We wanted to provide fans, supporters or first-timers a basic guide on what to expect in the area around the West End and Over-the-Rhine on 2023 match days. Please send us any tips you have about your match day experience to [email protected].
SUPPORTER GROUPS PRE-MATCH PARTIES
We encourage all fans to get down to the West End/OTR early and enjoy themselves at the areas many restaurants and pubs. Many Supporter Groups hang out in the Findlay Market area where you can join in the march to TQL Stadium. Some of these locations can be rowdier than others, but families and opposing fans are encouraged to come out and join the various groups.
The Briogaid: Taft’s Ale House (Nellie’s Tap Room) – 1429 Race St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Die Innenstadt: Knox Joseph Distillery / OTR Stillhouse – 2017 Branch St, Cincinnati, OH 45214
The Fifth Line: Holiday Spirits – 1538 Race St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Hangar 937: Knox Joseph Distillery / OTR Stillhouse – 2017 Branch St, Cincinnati, OH 45214
Norden – The Symphony Hotel – 210 W 14th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
The Pride: Northern Row Brewery & Distillery – 111 W. McMicken Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Queen City Mafia: The Pitch – 1430 Central Pkwy, Cincinnati, OH 45202
CST also recommends LIVE SHOW partners:
Rhinehaus OTR: 119 E 12th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Samuel Adams Taproom: 1727 Logan St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 *New parking garage opens soon!
THE MARCH
The less than 1-mile long march begins approximately 6:10pm for The Pride at Northern Row Brewery & Distillery and Die Innenstadt at the OTR Stillhouse. All fans are encouraged to join the march as supporters reach the Findlay Market area at Pleasant Street. Joining here makes the march considerably shorter if you are apprehensive to join at Northern Row and OTR Stillhouse.
Fans can also join at the northwest corner of Washington Park at 6:30pm where the SGs will host their ‘corteo’. The ‘corteo’ will be shorter than years past, as the SG’s will be headed into the stadium earlier this year. The march will then proceed down 14th Street and into TQL Stadium around 6:40pm. This march into the stadium is not exclusive to supporter groups and their members, so we encourage any and all fans to join! See the map of the march below and follow The Incline Collective at @InclineCincy.
Make sure to pay attention to the march into the stadium! A throwback to the Nippert days!
*subject to change
ARRIVE EARLY AND BE LOUD
Fans are encouraged to be in TQL Stadium by 7 p.m. for all matches this season. FC Cincinnati is preparing a new pre-match atmosphere and tradition to energize the team and fans before kickoff. All matches will start at 7:30 p.m. this year per Apple TV and the club, so make sure to prepare for that exact time and not 7-10 minutes after the scheduled kickoff.
A pre-match happy hour see select offer drinks discounted by $2 at the Heineken bar behind The Bailey at the Coors Light bar behind sections 111 and 112.
PATIENCE
It is the start of the season with new workers. Give everyone a match to catch up if things start to lag behind. We hope that TQL has some of the early season kinks worked out but it is always a good idea to get in early and make sure you are taken care of without running into last-minute problems.
We also must be good partners to the West End and Over the Rhine communities. As the Incline Collective put it, “Over the Rhine and the West End are neighborhoods where people make their homes. We are their guests on match day. Treat the places we march better than you would want your neighborhoods treated by others (be respectful, don’t litter, etc.).”
FOOD & MORE
There are a whole lot of in-stadium options. Enjoy a Gomez Turtle, Grippo’s Chips, AJ’s Cheesesteaks, Buffalo Wings & Rings, Frisch’s and more. This season will also offer a host of new concession and premium offerings including Pastrami-rubbed Brisket, Footlong Hot Dog, Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Grilled Pimento Mac n’ Cheese, Smoked Deviled Eggs and a Chicken Teppanyaki Salad.
A “Das Boot” premium beer & glass will be offered in stadium. Fans can fill up their “Das Boot” for $22 with a $10 refill. Fretboard Brewing will also be a new craft brewery sponsor.
Don’t forget to make yourself a Cincinnati-style Sky-rosa. Check out our friend, Billy DeVore’s Twitter for instructions!
Make a day out of each match and get out and enjoy the area around West End Stadium, but still remember to get to TQL Stadium early. Cincinnati’s OTR and West End regions are loaded with amazing shopping, food and drink options. You could eat/drink a new spot every match for several years. The area is family friendly including a play area for kids in Washington Park along with an FCC fan zone.
Check out this interactive map of OTR that lists bars/restaurants and local shops.
PARKING/TRANSPORTATION
Visit the FC Cincinnati website for a list of prepaid parking lots and drop-off locations. Match day prepaid parking will be available at a later date. You can also travel to TQL Stadium via the Streetcar. Stops 7 thru 15 should put you in close proximity to pre-match bars with Stop 9 (14th & Elm) dropping you near Music Hall and TQL Stadium. Check out the Cincinnati Bell Connector route for more information.
If you get down early enough, consider street parking before it gets busy.
