FC Cincinnati fell to the New England Revolution, 0-1, at TQL Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Cincinnati, Ohio – New England Revolution (5-1-2, 17 pts.) capitalized off a free kick and was able to break the deadlock in the 70th minute. New England’s Carles Gil swung in a cross, and Adam Buksa connected with a header to give the away team the lead. FC Cincinnati (1-4-1, 4 pts.) pushed forward and had various opportunities to find the back of the net.
Brenner ripped a shot from outside the penalty box, but the ball grazed over the crossbar. The most notable chance for the Orange and Blue came in the 82nd minute. Alvaro Barreal found Brandon Vazquez, whose right footed shot forced New England’s Matt Turner to make a save.
FC Cincinnati is heading into a break and will not return to action until Saturday, June 19 when the club hosts Colorado Rapids at TQL Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised on WSTR 64, carried on the radio on ESPN1530, streamed regionally on fccincinnati.com/stream, out of market on ESPN+, while an audio stream will be available via the iHeartRadio app.
Information about seating options at TQL Stadium is now available at TQLstadium.com. For more information about 2021 Season Ticket Memberships, which are now on sale to the general public, visit TQLstadium.com or the stadium’s social properties on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @TQLStadium, or by calling the team’s sales and service staff at 513-977-5425.
Milford, Ohio – On September 9, the Clermont County Port Authority approved issuing $30 million in lease revenue bonds to finance the cost of building a training facility and youth academy in Milford for the professional soccer team, FC Cincinnati.
Chris Hicks
Self-described “Taxpayer Watchdog” and candidate for Clermont County Auditor, Chris Hicks told Loveland Magazine, “This deal is pure crony capitalism. It raises taxes, the hotel tax, specifically to support one private, for-profit, company. It buys land using tax dollars for that company. It then has the government issue bonds to finance it all for the private company and then has the government own the land and buildings so the private, for-profit, company never pays property tax.” Hicks also says that the City of Milford gets no new infrastructure such as road or sidewalk improvements. and it actually makes the citizens of Milford liable for $43,000 to 47,000 per year for 20 years, to pay for the land.
Under the arrangement between Milford, Clermont County, and the Port Authority, construction materials will be also be exempted from paying Ohio sales tax, estimated to be $1 million.
A recent increase in the Clermont County lodging tax will also provide $223,000 a year to support the project.
Because the Port Authority is tax exempt, FC Cincinnati will not have to pay property taxes. It has negotiated annual payments with the Milford School District to help compensate for what they might otherwise lose, however, other public agencies whose funding derives from property taxes will not be made whole.
Under the agreement, the Port Authority will lease the 24 acres of land on U.S. 50 in the City of Milford near Interstate 275, and the facilities to be built, to FC Cincinnati for $1 a year. The bonds will be privately purchased by FC Cincinnati. The Port Authority will receive a one-time fee of $105,000 and an annual average fee of $9,000, most of which will go to support various county levies.
The vote was 4-1. Port Authority Vice Chairman Loretta Rokey the Administrator of Pierce Township; Fiscal Officer Sam DeBonis an Assistant Vice President of Park National Bank, and members Greg DeFisher the President & CEO, Freeman Schwabe Machinery, and Rex Parsons the Administrator of Batavia Township; voted in favor. Member Greg Simpson a Principal with Key Transportation Inc., voted against the resolution.
In a statement released by Clermont County after the vote, Andy Kuchta, Executive Director and Secretary of the Port Authority, offered the following statement:
The structure of the lease answers all of the questions related to what the economic impact will actually be and if it is worth the level of incentives being provided. The Port Authority will have the choice to not renew the lease every 360 days for any reason. This is not a 20-year deal but a 360-day deal, full stop.
Within the next 3-5 years there will be a comprehensive evaluation of the actual economic impacts and benefits once the facility has been constructed and operational for a period of time. If that evaluation determines the economic impacts have not materialized, the Port Authority will be able to substantially renegotiate the terms of these agreements or simply not renew them and return the property to a fully taxable status.
On Aug. 22, Clermont County Commissioners approved an increase in the lodging tax in the county, from 6% to 7%. The revenue generated by the increase in the tax, approximately $223,000 a year, will be used by Milford to pay for the land. Commissioner David Uible said that “As a businessman, I love this deal. Clermont County incentivizes the City of Milford to buy this property for FC with a 1% lodging tax. This will result in $7 million in additional spending each year. The clear winners are the City of Milford, the county as a whole, and all the citizens who call Clermont County home.”
Hicks says that the statement by Uible is misleading because the $7 million figure pertains to all soccer in the region, not from the Milford practice facility. Hicks says in a fact sheet he released on August 29 that even if credible, their own study lists the actual impact at only $1.6 million per year.
Hicks has previously said that the 1% tax increase was not enough to cover the cost of the land. “To fund $3.5 million for land, based on Clermont County Convention & Visitors Bureau estimates, the hotel tax needs to be at least 1.2%, leaving Milford taxpayers holding the bag for $43-47 thousand per year.”
In an analysis of the deals, Hicks says that County agencies that rely on property taxes like library, safety services, developmental disabilities, senior services, mental health, the Park District, Live Oaks, the City of Milford, and the County general fund will all lose the funds they receive now, $1,144,160, because when the FC Cincinnati site is developed there will be zero property taxes assessed. Hicks says that a $30 million development should pay $866,744 per year.
Commissioner David Painter, who voted against the tax increase, said at the time of the vote, “I didn’t think the return was high enough to fully represent the stakeholders of Clermont County, who are the citizens of Clermont County.”
According to the County, the 1% increase in the countywide lodging tax will “sunset” in 2038 or when the balance in the lodging tax account is sufficient to pay off the debt, whichever occurs first.
The $30 million soccer complex is expected to include a 30,000-square-foot training facility and a 6,500-square-foot youth academy. FC Cincinnati said they hope to complete the training facility by next summer.
The Port Authority decision represents the last step before the project can begin. FC Cincinnati also entered into agreements with the City of Milford and the Clermont County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Also according to the press release issued by the County, a study by Sports Facilities Advisory, a sports management consulting group based in Clearwater, Fla., estimated that the FC complex would generate “almost 65,000 visitor days” by out-of-town visitors and result in almost $7 million in direct spending annually. Hicks said, “Go deeper and find an economic study that has been misrepresented. It actually says a paltry $1.6 million in annual benefit will come from this site.” Hicks also claims that the economic study does not mention that FC Cincinnati will be selling “high dollar academy memberships for millions” as opposed to letting locals come and go as they please. “These type of facilities are money makers selling the ‘academy dream’ of your kid on a pro-soccer team,” added Hicks.
You can look at Hick’s August 10 breakdown of the cost of building the Milford facility: Massive incentives.
FC Cincinnati, whose owners were recently granted expansion status by Major League Soccer, will also build an estimated $200 million stadium in the West End of Cincinnati, which is expected to be open for the 2021 season. The team currently plays at Nippert Stadium at the University of Cincinnati. The City of Cincinnati is contributing 35 million dollars of public money to the West End Stadium.
Batavia, Ohio – Clermont County Commissioners today approved a 1% increase in the countywide lodging tax. The revenue generated by the increase in the tax, approximately $223,000 a year, will be used to support a new training facility and youth academy for FC Cincinnati in the City of Milford, near Interstate 275 and U.S. 50.
The vote was 2-1. Commissioners Ed Humphrey and David Uible voted in favor; Commissioner David Painter voted against the resolution.
Taxes on hotel-motel rooms in Clermont County will increase from 6% to 7% after Oct. 1. Under an agreement among Clermont County, the City of Milford, and the Clermont County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the revenue generated by the lodging tax would be remitted by the CVB to the City of Milford to repay debt securities of $3.5 million used to help purchase the property.
“I believe that the benefits from this deal far outweigh any tax incentives,” Ed Humphrey, President of the Board of County Commissioners, said. He noted that the City of Milford and the Milford School District were satisfied with their agreements with FC Cincinnati, and also that local police, fire and EMS said the new facility would not strain their resources, according to a press release issued by the County.
Commissioner David Uible said that “as a businessman, I love this deal. Clermont County incentivizes the City of Milford to buy this property for FC with a 1% lodging tax. This will result in $7 million in additional spending each year … The clear winners are the City of Milford, the county as a whole, and all the citizens who call Clermont County home.”
Commissioner David Painter, who voted against the resolution, said, “I didn’t think the return was high enough to fully represent the stakeholders of Clermont County, who are the citizens of Clermont County.”
The total property purchase price was $5 million, of which Milford is paying $3.5 million and FC Cincinnati is paying $1.5 million. The 1% increase in the countywide lodging tax will “sunset” in 2038 or when the balance in the lodging tax account is sufficient to pay off the debt, whichever occurs first.
The anticipated $30 million soccer complex will be built on 23.6 acres at the former Expressway Park location. FC Cincinnati hopes to complete the training facility by next summer.
A study by Sports Facilities Advisory, a sports management consulting group based in Clearwater, Fla., estimated that the FC complex would generate almost 65,000 visitor days by out-of-town visitors and result in almost $7 million in direct spending annually, according to the press release.
FC Cincinnati, whose owners were recently granted expansion status by Major League Soccer, will also build an estimated $200 million stadium in the West End of Cincinnati, which is expected to be open for the 2021 season . The team currently plays at Nippert Stadium at the University of Cincinnati.
Take Home Tano is about fresh, wholesome food for the frenzied family Our goal is to meet the needs of busy families
Proposed FC Cincinnati practice facility in Milford
Batavia, Ohio– The Clermont County Board of Commissioners will hold a Special Session at 7 PM on Tuesday, Aug. 14, in the Board’s session room to review a development agreement and draft of the Clermont County Port Authority preliminary term sheet relating to the proposed FC Cincinnati practice facility in Milford.
The Clermont County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), the City of Milford and FC Cincinnati will be asked to present the development agreement for the facility.
The CVB, FC Cincinnati, and the City of Milford have asked the Board of County Commissioners to approve a 1% increase in the lodging tax for Clermont County, which would raise it from 6% to 7%. The City of Milford has asked that the additional revenue be used to help repay city securities that will be used for property acquisition.
Commissioners said last year that before they voted on any increase in the lodging tax, they would hold a meeting to invite public input.
Commissioners are not expected to vote on the lodging tax on Aug. 14.
The County Administration Building is located at 101 E. Main St., Batavia. The Session Room is on the third floor.
According to FC Cincinnati:
FC Cincinnati has agreed to enter into an agreement, pending final local government approval, with the City of Milford, Clermont County, Clermont County Port Authority and Clermont County Ohio Convention and Visitors Bureau to develop a team training complex in Milford, Ohio.
Located on Lila Ave., off Rt. 275 in Milford and on the site of the current Expressway Park softball complex and adjoining property, the FC Cincinnati training complex is expected to fully operational by July 2019 and all site work is expected to be completed by the end of 2019. The FCC first team will relocate to the complex in January 2019 and will utilize temporary team facilities until the training complex is completed later in the summer.
RP Diamond is the exclusive retailer of LOVELAND HIGH SCHOOL SPIRIT WEAR Welcome to RP Diamond Printing & Embroidery located at 370 Loveland Madeira Road
Cam Louder and Anders Michelson when they were very young buddies
Two old friends find strength to achieve life’s dreams
through each other and their disabilities
Unbreakable Friendship…
by David Miller,
Loveland and Milford, Ohio – It all began 15 years ago in Mitchell Farm’s subdivision on a small cul-de-sac street with 20 kids. Directly across the street were seven more children. Altogether there were 27 kids running around the neighborhood every single day going house to house. It was a magical time and what formed were friendships beyond your imagination. Especially for two young men named Anders Michelson and Cam Louder. The age gap didn’t make much of a difference. They were glued at the hips from the beginning. They found each other humorous, but the real attraction was soccer.
Anders went to most of Cam’s soccer games. He rolled him everywhere in his walker in order for Cam to make goals.
What Cam and Anders didn’t understand during early childhood was that both would be significantly impacted playing sports because of their disabilities. Cam was born with cerebral palsy and as he aged his disability became progressively more difficult. At the age of 9, Anders was diagnosed with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. Cam recalls being very alarmed by the ambulances at Ander’s house when he would go into diabetic shock and the possibility of dying. On the other hand, Anders has agonized over Cam’s 17 surgeries and has been with him every step of the way throughout his journey.
“Anders and his family have always been a blessing in our lives and Anders and Cam have been a blessing to each other,” said Karen Louder, Cam’s Mother. Anders would steal Cam most evenings and take him to all the Milford soccer games. Karen remembers Anders coming to most of Cam’s Top Soccer games. He rolled him everywhere in his walker in order for Cam to make goals. “I was simply amazed by Ander’s energy and dedication to soccer. He was struggling with Diabetes and he still didn’t give up on himself or Cam” Anders has been an avid soccer player since the age of 3. Anders always dreamed of being a professional soccer player, unfortunately, his diabetes drastically interfered with his lifelong goal.
“Anders has been there for me every step of the way through my journey and I’m always going to be there for him,” said Cam Louder. “Anders and I push each to do the best we can and we feed off each other’s challenges.”
Persevering Through His Disability
Anders Michelson
Disabilities have a way of affecting a person’s development, confidence, and attitude at different times of their lives. At the onset of Ander’s disease, he weighed only 60 pounds. In one week due to high blood sugar levels and ketones, he lost over 25% of his body weight and dropped to a frail 42 pounds at the age of 9. High blood sugar had a direct impact on Ander’s energy level and physical capabilities and playing on the Milford A team was difficult. Unfortunately, the following season he was cut, but that did not stop him from chasing his dream. He continued to play a year up in age on the B team for 3 years and worked even harder. At the age of 13, he moved back up to the Milford A team. Although small in stature Anders had incredible speed and over the next few years he worked on his technical skills for dribbling and finishing the ball. He became a better soccer player, but size was still a roadblock as he was approaching high school. His teammates were growing at a much faster rate. Most kids were weighing 150 lbs and 5.6 feet tall on average. Anders was under 5 feet tall and weighed under 100 pounds. He couldn’t even lift the bench bar as a freshman in high school which was only 45 pounds. Anders had no alternative, but to play on the Milford JV team for 2 years. However, in his junior year of high school, he made it to Milford’s Varsity Soccer Team. His entire high school career was dedicated to working hard in soccer and academics.
Anders achieved 1st Team All-City and was awarded MVP of the 1st team All-City Game, Eagle Award, District Champions 2008 and 2011 and 2nd in Conference in 2009 and 2010
While playing with the Milford Soccer team he achieved 1st Team All-City and was awarded MVP of the 1st team All-City Game, Eagle Award, District Champions 2008 and 2011 and 2nd in Conference in 2009 and 2010. Anders was contacted by several colleges while playing Varsity, but he didn’t have the full confidence to go for his soccer dreams. His disease was still in the forefront and he wondered about the longevity of an athletic career and how diabetes was currently affecting his ability, weight, and size.
In college, he started playing pick up soccer and noticed his abilities increased. He actually grew more into his body than ever expected and this is when his regret of choosing not to play soccer sank in.
Over the years, Anders gained encouragement from his older brother Peter and he was able to consistently work out and gain muscle mass while attending Miami University. In college, he started playing pick up soccer and noticed his abilities increased. He actually grew more into his body than ever expected and this is when his regret of choosing not to play soccer sank in. Yet, his disease still had a grip on him and his diabetes was actually spinning out of control. His Doctor gave him the bad news of sustaining over time an A1C of over 10 (measure of average blood glucose over the past two to three months) which meant Ander’s diabetes was poorly controlled and will eventually lead to major complications, such as heart attack, stroke, blindness or eye damage, foot infections or amputation, or kidney damage possibly leading to chronic dialysis or even sudden death. Doctors warned him if he didn’t control his diabetes that his life expectancy wasn’t predicted to go beyond 10 years.
He’d wake in the middle of the night thinking about his fate of dying young and not playing soccer. That’s when his epiphany began.
After college Anders worked as a finance broker and continued battling the terrible progression of diabetes. After receiving the news about his A1C tests he had constant nightmares. He’d wake in the middle of the night thinking about his fate of dying young and not playing soccer. That’s when his epiphany began.
Soccer was the answer
With the full support of his family, Anders quit his job and began conditioning his body. Part of his conditioning plan was enrolling at Cincinnati State and playing college soccer. For the last year, he has been committed to grueling workouts which include a weekly routine of running 18 miles a week, 30 miles of bike resistance training, 6 hours of weights, 2 hours of abdominal work and 12 hours a week of soccer practice and games.
Anders and I push each to do the best we can and we feed off each other’s challenges.
He also trains and works out with his old buddy, Cam 6 hours a week at Five Seasons Sports Club. Anders goal is to increase Cam’s upper body strength for independence and to get Cam strong enough to walk with a Kaye Walker and out of his wheelchair. Cam said, “Anders and I push each to do the best we can and we feed off each other’s challenges.”
As if this wasn’t physically demanding enough, Anders also has a physical job working for his family business, AquaMarine Pools and Spas part-time.
What’s Next…
Looking back when entering college Anders was 5’10 145 lbs, now he comfortably sits at 6’1’’ 176 lbs. Doctors told Anders that if he could obtain A1C below a 7 his energy levels would triple. He thought it was impossible. Today Anders has achieved an A1C of 7.2 and feels the positive effects physically and mentally.
My goal is to prove that your disability is not an inhibitor, it can be a motivator, differentiator.
Perseverance has a way of paying off and now Anders will face one of his biggest challenges thus far; he has applied to the United Soccer League and is awaiting an invitation to try out for FC Cincinnati. He is refusing to allow diabetes to define him and is determined to chase down his lifelong dream of playing competitive soccer. Anders wants to become a role model for all people with disabilities. He said, “My goal is to prove that your disability is not an inhibitor, it can be a motivator, differentiator and improve your stamina and mental strength. I am beyond pumped up to prove my ability to FC Cincinnati.”
Wishing him luck, Cam added, “I’m thankful for Ander’s lifetime friendship.”
![[Alex Eicher Photo Album] MLS SOCCER: New England Revolution 1, FC Cincinnati 0](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/alex-fc-cincinnati-feature.jpg)
coming to most of Cam’s Top Soccer games. He rolled him everywhere in his walker in order for Cam to make goals. “I was simply amazed by Ander’s energy and dedication to soccer. He was struggling with Diabetes and he still didn’t give up on himself or Cam” Anders has been an avid soccer player since the age of 3. Anders always dreamed of being a professional soccer player, unfortunately, his diabetes drastically interfered with his lifelong goal.