Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
91.7 WVXU Connecting you to a world of ideas with NPR news, local news from our award-winning team & music/entertainment programs heard only on public radio.

Pictures: A First Look At FC Cincinnati Stadium Under Construction

FC Cincinnati's West End stadium is rising out of the ground with steel framework going up to support the east and west side stands.

President Jeff Berding says construction is on budget and on time for the planned start of the 2021 season. He led a hard hat site tour Wednesday, a year after the team broke ground in 2018.

"It seems like not a whole lot has happened over the past year because we spent a good part of the last 12 months digging holes and pushing dirt," Berding says. "We're very excited today on the one year anniversary to see steel starting to go vertical."

Credit Tana Weingartner / WVXU
/
WVXU
Construction crews work on the steel framework for the east side stands.

The steel framing now visible on the site are the supports for the lower seating bowl, Berding explains. The team locker rooms will be under the west side stands with access up to field level by ramps.

"We expect the steel work will be done by mid-summer in 2020," he says, while also making a point of previously announced workforce inclusion numbers. "We are trending above the line for those inclusion targets. We're in a really good place and a lot of those sub-contracts are about to be awarded (and) we think we're in a good place to continue to exceed our inclusion goals."

Credit Tana Weingartner / WVXU
/
WVXU
The home team locker rooms and a medical facility will be housed under a portion of the west side stands.

Berding says several West End residents are working on the project as part of the CityLink First Source hiring partnership. He encourages neighborhood residents to "get in touch with us" if they're interested in stadium construction jobs.

Click on the picture at the top of the post to see additional pictures.

Senior Editor and reporter at WVXU with more than 20 years experience in public radio; formerly news and public affairs producer with WMUB. Would really like to meet your dog.