FC Cincinnati's third home match of the 2021 Major League Soccer season will see the 26,000-capacity TQL Stadium at or near full capacity on June 18 when the New England Revolution come to town.
Attendance figures could be increased for FCC's May 29 home match too, according to FCC President Jeff Berding.
The June 18 match marks FC Cincinnati's first home game after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine ends the state's coronavirus health orders, which takes effect June 2.
FCC will play its first match at TQL Stadium Sunday against Inter Miami CF before a reduced-capacity crowd of about 6,000 attendees while the orders are still in place.
They'll likely host another reduced-capacity crowd for the May 29 home game against New England Revolution, although club officials said they would work with relevant authorities to increase capacity for that match.
"We’ve built a stadium during a pandemic, there has been great personal loss by people in the community, including our own families," Berding told The Enquirer on Friday. We’ve overcome a lot. We’ve kept optimistic and hopeful during a period of great fear and anxiety, to see the other side is extraordinary."
Of the capacity limitations for the May 29 game, Berding said: "We are working the relevant public health authorities and MLS to see if there could be some relaxed guidelines, with the goal to get all our season ticket holders in the stadium for one of the first few matches – before all of our season ticket holders can be together for match three."
DeWine on Wednesday announced health orders would end June 2. FC Cincinnati didn't initially commit to allowing full-capacity crowds beyond that date.
Berding on Wednesday told The Enquirer, "We continue to work with MLS and local public health officials regarding COVID protocols and will adapt to the changing guidelines to provide the best and safest experience for fans."
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