these guys set the tone. They are the audible compass for the supporters to follow, a vital part of the match day experience. So how did a schmuck like me end up here? Lets jump back to 4pm Saturday.

I walked into Mecklenburg͛s beer garden, Cincinnati flag in hand and ready for a liter of the finest German Dunkel. As I down the delicious dark lager, Jared comes up and asks me, "Can you drum?"

"What?" I replied, not sure where this was going.

"Can you drum?" he repeated. Fox is bringing his daughter and can't march with the drum tonight. You want to do it? 

Fox and his daughter checking in on The Bailey before the match.

In that instant, I recalled every sports movie where the character is called into action at a pivotal moment. Julie ͚"The Cat" Gaffney in Mighty Ducks 2, Ronnie "Sunshine" Bass in Remember the Titans, Rudy in..."Rudy."

"Yeah I can drum." It wasn't a total lie. I've drummed. Usually in the car or at my desk...I have a sick air drum kit. I was the drummer in my friend's Rock Band group, "Snatch." I could play a few songs on Expert. My old roommate was a drummer...like a real one. I goofed around on his gear a few times. Oh, and my wife was a drummer in marching band. So yeah. Sure. I can drum.

I turned and looked at the drum in the corner. Stared at it. "I can do this," I told myself. I hoisted the drum and its harness on my shoulders. It slipped off. I lifted again. It slipped off again. Drum harnesses are apparently not made for big guys. It became evident there was no way I was going to be able to march a mile with this thing if the harness didn't fit. Even worse was the prospect of letting my pride get the better of me, trying to fight the harness and having the drum come off mid-march, damaging what I assume is a very expensive musical instrument.

Then I remembered my wife was on her way, and I think she had kayak straps in the car. Maybe this can work after all! God I hope those straps are in the car. She arrived just in time, with the straps, and I rigged a most-uncomfortable neck band to keep the behemoth from falling. So now not only was the too-small harness digging into my shoulders, but the strap was trying to snap my neck off. "I'm good," I proclaimed as we made our way out of the beer garden.  

We marched the mile from Mecklenburg to Nippert, and I honestly don't remember much of it. Between balancing the massive metal shell, trying to not trip and fall (oh yeah, forgot to mention you can't see in front of you with this thing), and keeping a beat to the marching chants, the trail of tears went by in a flash. I don't know how marching band drummers do it. Gained a new respect for them during the walk.

Before I knew it we were in the stadium, gathering up for our final march to the Bailey. I've said this before, but this part always gives me chills. Usually I'm the guy near the front waving the Cincinnati city flag, and the faces of fans watching us go by gets me every time. The sea of people on the concourse. Phones come out en masse to record us. Even the concession workers and ushers give a cheer and pump their fists. The supporters have arrived. It has become an event of its own for me. I liken it to the ramp entrance the Ohio State Band does at football games...romanticizing it a bit, but regardless it feels special. Blake called me up to the front of the group and we were off.

You know those moments you want to right-click and "Save As?" That short walk down the concourse was one of those moments. The drum became weightless and the pain disappeared. Leading the supporters to the Bailey...just wow. 

Down the stairs I stepped, carefully I might add. Arriving at the rail I see Bjorn, the other bass drummer and a mainstay at the front of the Bailey. Almost a mythical figure, his commanding presence and ability to lead the group is matched only by Fox, the man I've been asked to fill in for. Every home match I watch the two of them keep the supporters at a steady roar for 90 minutes. Now the eyes and ears of the Bailey are on me.

I strap the drum to the rail and breathe it all in. Ronny is behind me with the megaphone, and I see Darin down the row. These are the two men who will lead the chants tonight. We start early with "F-C-C," "No One Likes Us," and all the other staples. Then the National Anthem, and we're off and running.

Then it rained. Albeit briefly, but enough to trigger an hour-long delay. It was like someone upstairs wanting me to have an extra 60 minutes of this awesome experience. I'll take it. Plus the rain drops looked awesome off the drum head as we thumped away.

Raindrops on the drumheads. (Thanks to Nick Burton for the gif!)

The match itself was a blur. Truthfully I spent most of the time watching Bjorn and his tempo, trying to match his pace. He had to remind myself more than once to just keep the beat on "No One Likes Us" (I was getting a little overzealous with my rhythm). I know Okoli scored early. I know we got a dagger in the heart at the end. Bookends to an amazing night. Chant after chant, beat after beat. 90 minutes of just plain fun.  

After the heart wrenching equalizer from Richmond and the final whistle, we gave one final salute to the squad and departed. Despite the result, I was still buzzing. My group made our way to Mecklenburg, hoisting beers and telling stories. I bought John Harkes a shot. It was a good night.  

So as I (painfully) rolled out of bed Sunday I did it with a smile...and an aspirin. Yeah I know I was probably the first guy Jared saw when he went to ask who could drum. I was just sitting in the right place at the right time. Could've been anybody. But dammit if I didn't take it seriously. I've been caught up in all of the passion around FC Cincinnati, and being a part of Die Innenstadt has only amplified that. So to carry the drum and rally the Bailey, even just for one match, was truly an honor.  

Thanks to Jared for asking, to Fox for letting me use his drum, and to Bjorn for his instruction and patience. Finally, thanks to Die Innenstadt and the Bailey for a special night.

See you this Saturday.

Bob Brumberg after his debut performance!

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Special thanks to Bob Brumberg for his authorship (and for filling in on drums) as well as Fox Gibson and Bjorn Knudsen for all of their efforts. Thanks as well to Nick Burton for the great gif and Tom Niehaus for his contributions. 

Walk for Wishes

Tom Grabo aka the "Cincy Super Fan!" 

This coming Saturday morning, before the home match against Montreal, some Die Innenstadt members as well as FC CIncinnati staff and other supporters will be participating in the 13th Annual Walk for Wishes with the Make A Wish Foundation. The walk is a family-friendly, community event that raises funds to grant the wishes of children battling life-threatening medical conditions. One DI member, Tom Grabo, is leading a team and is inviting everyone to join him. 
 
You may know Tom as the "Cincy Super Fan," or the "FCC Cowboy." He's encouraging anyone who joins to come clad in their FC Cincinnati or Die Innenstadt gear. You can sign up for the FC Cincinnati team here. Just select "FC Cincinnati" as your team when you sign up. Additionally, if you can't make it to the walk, you can make a donation in their name. 

One of our team members, Tom Niehaus, also pointed out that they're offering a new incentive for anyone who makes at least a $50 contribution in person, at the event: a voucher from Allegiant for a round-trip flight!
 
If you'd like to join up with Tom, some of the FC Cincinnati staff, and fellow supporters (or just make a donation). sign up here. 

Remember to search for: "FC Cincinnati." 

Die Innenstadt to Host Food Drive in Support of Freestore Foodbank

Independent FC Cincinnati supporters group Launches Their First Charity Event

Cincinnati, OH: Today, Die Innenstadt, an independent FC Cincinnati supporters group, announced that they will be hosting a canned food drive in support of Freestore Foodbank on Saturday, July 9th, 2016. The event will be held at Rhinehaus (119 E 12th St.) and run from 6PM until the end of the St. Louis Football Club vs. FC Cincinnati away match which will be streamed on the bar’s televisions. A traditional gathering spot for the supporters group to keep up with FC Cincinnati when they’re playing out of town, Rhinehaus will also become the home of Die Innenstadt’s first charity initiative. 

     “This is our first chance to give something back to our greater community,” said Ronny Salerno, one of the group’s founding members. “We’re not just supporters of a soccer team, we’re supporters of our city.” Since their founding, Die Innenstadt has provided strong fan support for the FC Cincinnati soccer team in its first season and regularly meets at Rhinehaus in Over-The-Rhine to watch away matches together. 

     In what they hope to be the first of more charity initiatives, they’re asking for attendees to bring the items Freestore needs most: canned meat, vegetables, and fruit; peanut butter, canned soup, macaroni and cheese, as well as personal care items such as shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, and hygiene products. 
     
     “Being part of a community that promotes soccer and our team has been incredible so far, but this is our chance to start doing more,” said the group’s president Ryan Lammi. “We’re incredibly excited to channel our usual enthusiasm for matches into a rally for donations as well as the team.”

About Die Innenstadt: Pronounced “Dee In-en-staht,” the name is a literal German translation of “inner city.” The group was founded in early 2016 to serve as a collaboration of fans and celebrate the history and future of Cincinnati’s urban core as well as the FC Cincinnati professional soccer club. The group can be found amongst other groups and fans in Nippert Stadium’s north end, the section known as “The Bailey.” Die Innenstadt and its nearly 400 members regularly organize the construction and display of “tifos,” giant hand painted banners held up to welcome and taunt visiting teams. They spend the game chanting and singing even after their traditional one-mile march to the stadium from Mecklenburg Gardens. 

For more info, contact Die Innenstadt via email. 

"Wherefore Art Thou, Romeo?"

Pittsburgh and Cincinnati have rival sport teams and rival yellow bridges. 

A longstanding rivalry exists between the cities of Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. If you’ve ever visited our neighbor in western Pennsylvania, you’ll notice several similarities such as vibrant downtown cores along the river with stadiums and hillsides that lead to sweeping views of the city. The Bengals/Steelers rivalry is well known as well as the one between the divisional rivals of the Reds/Pirates. Both our cities lack NBA teams, but when it comes to professional hockey, the Cincinnati Stingers boast a winning record over the Pittsburgh Penguins (unfortunately the Stingers and the WHA folded and the Penguins still remain).

Now we have another sport to clash over and FCC is hoping that brings out the fans for another record setting attendance. If you caught owner Carl Lindner’s letter last week, they're hoping to draw 25,000. They're also requesting that everyone wear orange. There’s no specific rivalry between FC Cincinnati and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds themselves, but the history between our cities’s various athletic clubs would seem to dictate that they'd inevitably become rivals.

Personally, I hope it's not a potential rivalry that brings people out, but simply an FC Cincinnati match itself. Cincinnati, come see for yourself what makes soccer at Nippert and this team so special. In the process you might even get to see one of our pro teams beat a Pittsburgh team for the first time in a long time. 

This Saturday is the first home afternoon match (it starts at 4 PM) and the first of three times we’ll play “the hounds.” The team was formed in 1999 with the Riverhounds unique name and logo.

Look, you can say what you want about the way soccer teams are named in this country. When Major League Soccer debuted, teams took on names in similar form to how the other major leagues were doing it: City Name, Team Name. You had teams like the “Kansas City Wiz,” the “Dallas Burn,” and the “New York/New Jersey Metrostars.” Over time, new marketing and branding strategies took hold. Some of MLS’ founding teams stuck with their original names, but others took inspiration from European clubs. The Wiz became Sporting Kansas City, the Burn became FC Dallas and the New York/New Jersey mouthful enlisted a sponsor and became the New York Red Bulls (despite still playing in New Jersey). As more teams joined, several kept the European inspired names coming. Opinions go back and forth both ways, but I don’t have a problem with the international influence. Soccer is much different than this nation’s established sports and leagues. The American soccer landscape has changed dramatically the past 20 years and as MLS has rejected its mid 90s quest for acceptance among the more established sports culture, even the minor league clubs have gone for more traditional naming. Hate on it all you want, but I have no problem with a team being named Futbol Club Cincinnati or Louisville City Football Club. I also don’t have a distaste for the “city name sports team” mantra. The San Jose Earthquakes, the Portland Timbers, the Seattle Sounders - yeah that’s the typical way to name an American sports team, but I understand the tradition behind those particular names. Indy Eleven is the more traditional American route, but at least that's unique and creative.

Then there’s the Pittsburgh Riverhounds...

Was that the best logo and name you could come up with? Yeah, it's been a "Ruff" Day.

What’s a Riverhound you ask? Hell, I wish I knew. Apparently the name was derived from a “name the team” contest in which “Pittsburgh Riverdogs” was the winner (I don't think very many people wrote in). At some point someone made a typo on some official paperwork or a conscious decision to rename the team “Riverhounds” happened. Judging by the logo though, I’m pretty sure someone bought a minor league hockey team and just decided to play soccer when they couldn’t find ice.

I’m no fan of Pittsburgh’s sports teams, but you have to have some respect for the following they have. They all (the Pirates to a much lesser extent) have this reputation, this identity. They represent the steel city, the city of six super bowl trophies. They’re all clad in black and gold. Steelers. Pirates. Penguins.

...Riverhounds.

It just doesn’t fit. I’m not saying become FC Real Pittsburgh United 1999 or anything, but the logo could use some updating and the name could be, well, somewhat relevant I guess? To be fair, the creek dogs have a black and gold home jersey. However, the blue away kits, overly minor league logo of the late 90's, and random name don't seem to jive with traditional Pittsburgh athletics.

Nevertheless, the organization has stuck with the East Coast Hockey League logo, even substituting a soccer ball in place of the “O” in "Riverhounds." They have a decent following, a group of supporters known as the Steel Army. They averaged about 2,630 fans at home last season and like their MLB brethren, their stadium has an incredible view of the city skyline.

But this weekend, they come to Nippert. Where 10,000 tickets are already sold and The Bailey is sure to be packed with supporters.

Pittsburgh comes in with a record slightly better than last place Montreal: 0 wins, 3 losses, 3 draws, 3 points. Their lead scorer and main threat was a guy named Romeo Parkes. I say “was” because, as of Monday, Parkes was fired.

While playing New York Red Bulls II over the weekend, things got quite chippy between Parkes and New York's Karl Ouimette. After the two received red cards and Ouimette began walking away, Romeo trotted after him and kicked him square in the spine with his cleats.

As Ouimette fell to the ground, surrounding players of both teams started to intervene while Parkes still ran his mouth. Ouimette was hauled off on a stretcher, but was able to travel home with the team. By all reports, he seems to be ok. Two days later, Pittsburgh’s front office delivered a kick of their own: sending Romeo straight to the curb. While Parkes would probably be a favorite if Joey Porter was the Riverhounds coach instead of working for the Steelers, the Pittsburgh front office made a good decision. 

I could make a joke about Parkes' actions as being those of a "typical Pittsburgh pro athelete," but thinking of the Bengals' Vontaze Burfict prevents me.

"O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?"

On paper, even before Juliet's boyfriend got himself fired, Pittsburgh looked like a team to beat. Then again, so did Harrisburg. FC Cincinnati needs to continue tightening up the defense and smoothing out the attack. With a hopefully strong crowd behind them, they might be the first Cincy sports team to defeat a Pittsburgh athletic franchise in quite a long time. It also helps that of the 7 goals the Riverhounds have scored so far this season, 5 of them came from Romeo Parkes. One of their top offensive threats is not only neutralized, but unemployed.

Either way, I hope pro soccer and what FC Cincinnati has become is what draws newcomers out to Nippert, on top of prospective victory over a regional rival. 

See you (and hopefully 25,000 others) at Nippert on Saturday afternoon! Wear ORANGE!

We'll be at the traditional meeting spot of Mecklenburg Gardens starting at noon. All are welcome, especially any Steel Army folks who might be making the drive down to see their Riverhounds play. 

Stand with Die Innenstadt. Stand with Cincinnati. 
Juncta Juvant. 

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Ronny Salerno is a founding member of Die Innenstadt as well as an author and photographer who appreciates history and Waffle House coffee. 

Tom Niehaus is an awesome guy who edits these posts for him and offers creative contributions.

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A Letter from Carl Lindner III

It's been awhile since the Bengals have stuck it to the Steelers and I'm still reeling from when the Reds dropped that play in game to the Pirates. Here's to hoping FC Cincinnati can get a win for the Queen City over our latest Steel City rivals. 

Let's make another statement and bring 25,000+ to Nippert on May 14th.

In the meantime, away game watching parties at Rhinehaus:

May 4th at 7 PM vs. Orlando City B.

May 7th at 7 PM vs. the Harrisburg City Islanders.

See you there.

T2 Terminated, Hammerheads Up Next

I couldn't make it to Rhinehaus this past weekend; I had to work. While everyone in the break room seemed to be excited for the return of Game of Thrones, I was much more interested in FC Cincinnati's match against Toronto 2. I tuned in on my phone while the rest of Die Innenstadt gathered in OTR.  I'm not sure what was better: Omar Cummings scoring a goal within three minutes of his FCC debut or Mitch Hildebrandt's Sports Center Top Ten goalkeeping.  

That was a big win, a great way to come back after the Louisville match. Two-ronto is a decent squad. To use one last Arnold Schwarzenegger related pun ala my last post: "they'll be back." Toronto FC II pays us a visit this June. Until then, hopefully the momentum carries into this weekend against the Wilmington Hammerheads.

Wilmington Hammerheads FC has been in existence since 1996. They're a club that has had some surprising success in the US Open Cup while facing many ups and downs over the years. They didn't play in 2010 and in 2015 they had an abysmal year finishing in last place with only 3 wins, 10 draws, and a staggering 15 losses. This season has started a lot better for them though; they're currently 2-2-1 with 7 points, two behind FCC. If you happened to catch Wilmington's recent game against New York Red Bulls 2, you would have seen them fall by 1 to the visitors. You also probably noticed the gridiron lines on the field and the football goalposts that are only partially removed. 

Averaging around 2,960 fans in the 2015 season, the sharks will be coming to Nippert where there are no American football markings on the field and where there'll probably be well more than 3,000 people in the stands. While we hope FCC can keep up the momentum on the pitch, I'm hoping locals of the Queen City will keep the support coming at Nippert this weekend. Two weeks ago we broke the regular season attendance record with over 20,000 in attendance. I'm confident the stands of Nippert will remain packed and provide an intimidating atmosphere for a team from a North Carolina vacation town.

Some other stuff to get you ready for this Saturday:

• Our vice president Timo Breitenstein was interviewed on Cincinnati Soccer Talk this week. Check it out here and tune in regularly; these guys do a great show.  
• As is the new norm, we'll be getting together at Mecklenburg Gardens before the match. We'll be there from 3 PM until we march up to Nippert. Link.
• Saturday is also the University of Cincinnati's commencement. Unless you know someone graduating, all this really means to you is that traffic will probably be awful. Be smart, arrive early, and come fill up Nippert. The club put out some helpful parking tips here, but the best way to enjoy things is to come hang out with us beforehand.

Let's go shark hunting.   

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Ronny Salerno is a founding member of Die Innenstadt as well as an author and photographer who appreciates history and Waffle House coffee. 

Tom Niehaus is an awesome guy who edits these posts for him and offers creative contributions.

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"Two-ronto:" Judgement Day

This weekend, FCC hits the road again, this time to our northern neighbors. Here’s a little bit about our opponents and the questions that arise in regards to their name, our league’s organization, and the American soccer pyramid.

First things first, this weekend’s matchup:

This Sunday at 4 PM, FC Cincinnati will play Toronto FC II. I’ll be stuck at work, but several Die Innenstadt members will be at the traditional gathering spot of Rhinehaus to catch the action.

Where they come from:

This team is the reserve side of MLS club Toronto FC. The MLS team was established in 2005, the league’s first Canadian franchise. After a one year stint in 2014 utilizing the Wilmington Hammerheads as their affiliate, Toronto FC established the “2 team” who began playing in 2015. The second squad serves as a bridge between TFC’s developmental academy and the main team. 

What do you call a team with a generic “2” name?: 

As best I can tell, the “2 team” doesn’t have any nicknames. Personally I think “T2” would be fitting. Playing off the nickname for the wonderful Terminator 2: Judgement Day, you could call this team “the terminators,” “the T-1000s,” “the sequels,” or “the Robert Patrick’s.” T2 doesn’t seem to have any specific supporters groups dedicated just to them*, but if any of you Canucks get the idea, you’re welcome for the nickname suggestions. It sounds a lot better than Toronto Football Club Number Two.

  *The team does appear to draw a collection of supporters comprised of members from the main club's various groups. 

How do they look coming into the weekend?:

“The Terminators” started the season drawing against the New York reserve squad, then beat their Canadian rivals of Montreal 2-1, before reaching another draw against Pittsburgh in their home debut. They sit at 5 points, one below Cincinnati as they prepare to host the Orange and Blue following our loss at home to Louisville.

Away game venue:

The Ontario Soccer Centre seats approximately 2,000.

“The T-1000s” actually play just outside of Toronto, to the north in the suburb of Vaughn. Think of it like Mason to Cincinnati, coincidentally enough it actually features an amusement park within the same chain as Kings Island. The suburban 2 squad plays in a 3500 seat stadium, part of a much larger soccer and training complex.

What’s the deal with all the “2” teams?:

"Have you seen this team?"

“The sequels” are like several USL sides in that they serve as a reserve squad for one of the major league teams. They join Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, Seattle Sounders FC 2, Portland Timbers 2, LA Galaxy 2, and New York Red Bulls 2 in the “secondary team” category. Orlando City B does as well, but changes up their name a little bit. Meanwhile, the Real Monarchs, Swope Park Rangers, Montreal FC, and Bethlehem Steel are affiliates owned by MLS entities, but lack the “2” or “B” nomenclature. They’re marketed more as their own independent identities. Rochester, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Charlotte, Wilmington, St. Louis, Charleston, Rio Grande Valley, Oklahoma City, and Sacramento feature MLS affiliation, but are under their own ownership. Rounding out the league, Orange County, Colorado Springs, Arizona, San Antonio, Tulsa, Louisville, Harrisburg, and our very own FC Cincinnati all operate as independent clubs.

The reserve squad teams are more directly linked with their parent organization, while the affiliated teams provide development as well, they tend to have more control over their roster and can focus more on league competition as opposed to development. Minor league soccer is a completely different animal than say minor league baseball. In baseball, you have leagues comprised of teams at various levels that are directly affiliated with major league development deals. If a team wants to be completely independent, they’re forced to participate in a league with no direct affiliation to the MLB organization (i.e. the local Florence Freedom). This doesn’t prevent players from eventually landing big league deals or rising the ranks, but the independent clubs operate completely outside of the MLB and MiLB structures.

In American soccer, you have a landscape like what we have here in the USL: direct reserve squads, affiliated teams, and independent clubs. There are arguments that go both ways. Some claim the “2” teams can “water down” the league and that they’re not as interested in being competitive, rather they’re more focused on development. However, I’d love to meet the team that doesn’t want to win! Even if the long term focus isn’t on securing a league championship, these “2” teams have proven time and time again that they’re playing to win games. They may lack the identities associated with teams like us and Louisville, but they can make formidable opponents. For example, look at the Red Bulls 2 squad. They’re one point behind Louisville in the standings and opened the season with a strong offensive salvo and LA Galaxy 2 were in last year's championship.

The “Robert Patrick’s” of Toronto that we play this weekend will be an interesting matchup for our local squad. They’re not packing in crowds of 20,000 or even taking headlines from the parent club, but they are ranked 4th in this week's power rankings. FC Cincinnati is looking to rebound from the defeat at the hands of Louisville.

So how does USL fall into the US Soccer Pyramid?:

Our first matchup against a reserve side may beg this question for some. With how our league is organized, are we directly under MLS or not a true feeder league given some clubs’ lack of an affiliation? When FCC was first announced, I heard plenty of people speak about how the USL was “one step below MLS” when a quick read of the league’s Wikipedia page says otherwise.

So here’s how it is according to the United States Soccer Federation, our nation’s governing body:

Division 1: Major League Soccer, the nation’s top flight league since 1996 and one FC Cincinnati hopes to join in the future.

Division 2: North American Soccer League, sanctioned as Division 2 and connected to the prominent league of the 1970s in name only. NASL aspires for Division 1 status. I’ll skip the arguments for and against that, but NASL typically doesn’t typically get too cozy with MLS.

Division 3: United Soccer League, our current league and one which is quickly growing. As you’ve seen in this article, USL enjoys a close relationship with MLS and often serves as a player development ground after the league began absorbing the remains of the MLS reserve league. Rumors persist that USL will apply for Division 2 status soon.

So what does it all mean?:

In 2015, LA Galaxy II ,aka "Los Dos," advanced to the championship where they were defeated by rochester.

The playing of “2” clubs, often gets overlooked. I’ve heard and seen several fans, commentators, writers, and analysts alike refer to reserve sides like Toronto 2 simply as “Toronto." I think it’s important that people understand how these clubs actually exist and where they line up along with their parent organizations. It’s also important to have an understanding of soccer in the United States and our own league. In a future post, I plan to cover FC Cincinnati’s ambitions to join the ranks of Major League Soccer (and maybe even get into the arguments over promotion and relegation if I have enough beers). For now, hopefully you’ve gotten a clearer outlook on the often confusing nature of US soccer organization. We’re playing “Toronto” this weekend, but not the Toronto MLS squad.

The bottom line: don’t overlook a club because of its generic name. FC Cincinnati is looking to come back after a tough loss, to regroup in a season that’s still in its infancy. It'll be "judgement day" for reasons other than a convenient joke:

• How does our team shape up against an MLS development side?
• How will they bounce back after the loss at home to Louisville?
• How will they perform back on the road?
• Will they deploy any new strategy?

Hopefully they can do it this weekend against “The sons of Linda Hamilton.”

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Ronny Salerno is a founding member of Die Innenstadt as well as an author and photographer who appreciates history and Waffle House coffee. 

Tom Niehaus is an awesome guy who edits these posts for him and offers creative contributions.