TQL Stadium
Cincinnati , Ohio, United States
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Typologies
Stadiums
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Building Activities
Soccer
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Services
Architecture, Interior Design, Wayfinding
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Completion
2021
Two seasons into its Major League Soccer existence, FC Cincinnati has taken another leap into the elite levels of the sport with the debut of TQL Stadium. With a capacity of 26,000, it registers among the largest soccer-specific stadiums in the league. Its impact, however, reaches far beyond that. The stadium honors and enriches the legacy of soccer in the Queen City through a progressive design and ambitious interpretation of a Cincinnati on the rise.
It all starts with a façade inspired by the kinetic energy of the club’s fan base. More than 500 vertical fins wrap the exterior, each one connected to a one-of-a-kind LED lighting system that produces dazzling motion sequences. The fins themselves defy stasis, shaped in such a way that creates a singular twisting motion. The overall form signifies the tension between two teams about to take the pitch. A grand plaza staircase welcomes fans to it all, an entry sequence unlike any other in the MLS.
We are so proud of this incredible design that Populous has delivered to FC Cincinnati. It has been so well-thought and concepted, so carefully crafted.
Carl H. Lindner III / FC Cincinnati CEO and Managing Owner
Inside, those fans are treated to a canopy that encloses the entire seating bowl and covers every seat in the house. Not only does the canopy bottle up their energy, it shields them from the elements. To the north, there’s The Bailey, an intimidating safe-standing section housing the club’s supporters – and to the southeast, a perfectly-framed view of the Cincy skyline. Continuing inward, a mix of premium spaces offer a modern slate of amenities, with each club inspired by a different theme authentic to Cincinnati.
Facts and Figures
- Stadium Footprint Acreage
- 12.4
- Integrated Facade Lighting
- 2.65 miles
- Canopy
- 360°
- Capacity
- 26,000
- Safe-standing Seats
- 3,170
- Suites
- 53
Awards
- 2022
- World Title in Sports, Prix Versailles
- 2022
- Best Venue of the Year, World Football Summit Awards
- 2022
- Gold Award in Sports & Recreation, International Interior Design Association, Mid-America
- 2022
- Environmental Design & Signage Award, American Institute of Graphic Artists
- 2021
- First Place in Sports & Recreation (Concept), Rethinking The Future Awards
- 2021
- Best Midwest Sports Project, Engineering News-Record