NEWPORT, Ky. -- The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce still wants to lure FC Cincinnati to Newport.
They've been using the hashtag #BuildItHereNKY on Twitter, outfitted divers in the Newport Aquarium with FC Cincinnati gear and brought in team general manager Jeff Berding to speak at an event last week.
@NewportAquarium is ready to #JoinTheMarch! The Aquarium would make great neighbors! #BuildItHereNKY #MLS2Cincy #RiseTogether pic.twitter.com/uLAfF7StwY
— NKY Chamber (@nkychamber) March 7, 2018
Berding is also scheduled to visit Northern Kentucky Friday, including the Brighton Center in Newport and Life Learning Center in Covington. The idea behind touring the nonprofits is to give team officials an impression of the impact they could have on the community if they build their stadium here.
Looking forward to my tour this afternoon to see up close the great community progress in NKY!Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce wants to bring FC Cincinnati to Newport https://t.co/R4k6Q1mM2o
— Jeff Berding (@JeffBerding) March 9, 2018
"They are very philanthropic," NKY Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Brent Cooper said. "They're very engaged in the community. They know how many FC fans there are on this side of the river. And we want them to see some of the good works that are happening."
Newport's Ovation site is one of the locations being considered for the team's future soccer stadium, along with spots in Cincinnati's West End and Oakley neighborhoods. Cooper said the view, tax incentives and the little opposition are advantages to picking Northern Kentucky.
"There is widespread support for having FC Cincinnati come here," he said. "It's not like on the other side, where some of the other locations, where there's been some real vocal opponents."
"3 Billboards inside Newport Kentucky” @JeffBerding #NKYOscars #BuildItHereNKY #MLS2Cincy #RiseTogehter pic.twitter.com/vT4bKnt5WE
— NKY Chamber (@nkychamber) March 8, 2018
Civic and business leaders are scheduled to join Berding Friday afternoon, including the mayor of Newport, the head of Northern Kentucky tourism and the head of Hofbrauhaus.
Cooper says they have a 33.3 percent chance.
"We think there's a lot to offer on that location," he said.
