CINCINNATI - Some FC Cincinnati fans are holding out hope that the Soccer Santa still has a Major League Soccer team in his bag for the Queen City.
Maybe even a year earlier than expected.
@ChettyMein wasn't discouraged by the news that MLS apparently plans to award one of its two 2020 expansion teams to Nashville on Wednesday.
So, @thesoccerdon and his buds have a party in Nashville on Wednesday, hop on up to do the same in Cincy on Thursday and he’s back to NY for the holidays on Friday. #MLS2CINCY pic.twitter.com/PwRZqNkbpB
— Chetty1963 (@ChettyMein) December 19, 2017
Other followers think FC Cincinnati could jump the line and take the spot reserved for Miami in 2019. David Beckham's group hasn't been able to get its act or investor group together for three years now.
Calling it right now....
2019 - FC Cincinnati
2020 - Nashville and Sacramento— Scott Jones (@SJonesy31) December 19, 2017
Today's announcement about Nashville 2 mls is feeding @fccincinnati angst. Lets puzzle it out.
The addition of LAFC that leaves us with 12 in the west and 11 in the East. MLS tends to like balanced conferences. Since Miami is not 2019 ready they need a team in the East. 1/— Jack Emery (@Centrejack) December 19, 2017
Therefore if the Crew move and @fccincinnati starts in 2019 that would mean 13 in the west and 12 in the east... and not having to shift another team between conferences again. That is my hope and belief. They definitely will allow a 2 team difference in conference balance.
— Jack Emery (@Centrejack) December 19, 2017
Another FC Cincinnati follower questioned how MLS could leave Ohio without a team amid speculation of the Columbus Crew moving to Austin?
There's no way the MLS could afford to lose Ohio completely, and then have no midwest franchise between Nashville and Chicago. Something has to break for Columbus or @fccincinnati.
— Jeff Wallner (@JeffWallner) December 19, 2017
But other FC Cincinnati fans felt more dissed and disappointed than positive. Some don't even want to wait for the next round of MLS expansion, tentatively scheduled for 2024.
Right and I believe most Cincinnatians will want to move on and still support FC Cincinnati but at Nippert and call it a day.
— Empire (@empire_napier) December 19, 2017
There are positives to staying in the USL for the next couple years. We can continue to beat up on MLS teams in the Open Cup just for funsies while we're at it.
— Caleb Isaiah Mills (@CalebHasTweets) December 19, 2017
Ridiculous that @MLS took Nashville. Next pick better be @fccincinnati or I am done with MLS, particularly with what they have done with @ColumbusCrewSC.
— Brent G (@redacolyte) December 19, 2017
If @fccincinnati or @SacRepublicFC are left out of @MLS expansion, what’s the point of even dangling the carrot @thesoccerdon? Smashed ticket sales, put other city needs on hold for stadium build, organic growth of programs eschewed for non-existent club. Weak.
— Douglas W. Griswold (@_dougesmith_) December 19, 2017
.@fccincinnati 100% deserves an MLS expansion bid. We have a bigger fan base than the other expansion teams and had the highest attendance record in the history of the US Open Cup. It’s really a no brainer. #MLS2Cincy
— O. Okafor (@_o_okafor) December 19, 2017
Final contenders for MLS expansion by 2017 avg. attendance:@fccincinnati - 21,199 (already nearly 15k 2018 season tickets sold)@SacRepublicFC - 11,569
Nashville SC - 0
If it's about the fans & generating a loyal following for MLS, this seems like a pretty simple decision...— Ian Smith (@CinciMowbray) December 19, 2017
No matter what FC Cincinnati fans think, FOX soccer analyst Stuart Holden and Sports Illustrated soccer writer Brian Straus said Nashville deserves an MLS bid even though it doesn't have a pro soccer team. Nashville joins the United Soccer League next year.
Per @GrantWahl looks like @MLS headed to Nashville. I was In Nashville this summer for USA-Panama in the Gold Cup and had a blast. Vibrant city with a clear passion for soccer - great addition. https://t.co/ofe5hlUDrA
— Stuart Holden (@stuholden) December 19, 2017
For those arguing Nash hasn't "proven itself", neither had Atlanta, which set attendance rec. MLS believes right owners/stadium will draw fans. And of 4 finalists, MLS thinks Nashville has best combo (Ingram and Wilfs + great stadium deal). So they're in. https://t.co/XvCntJihKu
— Brian Straus (@BrianStraus) December 19, 2017
