FC Cincinnati planning for mid-May 2021 opener at West End Stadium

Updated West End Stadium renderings - THUMB - FC Cincinnati

Put mid-May on the calendars, FC Cincinnati supporters.


FC Cincinnati president Jeff Berding announced Thursday that their home opener is roughly three months away, as the club eyes a mid-May debut game at West End Stadium. Theyā€™ll also host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 1.


The 2021 MLS season is now slated to begin April 17, with the full schedule expected to be unveiled in the coming weeks.


ā€œOur new home is built by Cincinnati, for Cincinnati, and we canā€™t wait!ā€ Berding said in a team release. ā€œAs soon as we receive our schedule from Major League Soccer we will share with the public and hope everyone can enjoy a match in our inaugural season in West End Stadium.ā€ 

FC Cincinnati, entering their third season in MLS, have previously played their home matches at Nippert Stadium on the University of Cincinnati campus. The club spent 2016-18 in USL, then joined MLS in 2019 as an expansion side.


The club broke ground on West End Stadium in December 2018. The soccer-specific venue is expected to seat 26,000 fans, with the playing surface utilizing new turfgrass technology.