TQL Stadium — Attraction in Cincinnati

TQL Stadium, the newest addition to Cincinnati's sporting landscape and the home of FC Cincinnati, represents a significant step forward in the evolution of soccer in the United States. As of my training cut-off in September 2021, the stadium, completed in 2021, offers a high-quality, immersive soccer experience that is emblematic of the growing popularity of the sport in the country.

Constructed with a seating capacity of 26,000, TQL Stadium strikes an impressive figure in Cincinnati's West End neighborhood. The exterior of the stadium is an architectural marvel, highlighted by its unique LED lighting system that glows with the team's colors on matchdays, creating a beacon for fans across the city.

On entering the stadium, you're greeted by a wide, open concourse that circles the field, offering unobstructed views of the pitch from almost every angle. This design, while aesthetically pleasing, also allows for easy navigation and minimal congestion, even on sold-out matchdays.

The seating arrangement at TQL Stadium is designed to offer an intimate experience. The steep, closed-in seating design ensures spectators are close to the action, creating a powerful and engaging atmosphere. In particular, the 'Bailey'—the dedicated section for the team's most passionate supporters—provides an electrifying environment. The noise and energy from this section resonates throughout the stadium, creating a home-field advantage that is palpable.

A variety of food and beverage options are available in the concourse area, including traditional fare and local specialties. Craft beer lovers will be pleased by the selection of local brews. However, some fans might find the prices on the higher side, which seems to be a common trend in many sporting arenas.

One of the key strengths of TQL Stadium is its location. Its proximity to downtown Cincinnati allows fans to make a day or night of the matchday experience, with numerous bars, restaurants, and attractions just a short walk away. However, this central location can lead to some logistical issues. Parking, while available, can be challenging and may require a short walk. Public transportation is a viable alternative, with several bus routes and a streetcar stop nearby.

The TQL Stadium is not without its growing pains. Complaints about high food prices and challenging parking are not uncommon. However, the matchday experience, architectural marvel, and booming atmosphere more than compensate for these minor drawbacks. For soccer fans and sports enthusiasts, TQL Stadium offers an experience worth taking in. From the modern design and top-notch facilities to the electrifying atmosphere and strategic location, it ticks most of the boxes of what you'd expect from a contemporary...

The good: covered seating, adequate beverage stations and restrooms for the number of people.

The bad: Parking was a total nightmare. There are multiple parking garages/lots associated with the stadium itself and if you don't prepay online you can't park in ANY of them. Nothing was communicated at booking or on the TQL website about this - there was a line recommending you buy parking in a follow-up email two days before the concert but when I clicked the link to do so nothing was available - is it seriously possible they built this massive stadium with multiple garages and didn't bother to make sure they had enough spaces for an even 75% full house? It's not in a great area of town so having to park on a side street far away and walk back in the dark away from the crowd is very much not ideal, especially as a woman who goes to a lot of concerts by herself.

Also, apparently you're not allowed to bring bags that aren't clear or under a certain size. That was also in the follow-up email, not on the web site or at booking. Make sure you check for this email I guess, I definitely missed it because it came from a different sender than the ticket confirmation on a different date. Thankfully I didn't bring a purse because by the time I spent 45 minutes circling the area looking for parking and made the trek to the stadium, I definitely wouldn't have had time to walk my bag back to the spot I finally found and get back to the stadium in time for the show to start.

It's a nice stadium but the parking issues are definitely going to make me reconsider going to...

Wonderful sports venue nestled on the West side of downtown Cincinnati. The stadium backside was abutted up to the Cincinnati Police Headquarters so that was a plus. The stadium itself is modern, rowdy, plenty of food vendors and not a bad viewing seat in the stadium. The FC Cincinnati fans were loyal, loud, raucous yet very respectful. A truly exhilarating experience,as this was my first time watching a professional soccer game live, it was electric! Now some negative take aways: They were long lines going into both men's and women's bathrooms, as it appeared to me there wasn't enough facilities to handle the large crowd. As with ALL professional sports facilities that I've attended the food prices were astronomically over priced. There were many selections, but posting for tickets, parking and then trying to eat was close to a car payment. The causeways where the bathrooms and vendors are located are to narrow and the overcrowding caused an almost claustrophobic reaction. This was very apparent when leaving the venue as it was a mass of humanity being squeezed into not friendly hallways and steps.

Overall the stadium seating was excellent, the line sites were perfect, the special bells and whistles for fan fun was tremendous and the professional product on the pitch was just WOW!

We will be back! One suggestion is at the Cincinnati Reds Great American Ball Park, they allow families to bring their on foods as long as the bags are soft sided coolers within required measurements. FC Cincinnati 's are all bags must be clear, but no outside foods...