FC Cincinnati

Away fans visiting FC Cincinnati Stadium occupy sections 224 and 225. Section 224 is the primary location for visiting fans, with 225 taking up extra numbers.

Both sections are located on the upper level in the southwestern corner of TQL Stadium.  However, this section does not offer the best views of the playing surface, but it’s quite standard across most of the MLS stadiums.

Most importantly, the away section can accommodate up to 1,000 fans or more, depending on the opposition or ticket allotment for visiting fans.

The Exterior

Populous don’t always disappoint with their sports arena designs, and TQL Stadium, which is due to open later this year, looks set to be another roaring success.

The 26,000 capacity stadium is an absolute beauty from the outside with hundreds upon hundreds of metal ‘runners’ forming a grill-style facade; these give the stadium a unique appearance and, in the dark of night, each one is dressed with LED lights to really add some extra elegance to the entire area. It’s not the only noteworthy feature, though, with the substantially sized roof running round to ensure not a single seat suffers from the elements.

The Interior

Regarding the seating and spectator experience, fans won’t be disappointed. The main attraction for home fans will be ‘The Bailey’; this is a zone of safe standing located behind the south goal. There is a substantial flat screen suspended overhead for the other fans, whilst another screen is located opposite for the ‘vocal support’ to check out everything from ads and action replays.

Each position in the Bailey comes with a dedicated cup holder, and the stand is on a fairly dramatic incline, which improves crowd intimacy and almost encourages the atmosphere to spill onto the field of play.

To the east, you’ve got a two-tier side stand. A lot of effort went into making sure fans feel as close as possible to the pitch; this is achieved through the way in which the seats are on a sharp gradient. You also have the ‘First Financial Club’ in this stand, which is the culmination of two food stands, three bars and loads of seating with over 2,000 spots up for grabs.

The north stand, behind the goal opposite the standing section, follows a similar pattern, minus the lounge. That leaves just the west stand; here, things are slightly different. There is a small amount of ‘standard’ seating, but the majority of the stand is dominated by different lounges and ‘exclusive’ clubs. These range from pitch view bars through to a full-blown VIP service in the Tunnel Club; this offer includes bigger and more comfy match seats, top drawer food and even access to Jaap Stam’s post-match press conference. You’ll need to move fast to catch these, though, because there are fewer than 400 seats available; although the overall percentage of ‘premium’ seats sits at around 1/5 of the overall capacity.

FC Cincinnati have some of the passionate fans in MLS. With a stadium that is always packed to capacity for matches, the atmosphere is always electric. A visit during a derby clash with the Columbus Crew is undoubtedly the best time to experience TQL Stadium.

The following are some of the most popular chants you will hear FC Cincinnati fans sing at TQL Stadium.

• Sweet FCC
• Oh Cincinnati
• Allez, Allez, Allez
• Dale, Dale, Dale FCC

The buzzword for Cincinnati when it comes to dining in the West End Stadium is ‘trendsetting’. That’s a bold claim to make for a football stadium, but with several eateries being built on site, along with the club targeting chefs from very close to the top level, it could well come to fruition.

Then you have bars. The prospect of craft beers and mixologists on site for more photo-worthy drinks is certainly going to endear the West End Stadium to those who enjoy a good beverage before, during or even after the match.

It’s not like you’re short of options away from the stadium, though. You can get to the other side of Washington Park within just 10 minutes on foot. Once there, you’ve got endless opportunities to explore.

Bars

You have plenty of bars to choose from for a pre-game tipple, too. Again, they’re in the same area. A lot depends on your style, but you’ve got something for everyone.

• The Lackman Lounge offers a great atmosphere, whilst 16-bit Bar and Arcade on Mercer Street is popular with old school gamers and those with older children.
• The final place we’ll talk about is Taft’s Ale House; this is a microbrewery offering beers and food situated on Race Street, just 0.3 miles from West End Stadium.

Restaurants

• Quan Hapa is a very highly regarded Asian restaurant located on 14th Street.
• Losanti, a steak house on the same road.
• Pepp & Dolores is the next street over and are experts in Italian cuisine, and just wandering in the general vicinity of those eateries mentioned will take you past plenty of others with Mexican and American food, just a flavour of what is available.

Korean fire fries at FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati @TQLStadium)

💵 $12.49 (£10) pic.twitter.com/uhFFNdrUjL

— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) March 25, 2024

West End Stadium is conveniently located just off Central Avenue, one of Cincinnati’s major roads, making it easily accessible.

From a public transportation perspective, the stadium will play a significant role in the local bus routes. Additionally, the Liberty and Elm streetcar stop is only a seven-minute walk away, and if you take the shortest walking route, you’ll be just steps away from Taft’s Ale House.

For those who prefer to drive, there will be a 1,000-space parking lot specifically built for FC Cincinnati fans. While this may not accommodate all spectators, there are more than five additional parking options in downtown Cincinnati. Washington Park and Mercer Garage are two viable choices. The furthest option is the Vine Street Lot, which is just over half a mile from the stadium.

Columbus Crew are the main rivals of FC Cincinnati. A clash between these teams is famously known as the ‘The Hell is Real Derby’.

Other notable rivals are Louisville City F.C. and New York Red Bulls.

TQL Stadium ticket prices may vary depending on the opposition. You can book the tickets on the official FC Cincinnati website or go to trusted third-party ticketing platforms such as SeatGeek or SeatPick.

With that, ticket prices can be as low as $15 or as high as $500 for regular seats for MLS fixtures. VIP tickets at TQL Stadium often cost much.

On the official FC Cincinnati website, it is much easier to buy single-match tickets as you are able to pick a suitable seating location from the animated stadium overview image. Each seat has a corresponding price.

Unfortunately, there are no standard ticket prices for MLS matches. For example, the “Hell is Real” derby against Columbus Crew, scheduled for July 12, 2025, will cost at least $106 for adults.