Ethics complaint against Beckham, MLS group tossed out

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https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2019/03/13/ethics-complaint-against-beckham-mls-group-tossed.html

Ethics complaint against Beckham, MLS group tossed out

Beckham scored a legal victory in his drive to build a soccer stadium in Miami.

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https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article227602094.html

Miami-Dade ethics board dismisses lobbying complaint against Beckham group

Miami-Dade’s ethics board has dismissed a complaint against David Beckham and associates trying to launch a Major League Soccer team in Miami.

Attorney David Winker had filed a complaint alleging that Beckham, his partners and their lawyers had failed to properly register to lobby elected officials on matters related to the proposal to build a $1 billion soccer stadium and office park on city-owned Melreese golf course. The upcoming MLS team, Inter Miami, would play games at the stadium.

The complaint came days before the November referendum where 60 percent of voters endorsed a framework of the deal and authorized the city to negotiate a 99-year lease for the development, Miami Freedom Park.

On Wednesday, the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust dismissed the lobbying complaint. A memo from the commission’s staff attorney concludes that the 16 individuals named in Winker’s complaint — Beckham, his partners and lawyers — did not violate lobbying laws. In many cases, people registered to lobby for one Beckham corporation and not for a newer one formed to hold the proposed lease. The ethics commission determined these two corporations were “inextricably connected.”

“We are pleased with the Commission’s finding as we have and will continue to act in good faith, working to fulfill residents’ mandate to develop a world-class destination that will generate 11,000 jobs and $44M in yearly tax revenue,” Jorge Mas, MasTec chairman and managing owner of Inter Miami, said in a statement.

Mas is in the middle of negotiations with the city on the lease. On Thursday, commissioners will consider a resolution that would force a commission vote on a lease before November’s municipal election — a measure that could imperil the deal because it requires approval from four of five commissioners, and two current commissioners have publicly opposed the deal.

Another part of Winker’s complaint involved disclosure of stakeholders owning companies that employ lobbyists in the city. Lobbyists, including those representing the Beckham group, were not disclosing the identities of people or entities who own 5 percent or more of the corporations they are representing — a disclosure required under county law.

But it turns out almost nobody was disclosing this due to the poorly formatted forms, an ethics inquiry found.

“In fact, Miami-Dade County’s online lobbyist registration system neglected to include that question, and a review of paper registration forms filed with the County Clerk found almost all were non-compliant with that disclosure requirement,” a statement from the ethics commission says.

When Winker filed his complaint this year, ethics investigators were already looking into the widespread problem across the county and its 34 municipalities. Two exceptions: Miami Beach and Surfside, cities whose clerks have regularly forced lobbyists to make the disclosures.

Another part of Winker’s complaint accuses the city of Miami’s elected officials and administrators of not enforcing the ownership disclosure requirement. Winker also sued in county court over this. After Wednesday’s ethics meeting, Winker told the Miami Herald he and the city agreed to pause the ethics matter while the lawsuit is pending.

Winker said he was glad to have shed light on the ownership disclosure issue

“It brought out in the open the problems in the current lobbying registration systems and how hardly anyone is complying with these laws,” he said. “My goal all along has been preserving government in the open by ensuring that lobbyists properly disclose who they are working for, and I believe the Commission on Ethics took a big step forward in ensuring that will happen.”

H. Jeffery Cutler, an attorney who chairs the ethics board, told the Herald he was glad the commission is pushing local governments to improve their registration processes in order to improve government transparency and increase compliance with existing laws.

“Education and enforcement is part of the process,” he said.

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https://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article227668929.html

Hollywood mogul tours Sac Republic stadium site in railyard

Hollywood film producer Matt Alvarez tours the planned site for a major league soccer stadium in the downtown railyard with Sacramento Republic President Ben Gumpert on Wednesday, March 13, 2019.

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https://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article227472439.html

He’s the Hollywood mogul helping lead Sacramento’s Major League Soccer bid in ‘crunch time’

After several years of coming up short, Sacramento has hit a make or break moment in its effort to become a Major League Soccer city.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber this week laid out the scenario: After a period of rapid expansion, the New York-based MLS has room for one more team this year. The league will then take a breather, with no immediate plans to expand more. Two cities head the pack, Sacramento and St. Louis. The league will discuss expansion at an April board of governors meeting in Los Angeles.

A league spokesman said the league doesn’t expect to make a final decision on expansion at the April meeting. But Sacramento’s group says it is treating the moment as its final audition – and it is rushing to tie up loose ends.

“The clock is ticking,” said Matt Alvarez, one of two wealthy Los Angeles businessmen who recently signed on to lead Sacramento’s effort. “This is crunch time. We’re wrapping up a lot of things right now.”

Alvarez, a Hollywood film producer, and his partner, Ron Burkle, a billionaire businessman, movie producer and owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League, represent the key new element to Sacramento’s bid. Sacramento Republic FC soccer officials and Mayor Darrell Steinberg recruited the pair two months ago after MLS officials indicated the local effort needed better financial backing.

Speaking to The Sacramento Bee in Sacramento during an exclusive interview on Wednesday, Alvarez said he and Burkle agreed to sign on as principle owners of Republic FC because they’ve been looking for a joint sport venture and view Sacramento as a city that has grown substantially.

Burkle and Alvarez have signed an agreement to take control of Republic FC and build a $300 million stadium, contingent on the MLS granting the city a franchise. The new ownership group, which will include current Republic FC owner Kevin Nagle and possibly other Sacramento investors, would pay MLS a franchise fee of at least $150 million.

On a visit to St. Louis Monday, Garber told officials there it’s between that city and Sacramento. He noted that the St. Louis group still has a few steps it needs to take.

Garber declined comment on Sacramento this week, but Alvarez said the Sacramento effort has been in almost daily contact with MLS officials in recent weeks, and believes it has done everything the league has asked. Burkle and Alvarez recently made a presentation to Garber in New York.

“We came out of that meeting feeling confident with where we sit,” he said. “We’re in a great position.”

The team has one notable item to add to its resume before the April 18 board meeting.

Alvarez was in town on Wednesday to negotiate a “term sheet” or business agreement with city officials. Under that agreement, the city would set up an infrastructure financing district for the 31-acre stadium site east of 7th Street in the downtown railyard. The financing district will allow the developers to bond against future tax revenue on the site.

The city also would waive some stadium development fees and allow the team to build several digital billboards. Steinberg, whose staff has been in talks with the soccer group, said he hopes to have a deal in hand to bring to the City Council for its approval before the MLS board of governors meets.

“We are very close and I intend to bring this to council on April 9 and recommend strong support,” Steinberg said on Wednesday. “Then it is a full pivot toward the league to not only make our case, but to say we have stepped up big time.”

Steinberg said the project will help kick-start development of the railyard into a major new section of downtown. “This is about soccer, but it is about so much more,” the mayor said. “Ron and his team are interested in Sacramento. That is a great thing as we continue to grow and build.”

Alvarez, a Bay Area native, attended UC Davis before going to Hollywood, where he produced numerous movies. Alvarez and rapper and actor Ice Cube co-founded Cube Vision, a film and television production company behind nearly 20 movies, including Are We There Yet?, Ride Along and Straight Outta Compton.

The Sacramento soccer effort is an extension of his entertainment business, Alvarez said.

“We got very excited about Sacramento very quickly,” he said. “This is an amazing city. It’s already over the cusp of being a very cultured, diverse, great city that has a lot to offer to a lot of different people.”

Burkle, a supermarket tycoon who seldom talks publicly, previously headed a group that planned to buy the Sacramento Kings when the Maloof family was threatening to move the team. Burkle dropped out of that effort. But, according to Steinberg, the businessman has maintained a strong interest in Sacramento. Burkle, described as a huge sports fan, has co-owned the Penguins hockey team for 20 years. He was seen on national TV enthusiastically cheering at the Super Bowl a month ago in a luxury box with Gisele Bundchen, the wife of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

A new MLS franchise would take the place of Republic FC, which has represented Sacramento since 2014 in the second-division United Soccer League, but would keep the Republic FC name.

Sacramento has vied for MLS status for several years, but has lost out to Cincinnati, Nashville and Austin. League officials indicated it passed Sacramento over previously because the ownership group – before the arrival of Burkle and Alvarez – did not have the financial wherewithal that league officials preferred.

The group plans to develop about 15 acres it will buy adjacent to the stadium. Alvarez said that way the team can control the land use around the stadium to make it compatible and symbiotic. “It’s a great way to drive traffic to our business,” Alvarez said. Those plans include a light rail station along 7th Street a block from the stadium.

If Sacramento were to win an MLS franchise, officials say they would plan to have a stadium completed by the 2021 season.

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https://kmox.radio.com/articles/st-louis-major-league-soccer-stadium-naming-rights-jersey-logo-available

St. Louis MLS Stadium naming rights, jersey logo available

There was a Twitter suggestion that Sunset Hills-based Panera Bread Co. sponsor 'St. Louis Bread Co' go on the home jerseys and 'Panera' on the aways.

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) -- Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber shared lunch this week with about two-dozen local business executives.

Will any of them put their companies' logo on the chest of our potential team's players? What about naming rights for the stadium proposed in Downtown West? Garber is emphasizing the importance of those being sold for St. Louis to get a team.

While we wait for official word from #MLS4TheLou on sponsorship deals, KMOX's Michael Calhoun talked with sports marketing consultant Doug Terfehr about who might be a good fit.

Looking across the league, most jersey sponsors seem to have simple logos, many with a local connection. For instance, Microsoft's Xbox is on the Seattle Sounders' jersey. In Minneapolis, it's the hometown Target bullseye.

What about for St. Louis?

Panera Bread

@panerabread

We we have have very very big big news news everyone everyone!!

St.Louligans ☠️

@StLouligans

Let's just make it happen. St. Louis Bread Co. on the home jerseys and Panera Bread on the away jerseys. Everybody in St. Louis wants it. #MLS4TheLou

There was a Twitter suggestion that Sunset Hills-based Panera Bread Co. sponsor 'St. Louis Bread Co' go on the home jerseys and 'Panera' on the aways.

Sports marketing consultant Doug Terfehr says that's not a bad idea.

"I just see that brand, who they target, their clean labels and all that.. they may be a good fit with soccer in general. It's a good idea because at least the brand isn't like 'wow why would that one want to get involved with MLS.'"

In our conversation this morning on Total Information AM, we also mentioned Purina, Square, and MasterCard as three local, consumer-oriented companies with distinctive yet simple logos.

But Terfehr wouldn't be surprised if the most interested parties are new-age services like Hulu, Grubhub or Uber.

"Things like that are as much of a smart investment from a jersey sponsorship or a stadium naming rights as a Frito-Lay or Coca-Cola, things we traditionally go to."

You may have noticed YouTube TV is sponsoring just about every big sports event these days.

"A St. Louis connection is always nice. We like it as consumers, we like it when it's something local but it doesn't necessarily have to act that way," he says, citing NBA sponsors Wish in Los Angeles and FitBit in Minnesota.

He also adds: "If they got a sponsor or a partner that wasn't based in St. Louis, I think that shows people still see St. Louis as a real opportunity."

Terfehr says more companies may be considering this type of marketing investment. He says sports activations are increasing in importance; the disruption of media consumption means few people watch anything live anymore.

He says the jersey sponsor, especially, can cultivate a certain loyalty among fans. He says the best reaction a brand can hope for is: "I already like this soccer team and now that this brand is a part of my soccer community, I'm going to make them a 'badge brand' for me as well."

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https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/major-league-soccer-says-other-cities-will-have-to-wait/article_e30ee7e6-0761-53b7-b2de-0adc8b6226ad.html#anchor_item_1

Major League Soccer says other cities will have to wait behind St. Louis and Sacramento for teams

Major League Soccer is increasingly focused on Sacramento, Calif., and St. Louis as the home for its next expansion team.

Commissioner Don Garber, in a conversation with the Post-Dispatch on Monday, said that league owners are looking to make a decision on their 28th team before the end of the year. And while the league has been in serious discussions with several other cities regarding expansion, ownership groups in those cities — including Charlotte, N.C., Phoenix and Las Vegas, Garber said — will have to wait.

“Those are cities that, should we ever decide to expand beyond 28, would have to be considered as part of a next round,” Garber said.

The future of at least one city recently considered a top contender — Detroit — is now unclear, Garber said. “I’ve been in regular conversations with them,” Garber said. “And we still struggle with their stadium plan.”

Two years ago, Detroit had been a front-runner in the fight for the 24th spot, but, after the Motor City’s storied owners abandoned plans to build a soccer-specific open-air stadium, the league picked Cincinnati last spring instead. It has since announced three other teams, in Miami, Nashville, Tenn., and Austin, Texas, opening in 2020 and 2021.

Detroit is an important market for the league, Garber said, but the stadium has to be right.

“Sports teams ought to be forever. They’re not always that way, but you make the decision with that in mind,” Garber said on Monday. “We think that in order for us to be successful in that city, we need a soccer-specific stadium. And the options that we’re presented with today are only at Ford Field.”

At the same time, Garber gushed about St. Louis’ proposed site, next to Union Station on Market Street just west of downtown.

“It really checks off a lot of boxes,” he said. “It’s got the right support from the public sector. Everybody’s feeling good about that.”

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https://www.tampabay.com/fun/top-things-to-do-in-tampa-bay-for-thursday-march-14-20190313/

Top things to do in Tampa Bay for Thursday, March 14

Where to spend Pi Day, explore carnival rides on the beach and shop local after dark.

Rowdies Season Kickoff Lunch: Welcome a new season for the Tampa Bay Rowdies over a meal with the soccer team’s coaches and players, as well as the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Tampa Bay Rays leadership. Registration and networking at 11 a.m., lunch and program at 2 p.m. $50-$500. Al Lang Stadium, 230 First St. SE, St. Petersburg. (727) 893-7490.

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https://www.stltoday.com/sports/something-to-worry-about-on-the-mls-front/article_8844ac4b-2ad6-52b0-bfd3-fa21b54925e8.html

SOMETHING TO WORRY ABOUT ON THE MLS FRONT?

QUESTION: Should we be worried that MLS effort doesn't have stadium and jersey naming rights completed?

BENFRED: If it does not develop, I guess. But I don't think those are impossible missions to complete. Look at Monday's news. Don Garber, realizing every place he goes and every comment he makes is an update on expansion, came to St. Louis. Raved about St. Louis. Met business folks in St. Louis that are in conversations about sponsoring the potential team in various ways.

And the ownership group feels confident enough that it is starting to use its leverage as well. Not interested in being team No. 29. That was news yesterday, first time it's been said like that on the record. No. 28 or bust.

Garber is not the only one who can use leverage, especially if he wants to have a team in STL as much as he says he does.

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https://www.wishtv.com/news/local-news/lawmakers-to-debate-indy-eleven-stadium-bill/1845563345

Lawmakers to debate Indy Eleven stadium bill

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The future of Indy Eleven takes center stage at the Indiana Statehouse Wednesday.

Lawmakers will debate helping the team build their own stadium, while hopes of bringing major league soccer to town have taken a huge hit.

The debate at the statehouse will come one day after a story in the St. Louis Post Dispatch that quoted MLS commissioner Don Garber as saying that Sacramento and St. Louis are the two cities atop of the league's expansion wish list.

Also, named by the commissioner were Charlotte, Las Vegas and Phoenix but not Indianapolis.

Supporters of the Indy Eleven are hoping lawmakers will approve plans.

The $550 million development would include a 20,000-seat stadium plus offices, retail and apartments.

To hear more about this, click on the video.

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https://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ben-frederickson/quick-hits-benfred-on-stl-sports/collection_84334d1e-232a-5583-9ff4-d99487365d85.html

Quick Hits: BenFred on STL sports

Rounding up the hot topics from columnist Ben Frederickson's weekly chat with St. Louis sports fans.

5 REASONS FOR CARDINALS OPTIMISM

'Neill and the pitching depth.

SOMETHING TO WORRY ABOUT ON THE MLS FRONT?

QUESTION: Should we be worried that MLS effort doesn't have stadium and jersey naming rights completed?

BENFRED: If it does not develop, I guess. But I don't think those are impossible missions to complete. Look at Monday's news. Don Garber, realizing every place he goes and every comment he makes is an update on expansion, came to St. Louis. Raved about St. Louis. Met business folks in St. Louis that are in conversations about sponsoring the potential team in various ways.

And the ownership group feels confident enough that it is starting to use its leverage as well. Not interested in being team No. 29. That was news yesterday, first time it's been said like that on the record. No. 28 or bust.

Garber is not the only one who can use leverage, especially if he wants to have a team in STL as much as he says he does.

SUFFICIENT FAN SUPPORT FOR PRO SOCCER HERE?

QUESTION: How much (if any) concern should there be for local fan support of pro soccer? There's a growing sentiment in the online soccer community that because Sacramento averages over 10,000 fans a game for its USL team, while St. Louis can barely get 5,000 for their USL side, that the former is far more deserving of the 28th spot in MLS.

BENFRED: USL attendance will not be what decides or does not decide where MLS plants its next team, no matter how much your local USL team might want you to believe. It's a factor, sure. But Garber's concerned about the sponsorship support in STL. He's had glowing remarks for the fans in the area.

Follow-up: If you had to give STL's chances of getting franchise No. 28 a percentage, what would you give it? 80 percent? 90 percent?

BENFRED: I don't want to put a reckless number on it. We know what needs to happen. The ownership group needs to secure major sponsors not named Enterprise or World Wide Technology. If it can do that, and MLS moves the goalposts, then you have to question if the league wants STL or wants to use STL as a stalking horse.

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https://kmox.radio.com/articles/st-louis-major-league-soccer-stadium-naming-rights-jersey-logo-available

St. Louis MLS Stadium naming rights, jersey logo available

There was a Twitter suggestion that Sunset Hills-based Panera Bread Co. sponsor 'St. Louis Bread Co' go on the home jerseys and 'Panera' on the aways.

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https://theathletic.com/866868/2019/03/13/mls-aims-to-be-best-in-north-america-but-ccl-results-show-its-not-close-yet/

MLS aims to be best in North America, but CCL results show it’s not close yet

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https://www.law360.com/competition/articles/1137924/league-demands-us-soccer-turn-in-division-talk-transcripts

League Demands US Soccer Turn In Division Talk Transcripts

Law360 (March 12, 2019, 6:43 PM EDT) -- The U.S. Soccer Federation should be forced to fork over unredacted transcripts from a recent board meeting where the North American Soccer League’s division status was discussed, the New York federal...

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https://www.law360.com/sports/articles/1138630/ethics-claim-dismissed-over-beckham-s-miami-stadium-plan

Ethics Claim Dismissed Over Beckham's Miami Stadium Plan

Law360 (March 13, 2019, 6:38 PM EDT) -- The Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust voted unanimously Wednesday to dismiss an ethics complaint against soccer legend David Beckham and Miami businessman Jorge Mas over their no-bid plan to...

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http://www.espn.com/soccer/united-states/story/3799480/fifa-panel-rejects-us-youth-clubs-payment-claims-related-to-bradley-dempsey-transfers

FIFA panel rejects U.S. youth clubs' payment claims related to Bradley, Dempsey transfers

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https://thesewaneepurple.org/2019/03/13/lawsuits-and-push-notifications-the-gender-gap-and-sports/

LAWSUITS AND PUSH NOTIFICATIONS: THE GENDER GAP AND SPORTS

Earlier this week, I received a push notification from my app version of The New York Times – only three months before the start of the Women’s World Cup, 28 players on the US Women’s National Soccer Team sued the US Soccer Federation (USSF), alleging “institutionalized gender discrimination” in USSF, primarily through lack of pay equity and worse working conditions.

While this has been in the offing for a while, this is still no less important. The players filing the suit are some of the most recognized in the world – Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, and Megan Rapinoe amongst others. This isn’t just a soccer problem, either. In 2015, Diana Taurasi of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, the league’s reigning MVP, took the season off to rest for her season that winter in Europe.

At that time, the Mercury paid Taurasi just over one hundred thousand dollars per year, close to the league maximum. Comparatively, her contract with her team in Europe, UMMC Ekaterinburg, paid out in $1.5 million per season. By playing in Europe, she earned over ten times what she earned in America. What was that about equality for all?

In their article “The Gender Gap in Sport Performance: Equity Influences Equality,” Laura Capranica and her colleagues pose the question about their various countries at the end – “What is an Olympic Gold medal “worth” in your country for male versus female athletes?”

For the United States, while they note that the prize offered by the US Olympic Committee is equal, “unfortunately, a female athlete’s appearance and popularity of her sport may dictate what an Olympic gold medal is really ‘worth.’ Thus, the real value of a gold medal is highly variable.”

The fixing of this gender pay gap requires increased investment. For example, the WNBA has only 12 teams compared to the NBA’s 30. Additionally, the WNBA teams play 34 games to the NBA’s 82 in the regular season.

This seems like a lot. But this situation requires a quick shot of a lot of capital. If not, this situation will continue. And with that, probably more lawsuits and push notifications.

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https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2019/03/13/judge-sets-temporary-injunction-hearing-in-edwards.html

Judge sets temporary injunction hearing in Edwards Group lawsuit against former employee

The injunction, if granted, would temporarily prevent the former employee from working for companies within a 75-mile radius of The Edwards Group in St. Pete.

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http://www.stlamerican.com/sports/sports_columnists/sports_eye/mls-commissioner-boldly-tells-st-louis-it-needs-to-do/article_49800e5a-45f2-11e9-9bc8-c795337c3645.html

MLS commissioner boldly tells St. Louis it needs to do more

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http://magiccity.soccer/2019/03/13/comparing-the-plans-inter-miami-and-fxe-futbol-proposals-for-lockhart-stadium-analyzed/

Comparing the plans: Inter Miami and FXE Futbol proposals for Lockhart Stadium analyzed

Since the end of January, Inter Miami CF and FXE Futbol, LLC have vied in legal filings and public relations to build support for their proposed renovations of Lockhart Stadium. On Tuesday afternoon, the public finally had the opportunity to review the full proposals submitted by the groups to the City of Fort Lauderdale.

To read both proposals in full, click here.

Inter’s offer

Miami Beckham United, LLC (the group that oversees Inter Miami CF and most related activity) submitted a 73-page plan to the city. In it, it includes much of its original outline revealed in January. It also included a number of design renderings of the proposed site plan, detailing the stadium, training grounds, parkland and a “restaurant concept.”

The proposal also includes a Design and Construction Schedule provided by Manica Architecture, a Kansas City-based firm which also provided the renderings. Per the schedule, the group would like to begin procurement next month, and start clearing the Lockhart Stadium site by May. Construction would begin in July, with the new stadium scheduled to come online in May 2020.

The last page of the proposal deals with finances. The ownership group confirms it has added Goldman Sachs & Co LLC as the structuring agent and financial adviser for the project. Miami Beckham United (as well as FXE Futbol) has confirmed it intends to self-fund all construction related to the project.

The Design and Construction Schedule for the Fort Lauderdale Leisure Park and Inter Miami Training Center at the current Lockhart Stadium site. From Inter Miami CF via City of Fort Lauderdale.

FXE’s figures

FXE Futbol revealed a proposal that was much more thorough than anything yet put out by the organization. At 128 pages, the proposal includes similar features to the Inter plan, including design renderings of the stadium and surrounding areas. The biggest different in the two proposals is the amount of Fort Lauderdale-focused addendum information FXE included. That includes letters from Topgolf (an entertainment partner at the location), Compendium Partners LLC and Longpoint Realty Partners (who are the financial advisers on the project), and a number of civic and business partners, the majority of which come from Fort Lauderdale itself.

According to the FXE proposal, the group expects the stadium could be finished in as short as 28 months and as long as 36 months. It does, however, target the launch of its USL team in 2021, which would be in two years’ time.

John P. Reynal, the managing partner of FXE Futbol, LLC, spoke last month at a town hall about how the Beckham bid changed the focus for FXE.

“When we got a chance to really analyze, I think it turned out to be a good thing,” Reynal told Magic City Soccer about the Beckham bid last month. “It accelerated the process, it made it more competitive, and it forced us to sit around with people from the community, business leaders, and develop something that was more community-inclusive.

“We’re offering a project that’s open to the public, that will generate jobs for the city.”

City’s decision

The choice now lies in the hands of the City of Fort Lauderdale, with a decision possible this month. Pressure has been ramped up on the city’s commissioners from supporters of both proposals. It’s unclear which organization the city is likely to pick.

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/03/13/fc-cincinnati-nearing-sellout-inaugural-mls-home-opener

FC Cincinnati nearing sellout for inaugural MLS home opener