Soccer Brings Development Hopes, and Displacement Fears, to Cincinnati

Cincinnati FC, a soccer team that does not yet play in the MLS, is shopping stadium plans around the city. One stadium, plan for the West End neighborhood, would replace the existing Stargel Stadium adjacent to Robert A. Taft Information Technology High School. Residents have concerns, though.

"The major fear is that the stadium will bring new, wealthier residents who will drive up rent and home prices leading to developers and property owners driving out current residents," reports Chris Wetterich.

The team's backer are still considering three alternative locations for the stadium—the one in West End along with locations in Oakley and Newport. The city must also still be granted a franchise.

Soccer is a perhaps surprising force in the stadium-based economic development realm (surprising to anyone obsessed with American football, anyways). Austin is also currently angling for an MLS team, and failed stadium plans ravaged soccer fans in St. Louis and Detroit in 2017.