Saturday’s FC Cincinnati match against the New England Revolution at TQL Stadium has been announced as a sellout. Fans are encouraged to arrive early on what will be a busy day in downtown Cincinnati and to be in their seats prior to kickoff to build the atmosphere for a battle between the top two teams in the Supporters’ Shield standings. With a win on Saturday night, the Orange and Blue would set a new MLS record for the most consecutive home wins to begin a season at 11, and FCC would set the new longest single-season home winning streak in MLS history. Saturday evening’s contest will mark the 17th time TQL Stadium has sold out for an FC Cincinnati match, the ninth time this season in 11 regular season home games. Here s a full list of FC Cincinnati sellouts during the 2023 season at TQL Stadium:May 16, 2021 vs MIA – 6,000* May 29, 2021 vs NE – 11,000* June 19, 2021 vs COL – 25,054 July 9, 2021 vs CLB – 25,701 July 31, 2021 vs DC – 25,060 August 13, 2022 vs ATL – 25,037 August 27, 2022 vs CLB – 25,037 October 1, 2022 vs CHI – 25,316 February 25, 2023 vs HOU – 25,513 March 11, 2023 vs SEA – 25,513April 8, 2023 vs PHI – 25,513April 22, 2023 vs POR – 25,513May 6, 2023 vs DC – 25,513May 20, 2023 vs CLB – 25,513June 3, 2023 vs CHI – 25,513June 21, 2023 vs TOR – 25,513July 1, 2023 vs NE – 25,513Fans can get their tickets for future FC Cincinnati games here or by calling 513-977-5425 (KICK).

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FC Cincinnati issued a statement after their match against DC United Saturday apologizing to fans for disruptions to the "fan experience", including not playing the national anthem."During match, we experienced stadium-wide issues with our power network and audio systems due to a transformer failure," the club said. "As a result, we were unable to perform the national anthem and deliver the first-class experience our fans expect."We attempted to resolve the issues as quickly as possible, and have taken steps to ensure they don't happen in the future," the club continued.FCC fell in their home opener, 1-0, to DC thanks to a Ola Kamara penalty kick late in stoppage time.

CINCINNATI — While there might not be "a ton to do in Cincinnati," the city has had some great sports moments in 2021.

The Bearcats smashed college football’s glass ceiling by becoming the first school from a so-called “Group of Five” conference to advance to the sport's four-team playoff.

While in many ways it was the year of the Bearcat, several other highlights happened in Cincinnati sports this year.

Joe Burrow returned from a knee injury earlier than most believed possible. He and former LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase have the Bengals in the hunt for the postseason for the first time since 2015. Chase, defensive end Trey Hendrickson and Joe Mixon were named to the Pro Bowl (with Burrow and four others named alternates).

The Bengals also debuted new stripes for the franchise’s first new look since 2004.

Despite a renaissance season from Joey Votto and all-star nods for outfielders Nick Castellanos and Jesse Winker, the Reds failed to make the postseason, running out of gas in September.

The sport shut down in December as the owners locked out the players. The strike season of 1994 was the last time baseball has experienced a work stoppage.

While it may feel like the year of the Bearcat, it was not Cincinnati's day at Cintas Center earlier this month. Xavier beat UC 83-63 in the Crosstown Shootout.

FC Cincinnati opened TQL Stadium this year, but only won once in the West End. The new stadium did welcome back Cincinnati native Rose Lavelle, who scored in the fourth minute in the USWNT's game against Paraguay this September. The Mount Notre Dame graduate also assisted two goals in the 8-0 win.

The Western and Southern Open returned to Mason after a year away due to the pandemic.

Three Tri-state football teams celebrated state championships — Winton Woods, Beechwood and Clinton-Massie. The Warriors routed Akron Archbishop Hoban to capture their second championship ever, while the Tigers and Falcons won close games to earn their hardware.

Mount Notre Dame basketball brought home its eighth state title, while the school's soccer team won its first state championship ever in November.

Trenton native Zach Apple won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics while swimming the anchor leg on the United States men's 4x100m freestyle relay team. Apple, Caeleb Dressel, Blake Pieroni and Becker won the race in 3 minutes, 8.97 seconds, the third-fastest time in history.

The year isn’t over. UC football continues its run to a national title on New Year’s Eve against Alabama in the Cotton Bowl.

RELATED: Clinton-Massie wins state title in miraculous fashion
RELATED: Joe Burrow on why team avoided COVID outbreak: 'Fortunately there's not a ton to do in Cincinnati'

CINCINNATI — FC Cincinnati’s ownership has plans to renovate one of Cincinnati’s most storied former breweries into a massive office space.

The property is the Tri-State Wholesale Building at 1550 Central Avenue. In the early 20th century after Prohibition, the building was home to Burger Beer, extending multiple city blocks at the time. Prior to that, it was home to Lion Beer, or the Windisch-Muhlhauser Brewing Company.

Steve Hampton, the executive director of the Brewing Heritage Trail, said the old brewery used to be one of the biggest in the country. It was also at one point the second-largest brewery in the city after Christian Moerlein.

“This is an interesting building. It’s not your typical historic building,” Hampton said. “It was built post-Prohibition. It’s concrete. It’s actually a pretty wide floor plate because it’s a modern industrial building, so it’s a little different challenge than our typical brick Over-the-Rhine building. So, number one, we’re happy it’s being preserved and re-used.”

Hampton notes it will need some modifications, but is hopeful the developers will maintain the spirit of the building.

“I’d much rather have the building reused and saved than torn down and something totally new built there," Hampton said.

FC Cincinnati and its development teams aim to transform the humdrum industrial space into a sleek, opulent place to work for Cincinnati professionals in post-pandemic life. The office space may have some retail on the ground floor, and be part of a larger mixed-use development.

“It’s the area that we’re really hoping to make this full, kind of vibrant, creative district with all kinds of different uses,” said Scott Abernethy of Cushman & Wakefield, one of the firms collaborating with FC Cincinnati to renovate the building. MSA Design and Perkins Eastman are also supporting the designs and planning for the project.

Offices will be spread across three floors, as well as a basement level. The project is projected to cost about $40 million. The developers are looking to book about three to five tenants to lease the space, then will start construction.

In a statement, FC Cincinnati Spokesperson Anne Sesler wrote:

“When we committed to building the stadium, we also committed to make the area around TQL Stadium a place where people can live, work and play. We want a thriving environment, not just an island...FCC’s Planned Development for the stadium site envisioned mixed-use development and we are pleased to see the former Tri-State warehouse be transformed…”

Developers plan on opening the space by mid-to-late 2023.

Monique John covers gentrification for WCPO 9. She is part of our Report For America donor-supported journalism program. Read more about RFA here.

If there are stories about gentrification in the Greater Cincinnati area that you think we should cover, let us know. Send us your tips at moveupcincinnati@wcpo.com.

Jaap Stam knows he carries a stigma with him from his playing days, when he was known as an aggressive and somewhat intimidating defender. FC Cincinnati’s new head coach said that isn’t who he is on the sidelines.

FC Cincinnati on Thursday announced the former Manchester United centerback as its new head coach — its third in 13 months. The team formally introduced him Friday during a Zoom news conference.

Stam, 47, won three Premier League titles after joining Manchester United in 1998 and is considered one of the greatest Dutch defenders of all time. As a manager, Stam is 54-47-32 (W-L-D) since 2016 with stints at English side Reading and Dutch clubs PEC Zwolle and Feyenoord, from which he resigned in October.

“When they see me physically, everybody is thinking, 'OK, you must be angry all the time,' but that's not the case,” said Stam, who stands 6 feet, 3 inches tall. “I can have a laugh with everybody. I played in a certain way, with a certain aggression like everybody knows. That's my mentality, that's my way how I approach the game (as a player). You try to win your games. You go up (emotionally) in your games as well.

“As a manager, you have to learn how to manage that as well, your own feelings, how you approach the team, what you want to give to your team as a manager as well. Of course, you want to give that winning mentality to your team because players, I think, need to do everything in their ability to win games and do their best and work hard. That's the least you can expect from your players.”

Stam added that he doesn’t necessarily take the “tough guy” approach as a manager. He said he addresses some players more directly than others and takes a more “feeling” or personal approach with others, depending on what they respond to best.

Style-wise, he talks about being dominant but not necessarily physically.

“By being a defender and sometimes tackling players and looking like a tough guy, that's not in how I approach the game in terms of playing,” he said. “The team needs to be decisive in what they are doing, but that's in a way defensively and that's also attacking wise. If you go forward, you need to be very decisive in your attacking movement and making your runs. In how I want to play, that's by playing in an attractive way, going forward, being dominant, keeping possession and hopefully finding the patience to create openings in the opposition to score goals. By being dominant, I mean it's always nice to have the ball as a team than to chase it every time. That's why you want to play in a certain way.”

Stam is often portrayed in photos with a scowl or being physical with opponents, but he showed a softer side Friday. Asked about the club accidentally using a mislabeled Getty Images photo of Jong Ajax coach Tinus van Teunenbroek when announcing Stam’s hire on social media, Stam made light of the situation.

Opposing teams even jumped in on Twitter with their own photos of bald white men who could have been mistaken for Stam, and Stam said FC Cincinnati will get the last laugh if they beat those teams on the pitch.

“Yesterday was a busy day,” Stam said. “It was a hard day, a lot of talking, a lot of meetings eventually, so we used the doppelganger to do pictures for me.”

The club gave him a warm welcome, Stam said, and he looks forward to working with the roster he has been dealt. For now, that will be done from afar until his work visa is complete and FC Cincinnati gets permission to fly him, new assistant Said Bakkati and general manager Gerard Nijkamp in from The Netherlands.

Stam said he was interested in the club because it’s a project where he can grow as a manager and help shape a young club’s future. Though he brings a prior connection with Nijkamp, who hired him at PEC Zwolle in December 2018, both Stam and Nijkamp said their “friendship” had little to do with the decision to work together again.

“There are living 17 million people in the Netherlands and every time we talk about a Dutch candidate, the media is talking about, 'It's a friend of Gerard's, and he's coming to FC Cincinnati,'” Nijkamp said. “Yes, I like Jaap a lot as how he is as a professional in his job and what he will bring for our club because I was working very pleasant with him in PEC Zwolle.

“We know each other, yes. We like each other in the way we work,” Nijkamp added. “I think we also will have a good fit, but I also believe based on our conversations ... there are more connections than just people thinking we are friends.”

CINCINNATI — While Major League Soccer finalizes plans to restart the 2020 season, FC Cincinnati is gearing up with the hope that its new coach will arrive in time to lead the team through a fresh beginning.

A team spokesperson said Jaap Stam is still in the process of securing his work visa and approval to fly from his home in The Netherlands to his new adventure in the United States. However, the opportunity for him to potentially join FCC in Orlando – where all 26 teams will gather at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex for a World Cup-style tournament – would be ideal.

Stam fills the role vacated by Ron Jans, who resigned 12 days before the start of the season amid an investigation into a racial slur he made earlier during the preseason.

MLS suspended the season March 12 after just two games because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the ratification of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement on Wednesday paved the way for the league to move forward with plans to resume play initially with the tournament in Orlando and potentially finish the season in home markets. The league on Thursday lifted the team training moratorium that had been in effect since mid-March.

“I think it would be awesome (to restart with Stam),” goalkeeper Spencer Richey said on a Zoom call with media Wednesday. “… I think part of this whole situation is, just, the future has been uncertain and the more stability and certainty you feel you can have in your life these days is so much better, and that's no different with the coaching staff. We've had some changes, obviously. That's no secret, but just in speaking on that one Zoom call with Jaap, I feel like you could feel his energy, you could feel his passion, and he's certainly had an incredible career as a player and he's going to be a guy that guys respect as a coach, so I think guys are really looking forward to that.”

Richey said this feels like a fresh start for the team, but more so once Stam is in place. FCC held its first small-group training session Thursday after weeks of individual training. Assistant Yoann Damet, who served as interim coach, continues heading things up in Cincinnati.

As some of the proposed details to the Orlando tournament emerged late last month, even Stam was on board with the idea, saying in his introductory press conference on May 22, “Orlando would be ideal for me because you get to know everyone really well when you’re all together like that for an extended period of time.”

MLS commissioner Don Garber said in a Zoom news conference with media Wednesday that dates and full details are still being arranged, but the players would be gone for no more than 35 days and teams would essentially be quarantined together at a hotel and at the Disney sports complex. No fans will be in attendance, but games will be broadcast on TV with some added visual enhancements to make the product even better for those watching at home, Garber said.

ESPN.com’s Jeff Carlisle reported from sources that players could arrive as early as June 24 for a two-week training period with a three-game guaranteed first round, followed by knockout rounds to determine a winner. Garber said the idea behind the tournament is related to providing a way to get back on the pitch in as safe a manner as possible (the league will provide regular testing for COVID-19) and a way to recoup some of the revenue lost, as the league is estimated to lose $1 billion this year.

The league and players’ union both had to give some concessions to reach an agreement, and negotiations heated up so much in the last week that MLS threatened a lockout if the MLS Players Association did not agree to its proposal with the main sticking point tied to a force majeure clause meant to allow either side to back out of the contract under extraordinary and unforeseen circumstances, such as a new wave of COVID-19 infections that would force MLS to shut down again.

Players around the league chose not to participate in voluntary training sessions Monday as a stand against the ultimatum, and no FCC players showed up for what would have been the club’s first small-group workouts after the league initially limited teams to individual training sessions. The idea of a lockout and the tough stance taken by players ultimately brought both sides to a deal.

“The tactic of the threat of a lockout is a scary thing, for sure,” said FC Cincinnati defender Nick Hagglund, who is one of the team’s MLSPA representatives. “I think ultimately it made the players dig their heels in even more, and I'm really proud of the players and how they responded to that. There was no panic and everyone was in it together making sure they know what the information was to make sound judgement. It was across the player pool. I'm really proud of FC Cincinnati and what they did to understand and make sure everyone was on the same page. Ultimately, MLS needed a decision made, especially on the Orlando trip, and obviously they wanted a specific thing, so it puts a timeline on everything. We thought we might have had a little bit more time, but once they said that, it was time to get a decision done. For us, ultimately, it was to make sure what we got for the players was right and that we were going to stand together and be unified.”

Players are taking just a 5% pay cut, according to Garber, but the extension of the CBA – one was approved in February but never ratified -- by one year to run through 2025 will help the league save money down the road when the new media-rights deals come into effect in 2023. The force majeure clause remained but with some tweaking of the wording.

Hagglund and Richey both said it will be nice now to just focus on soccer. Although there are risks to returning because of COVID-19, they were satisfied with the league’s plan to try to keep players and staff safe.

“I think that was a lot of the first thought that came to guys' minds when this idea of the tournament came together, but there's a lot of smart people that both the PA and MLS have brought on board to ensure it's as safe as can be,” Richey said. “We know there is some risk that comes with it, but we think there are enough protocols and enough safety measures in place that we will hopefully be able to get out of there healthy.”

Garber said all players will be required to participate unless they fit into the categories the league discussed with the MLSPA, such as a medical reason or extenuating family needs.

FCC is hoping to get a chance to return to Nippert Stadium to finish the season, ideally in front of at least a lower-capacity crowd. In the meantime, they will treat the Orlando tournament like playoff games. The club lost its first two games played before the season was suspended and was coming off a last-place finish in 2019, but there is reason for optimism with an improved roster and now a new coach who was known as a legendary defender in his playing career with Manchester United, among others.

“It wouldn't be exactly the same feeling of having a full season and then playing MLS Cup, but it's also like a World Cup kind of tournament, so when you win anything it's an exciting feeling,” Hagglund said. “I think it's obviously going to feel different, but any time you have an opportunity to lift a trophy, you are excited about that.”

CINCINNATI — Jurgen Locadia missed a chance to give FC Cincinnati a win for a second straight game, but the Orange and Blue still got something out of their first match in the league’s return to home markets.

FC Cincinnati played D.C. United to a scoreless draw in a closed-door match Friday at Nippert Stadium, adding a point to move up two spots to seventh in the Eastern Conference table. Only media, club employees and gameday personnel were in attendance.

Allan Cruz found Locadia open on a run to right corner of the 18-yard box in the 84^th minute, and Locadia had D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid beat inside but somehow managed to send the shot to the far post and hit the frame. The designated player and Brighton & Hove Albion loanee also missed a sitter in the 87^th minute of the MLS is Back Tournament Round of 16 game that ended in a draw before Portland advanced in penalties.

FCC (2-3-1) hadn’t played since that match on July 28, and Friday served as the club’s home opener – five months after originally scheduled because of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. D.C. United (1-2-3) was missing some key players and seemingly hasn’t found its rhythm yet but remains in 10th in the standings.

Here are three takeaways from the match…

1. Slow start, better second half

Cincinnati sat back defensively for the first 20 minutes and allowed D.C. to dominate possession, absorbing the pressure and patiently waiting for opportunities to attack. Those chances were few and far between for the entirety of the match, but FCC did begin to gain better control as the game went on and the Orange and Blue ended up with 56% possession for the match.

FCC, which played out of a 5-3-2 formation, opened things up by shifting to what looked more like 4-4-2 to finish the first half, and then got better movement out of Allan Cruz when he came in to replace injured forward/midfielder Siem de Jong to start the second half. The Orange and Blue had just five shots, two on target, while D.C. finished with seven – six in the first half – and just one on target.

“Part of the game plan is to play out of the back, so that's part of our game, and it's something that we want to develop moving forward, but we also know that there's a time and a place for it, and that was displayed today,” wingback Joe Gyau said. “So, the first 20 minutes, they had energy, they were pressing high. We were kind of playing into their hand by playing out of the back. So we had to stretch them out a little bit. Once we opened them up, then that's when we were able to create more space, and that's how we were able to find our groove.”

2. Third straight clean sheet

FC Cincinnati picked up where it left off in Orlando in terms of the progress displayed on defense, securing the team’s third clean sheet in six regular-season matches (two in the MLS is Back Tournament).

The Orange and Blue were getting peppered with free kicks from just outside the box in the first half, one of which Donovan Pines headed off the cross bar after a nice ball from Julian Gressel in the eighth minute. There were two more similar attempts over the next five minutes.

For a defense that allowed a league-record 75 goals in 2019, clean sheets early on are an especially good sign the roster improvements since then are paying off.

“It's not only the backline, because you don't play with a back five or back four -- you play with 11 players on the pitch and the army to defend,” Stam said. “It's the whole team was working and trying to work as a block. I think for the first 20 minutes, we gave away a little bit too much space in between lines, but after that we've been a lot better, and throughout the last couple of games, you know, they've been very solid. We all want to go forward. We want to create opportunities. But we also don't want to concede because, again, you want to take something out of it. The last games, we've done that, which is a very positive thing.”

3. Point taken

Locadia’s missed opportunity came up multiple times in the postgame press conference, as FC Cincinnati clearly was disappointed not to get the three points, but FC Cincinnati walked away satisfied nonetheless in getting a result.

“You’re pleased that you're not losing and that you get a point,” Stam said. “Of course, you want to have three. We knew we were facing a strong side … and you see how the game goes from the start till the end and then you get stronger and stronger and dominating more and, to be honest, in the second half. Then you're waiting for that moment that you can go through and score that goal and, you know we went through, but unfortunately we couldn't and couldn't finish it off and that was a pity.”

That final punch forward and finishing opportunities is all that’s missing right now, Gyau said. In terms of Locadia, Stam reiterated the importance of the striker just opening up opportunities.

“There are a lot of strikers in the world who don't get into positions to score goals, so if that was the case, that would be worse, but he's getting there and got his opportunity,” Stam said. “Unfortunately, he didn't score. Next time, I'm sure he's going to.”

CINCINNATI — FC Cincinnati relieved head coach Jaap Stam of his duties, effective immediately, the club announced Monday.

Tyrone Marshall, currently the head coach of FC Cincinnati's U-19 squad and future U-23 team, will assume the duties of head coach on an interim basis, and the search for a new head coach already is underway.

"During our nearly two-month process to identify the next general manager for FC Cincinnati, it was apparent that a head coach change was necessary," FC Cincinnati President Jeff Berding said in a news release. "Therefore, after a great deal of deliberation, the club has made the decision to now move to the future with Jaap no longer serving as head coach."

"We believe a change in leadership is in the best interest of the club at this time, and a new general manager will lead the search for a new head coach," Berding added. "We are an ambitious club, and we remain focused on achieving our goals, the first of which is making Cincinnati a championship city. We thank Jaap for everything he has done for FC Cincninati during his time here, and we wish him the best as he can now head home to be with his family."

The club also has decided to part ways with assistant coaches Said Bakkati, who come with Stam in 2020, and Yoann Damet. Damet began his tenure with FC Cincinnati in 2017 and was part of the Open Cup run to the semifinals that year and also assisted in the club's USL Supporters Shield in 2018. Damat served as interim head coach on two occasions.

"FC Cincinnati thanks both Said and Yoann for their dedicated work and commitment to the club, with Yoann having been a part of the club's finest moments," Berding said. "We know that both have long coaching careers in front of them and trust they will see success."

Marshall joined FC Cincinnati Academy's coaching staff in February 2021 from Real Salt Lake, where he was an assistant coach for the Utah MLS club since 2015. In his playing career, Marshall made more than 300 MLS appearances with five different clubs between 1998 and 2012. The Jamaican international appeared over 85 times in his career with the national team, scoring five goals.

"Tyrone has been a valuable addition to our coaching staff since he arrived earlier this year with plans to be the future coach of our MLS2 team," Berding said in the release. "He has shown his coaching ability and leadership qualities, and he is the right person to inject new energy into the locker room and help our squad finish 2021 strong with an eye to the future."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Miguel Berry scored twice in a 1:18 span and the Columbus Crew beat FC Cincinnati 3-2 on Friday night to snap a six-game losing streak.

Columbus (7-9-6) won for the first time since July 24 when it beat Atlanta 1-0. Cincinnati (3-9-8) is winless in a franchise-record 11 matches, with seven ending in draws.

Berry tied it at 2 in the 81st minute when goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer failed to wrap it up and punched a short tap-in off the ricochet.

In the 83rd minute, Cincinnati defender Gustavo Vallecilla attempted to clear Vermeer’s save, but deflected the ball off Berry’s thigh and into the net.

Lucas Zelarayán opened the scoring for Columbus in the 45th minute. Ronald Matarrita tied it in first-half stoppage time, and Isaac Atanga gave Cincinnati the lead in the 74th.

WEST END — Ollie’s Trolley owner Marvin Smith knows most of his customers by name, even though many of them are new and he serves between 100 and 200 people a day. As he first explained to us last June, his food establishment has experienced a remarkable surge in business because of COVID and gentrification over the past year.

Since that last report, his business has only gotten better.

“[I]t just won't stop,” Smith said.

The intense demand for his food keeps Smith on his feet from sunup to sundown. He has no time to go out and enjoy other restaurants because he’s so busy tending to his own.

“I'm not complaining," he said. "But you know, 12 hours a day is a lot of work, a lot of time. So, I'm looking forward to retirement.”

Due to all of the customers, Smith is hiring new employees to manage the long lines that appear at lunchtime. Construction workers from the FC Cincinnati Stadium across the street and the Samuel Adams Brewery next door regularly stream in to get their fix of burgers and soul food plates. Affluent residents of Over-the-Rhine’s newly renovated luxury apartments nearby make up the other significant part of his new clientele. Smith said they appreciate the healthy, hearty takeout option that still lets them socially distance.

“I couldn't ask for any better customers – loyal customers,” Smith said. “They come every day, rain and shine. Even when it was cold and snowy and wet in zero weather, they still came and stood in line to get something to eat. And that's remarkable. That's a testament to their faith in me and our good food and good service.”

Smith anticipates having continued business from the construction workers and their families, customers who ate at his establishment before the pandemic who will eventually return, as well as the new crowds from the FC Cincinnati games. He is also expecting a hefty profit from his plot of land if he decides to sell, because developers keep making handsome bids to buy.

What makes Smith's prosperity at this time so remarkable is that many of his fellow Black business owners have been forced to close their doors because of COVID-19 – the very factor that has bolstered Ollie's Trolley's success. The Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce reports that about 300 Black-owned businesses have folded in Cincinnati during the pandemic.

"We have seen a number of our members who have gone out of business due to the pandemic," said Eric Kearney, president and CEO of the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce. "We're not sure if they'll come back or not, but we did PUSH grants to try and help them succeed. But some people were able to make it through; but I'd say about 25% to 30% were not."

Monique John/WCPO

Smith plans on buying more stock, putting his tables and canopies back up and adjusting a few things for the soccer crowd to prepare for the big upcoming games.

But Smith might move on from Ollie’s Trolley in a few years' time, since his business and plot of land have become so valuable due to all of the development in the West End and Over-the-Rhine. He continues to get competitive offers at around $1 million to give up his space at the junction of Liberty Street and Central Avenue. For now, Smith is refraining from entering a contract. He says he has gotten the property appraised and is holding out for a better deal.

Smith thinks it is best to wait another year to gauge what his business is like once FC Cincinnati Stadium opens. That way, he can then decide if it’s best to stay in business or if he should sell and make a huge profit off of the lot where he’s been serving his acclaimed comfort food for almost 30 years. Outside of running Ollie’s Trolley, he has a host of creative interests like writing a book, getting into film and television, and transitioning into teaching at Chatfield College full time.

But the pushback Smith has received from fans about him potentially leaving his post has further complicated his ability to make a decision. The West End and Over-the-Rhine have changed dramatically in recent years with various development projects that have brought the stadium, luxury apartments and other recreational spaces like Washington Park and Findlay Market. Yet the gentrification has also wiped out crucial housing developments and cultural establishments for low-income and Black residents. Those who have already been impacted by the gentrification dread the idea of losing one of their favorite food spots, too.

“It puts me in a position to not really know whether I should accept some of the offers that people have offered me – mass amounts of money, you know, for this corner, the site," Smith said. "So I have to make that decision. Do I stay and expand? Or do I take the money and move on and do some other things?”

In addition to offering pickup orders, Ollie's now takes orders through DoorDash, Uber and Grubhub. Smith said he looks forward to the stadium's grand opening, as well as to the early sneak peek that will be specially offered to people in the neighborhood. When that big day comes, Smith says his tall stacks of burgers and buns will be ready.

Monique John covers gentrification for WCPO 9. She is part of our Report For America donor-supported journalism program. Read more about RFA here.

If there are stories about gentrification in the greater Cincinnati area that you think we should cover, let us know. Send us your tips at moveupcincinnati@wcpo.com.

CINCINNATI — FC Cincinnati will host its first home opener at West End Stadium on Sunday, May 16, the club announced Wednesday afternoon.

They will face visiting Miami CF in a match that will be nationally televised.

"The match will mark FC Cincinnati's first home Major League Soccer match to be played at a venue other than Nippert Stadium," club officials said in Wednesday's announcement.

The game will begin at 4 p.m. on May 16, nearly a month after the team's season opener at Nashville SC on April 17.

FC Cincinnati is looking for its first season-opening win since joining Major League Soccer.

The club is 0-2 in season-opening games, but has a chance to change that Saturday night, when it faces Nashville SC on the road.

“They have to score goals,” said WCPO contributor Laurel Pfahler, who covers FC Cincinnati.

Plain and simple, that slowly became the most frustrating part of the 2020 FC Cincinnati team, which showed great promise during the “MLS is Back” tournament in Orlando last summer.

After leaving the “bubble” in Orlando, however, the team went 2-12-4 to close the season.

“They need to make sure they keep possession and moving forward,” said Pfahler. “A lot of times in the midfield, last year, they ended up going backwards and never had numbers going forward.”

The club made moves to improve that deficiency this offseason – namely in adding Luciano Acosta, to go with other additions in the offensive end like Brenner and Calvin Harris.

One major talking point in recent weeks, however, has been the reported departure of Frankie Amaya.

Notably, Amaya is still listed on FC Cincinnati’s official roster, but according to multiple national reports, the 20-year-old midfielder was traded away earlier this month.

“The reason it hurts is because it came so late in the offseason – or the preseason, really,” said Pfahler.

Instead of replacing Amaya with a player from outside the organization, it appears the coaching staff will move Yuya Kubo to Amaya’s position, with the possibility of others filling that void at times as well.

FC Cincinnati opens the season at 8:30 Saturday night on the road at Nashville SC.

Unlike most games last season, there will be thousands of fans at Saturday’s game.

Nashville is allowed to host up to 40% capacity inside Nissan Stadium, which has a typical seating capacity of close to 70,000 fans.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Adam Buksa scored on a header in the 70th minute and the New England Revolution stayed atop the Eastern Conference standings with a 1-0 win over FC Cincinnati on Saturday.

Buksa jumped between a pair of teammates to connect in the 6-yard box with Carles Gil’s free kick from just outside the 18-yard box near the end line.

The Revolution (5-1-2) extended their unbeaten streak to four games.

Matt Turner made a pair of saves in the 82nd minute, the second to stop a wide-open chance for Cincinnati’s Brandon Vázquez. Turner finished with four saves for his third shutout of the season.

Geoff Cameron had a header miss over the crossbar on the last play before the final whistle for FC Cincinnati (1-4-1).

CINCINNATI — Looking to work part-time for a professional sports team on game day? FC Cincinnati is hosting an in-person job fair Saturday at Duke Energy Convention Center focused on hiring about 400 people for positions at the new TQL Stadium.

“We are known for our fun, enthusiastic, energetic environment at our games. This is a beautiful, brand new TQL Stadium, and we are looking for people to help us create that environment, that can be helpful to guests and fans and be a part of this fun energy,” said Kimberly Eppert, director of human resources for FC Cincinnati and TQL Stadium.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, the organization will look to fill part-time guest experience ambassador roles, like ticket scanners, ushers, wheelchair and elevator attendants and game day retail associates.

“It’s nice extra income for folks who want to be a part of a professional sports team,” Eppert said. “Anybody who’s looking to go into a career in sports, this is a great opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes, from the inside-out look at what it takes to put on an event.”

Eppert recommends job hunters bring their documents to complete an I-9 form with them to Duke Energy Convention Center -- and don’t forget your best smile. Qualified candidates will get an interview and possibly an offer on the spot, and they will be photographed for their stadium credentials Saturday.

The fair will also offer validated parking at Sixth and Plum Streets.

To pre-register for Saturday’s job fair at Duke Energy Convention Center or apply directly for stadium jobs, visit www.tqlstadium.com/jobs. If you can't make it to the in-person event, Eppert said the team is conducting virtual job interviews daily.

"I think it's just a really fun thing to be a part of this historic time in our community, where we're opening a brand new sports arena," Eppert said.

The stadium opens in the West End on Saturday, May 1, and FC Cincinnati faces Inter Miami CF on May 16, the club’s first home opener at TQL.

MORE: Look inside FC Cincinnati's West End Stadium as construction nears completion

This week on the Hear Cincinnati podcast, host Brian Niesz is joined by community reporter Lucy May, senior real-time editor Pat LaFleur and senior manager of enterprise/investigative Meghan Goth to discuss property values in the suburbs, FC Cincinnati's stadium lights, tips for choosing a nursing home, and more.

Next, reporter Mariel Carbone joins the podcast to discuss the challenges facing the Cincinnati Police Department as they defend their diversity quotas and shorten training due to an officer shortage.

Listen to this episode in the podcast player above.

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ORLANDO, Fla. —

Tesho Akindele scored the fastest goal in club history and Orlando City beat Cincinnati 3-0 on Saturday night.

Akindele raced onto a giveaway by Cincinnati (0-1-2) in slipped a right-footed shot inside the post from the center of the area just 33 seconds into the game.

Luís Carlos (Nani) Almeida da Cunha, just outside the area, went left, circled back to the right and then cut back before ripping a left-footed shot into the net in the 19th minute. Júnior Urso scored in the 80th to make it 3-0.

Cincinnati has lost back-to-back games by a combined score of 8-0.

Orlando City (1-2-2) outshot Cincinnati 22-7, including 5-0 on target.

CINCINNATI —

Despite a limited capacity, fans had the energy buzzing at TQL Stadium on Sunday.

They said they are grateful the day has arrived as they welcomed their team into new digs, while getting a taste of it themselves.

FC Cincinnati played Inter Miami, losing 3-2.

Fans said they have a lot of excitement for the future of the team and its stadium.

"There's a lot of excitement. The field, the grass field and everything," fan Greg Thielman said.

A new home and greater energy than ever before.

"We've been coming since the very beginning in 2015. So, to see them expand and grow is something that is super exciting to be a part of," fan Devin Biser said.

Six thousand FC Cincinnati fans came for a new chapter at TQL Stadium and to make some waves in Major League Soccer.

And yes, the Bailey still rocks the house.

"It's really exciting for the city, you know, to see that we put up a beautiful stadium, have something exciting to come out to, especially with COVID ending," fan Jahmar Daniels said.

The pandemic would've made this seem impossible a year ago.

Masks, social distancing and limited attendance were part of the fan experience.

Many came decked out in orange and blue gear, not deterred by the current state of affairs.

"I've got my 2016 inaugural season scarf, you know, for the opening game. It just kind of helps you get ready in your mind for the game," fan AJ Eaves said.

Despite the loss on Sunday, fans told us they've stuck with this team from the start.

They'll keep coming back here.

"It's been a long time coming. I went to pretty much every game I've been able to go to over at Nippert Stadium," fan Kyle Ryder said.

Fans said their loyalty runs deep.

They can't wait to be joined by more fans soon.

"Win or lose or draw, I'm here for FCC," Ryder said.

Fans including Ryder said they expect full attendance will really make the new stadium light up.

CINCINNATI — The countdown to FC Cincinnati's first home match is on with less than two days to go. Support groups for the club are getting ready with signs and banners -- thousands are expected to bring their business to bars across downtown and Over-The-Rhine.

If you don’t have tickets for the season opener, The Pitch might just be the closest thing you can get to the new stadium.

Andrew Maloney, marketing director for The Pitch, said the new bar on Central Parkway positions you perfectly to experience the game.

"We've been here on the rooftop. You can hear it. You can feel it. The way the stadium is designed you feel like you're in the stadium," Maloney said.

WCPO Staff

The Pitch already had its own following before opening day.

"We wanted to be open for the home opener. Soccer fans are loyal. We're home to a supporter group at The Pitch -- Queen City Mafia,” Maloney said “So we wanted to be here ready for them as well so they can do the march to the stadium up the steps.”

The Pitch is not alone in the fandom.

The Pride, another FCC support group, will have their original sign from Nippert Stadium hanging at Northern Row Brewery -- the group's new home bar.

WCPO Staff

Keith Maloy, general manager for the brewery, said the hundreds of fans expected to show up couldn't have come at a better time.

"One thing that OTR has is a lot of Pride in the neighborhood, and the city itself. I think it's appropriate that The Pride, the club is going to be home here,” Maloy said. “We feel that way about the team. What it does for the city. It's a good focal thing right now. Something to latch on to. It's a positive thing right now. We need something positive."

Northern Row needed something to rally behind.

"They're passionate about the sport. Passionate about the team,” said David Berger, founder of Northern Row Brewery. “I think with us it sort of helped us get through the times when you're scratching your head wondering when this will be over? You have something to look forward to."

FC Cincinnati's third home game at TQL Stadium will be played with a full-capacity crowd on June 19.

CINCINNATI — When driving through the West End – you can’t miss it. TQL Stadium is huge, but the team it houses isn’t just a sports presence. All along, FC Cincinnati has said it’s going to be a good neighbor to the community – and a big part of that is working with local kids.

Laurel playground is the place 170 local kids come to get their soccer fix. The practice field sits in the shadow of TQL stadium by design.

WCPO Staff

There’s a double meaning to the words on 11-year-old Jasiah Murph’s jersey – West End Pride. You see, FC Cincinnati’s mascot is a lion – and we all know a group of lions is called a pride.

“You get to be with teammates, coaches and be around here playing with your friends,” Murph said.

Then there’s pride in one’s community.

“You show people what it’s like to be in this neighborhood,” Murph said.

Acknowledging the stadium by playing the sport that brought it to the area – and even sharing it. The FC Cincinnati Foundation supports the youth soccer cause by covering the kids’ registration fees, uniforms, equipment and after-practice snacks. It’s part of the local team’s commitment to making the West End a better place to live and play

WCPO Staff

“We’re here showing that we wanna be part of the community,” former FC Cincinnati player Omar Cummings said. “We wanna be good neighbors.”

Cummings works as an ambassador to the team and focuses on the next generation by helping to grow the youth soccer program.

“It’s about the future – 5 years, 10 years, 15 years down the line – hopefully have kids from this neighborhood in our academy, playing int the stadium,” he said.

Speaking of the kids – they were the first ones to play on the pitch at TQL Stadium.

“I’m a little jealous, myself. Having been a pro in the MLS, that’s still one of the best stadiums anywhere – and for the kids to have the first opportunity to play on it, I was like, ‘man,’” Cumming said with a laugh.

The kids were impressed, too.

“It was amazing,” West End Pride player Harmoni Dennard said.

WCPO Staff

Dennard’s mom, Thelma Little is so happy her daughter and all the other kids get to play.

“It keeps them active, keeps them engaged in the community, and we’re from down here,” Little said. “It’s exciting to have this type of opportunity available to them.”

In just five years, the West End Pride has grown to nine teams – with one co-ed preschool team. Like Cummings said – the hope is that one of the program’s kids will make it to the academy, which can be a pathway to Major League Soccer play.

CINCINNATI — As TQL Stadium opens for FC Cincinnati's home opener, here's what fans should know about parking before heading to a match.

Season parking pass holders will have access to parking close to the stadium, which includes:

• The East Garage on the stadium site
• The West Premium Lot in the rear of the stadium
• The newly built West End garage north of the stadium with about 800 parking spots
• The Town Center Garage across from Music Hall on Central Parkway.

The Washington Park Garage is also offering parking sign-ups for FC Cincinnati fans, but this garage also has spots set aside for season parking pass holders.

Fans can also get their steps in by parking at the Mercer Commons Garage, the Ziegler Park Garage or the Kroger Garage and walking between 15 and 20 minutes to the stadium.

The stadium is nestled into the West End neighborhood where some might try their luck with street parking, but FC Cincinnati has a map online that shows that parking in residential neighborhoods is off limits. Residents hope fans respect this.

"They’re not going to want to pay to park, so they’re going to think they can come over here, which is free parking, and it’s not," Yona Dowdell, a West End resident, said. "They don’t live over here to park over here.”

One year ago, Khisha Asubuhi stood inside a nearly empty storefront on Woodburn Avenue in East Walnut Hills. She had signed a lease on the space for her first store before anyone in the United States had tested positive for COVID-19.

She was uneasy but undeterred, she said at the time.

"I felt like, if it was meant to be, it would be," she said one year later. "If this was a step I was supposed to take, it would work."

The grand opening weekend party she hoped for in April 2020 couldn't happen because of a pandemic-forced lockdown. But she eventually celebrated the first Originalitees brick-and-mortar location.

And she hasn't looked back.

"We actually did better last year than the year before, believe it or not," she laughs. "Makes no sense, right?"

Originalitees has grown from one employee to five despite the pandemic's economic challenges. Asubuhi credits enthusiasm, creativity, hard work, and well-timed grant and loan opportunities. And the company has landed some key and long-awaited agreements.

It is one of three Black-owned businesses licensed to make FC Cincinnati-branded apparel. And Asubuhi said she's been granted license to make Indiana University-branded goods, too.

"I went to IU; I played basketball for IU. It wasn't enough (years ago)," she said. She applied for the licensing twice before. "However, the company is a lot different than we were."

The Originalitees store -- with shelves of shirts promoting Black Lives Matter and condemning anti-Asian hate -- also now serves as the starting point for a bi-weekly running club, called Run United. Asubuhi said the idea came from the conversations following the racial unrest in 2020.

"We want people to be intentional about talking to someone who doesn't look like them," she said. "So everything we do, we do with intention."

WCPO 9 News also visited Vevay Antique Mall in April 2020.

At the time, the large space on East Main Street was only partially full. Many vendors weren't yet comfortable in a physical space, without the ability to host customers. Its grand opening was held on Facebook Live.

"You were one of the early birds to get to see it in person," said co-owner Angie Priest. "Now, you can see, we are full."

There are roughly 28 vendors in the Vevay Antique Mall now, one year later. Some found the spaces because of the virtual programming and online and private sales Priest and her business partners, Emily Prarat and Timothy Shackleford, were doing just to survive.

Even though the doors are now open, a lot of that continues.

"We do so much fun stuff that has come out of what we did initially just to get by, that it's become a standard for us now," Priest said.

The mall has grown so quickly it now has two part-time employees, something Priest said wasn't in the business plan until two or three years down the road. It's made possible partly by a unique revolving loan program Switzerland County developed to help small businesses in the pandemic.

Fifteen businesses now benefit from the $250,000 loan program.

"It's more money than we've ever had to put into a business assistance fund locally in my time," said Jon Bond, president of the Switzerland County Economic Development Corporation. "They've used them to help stay open during the time they either had to shut down or were on diminished capacity, but they've also used them to help hit the ground running on the other side of the pandemic."

Despite dreams delayed and fears for the future, both businesses are booming. Owners said it is thanks to a mix of entrepreneurial spirit, forced changes, and outside help.

"It's exciting that through all of the crazy, we've come out a little bit better, a little bit strong, and a little bit bigger," Priest said.

Asubuhi agrees.

"The last year has been crazy, but on the flip side, we've done really well," she said. "People are being more intentional with shopping with small businesses and Black-owned businesses, so we've received a lot of support from the community."