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The Hamilton County Courthouse has become a main venue for a lawsuit against Ohio’s abortion ban.
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PHOTO: WARREN LEMAY, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS The Hamilton County Courthouse has become a main venue for a lawsuit against Ohio’s abortion ban.
PHOTO: WARREN LEMAY, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Abortion Care Providers See Short-Term Success with Ohio Courts Abortion Care Providers See Short-Term Success with Ohio Courts Testimony from an ongoing lawsuit shows the terrible toll of Ohio’s “heartbeat bill.”
BY MADELINE FENING
AHamilton County judge has temporarily restored abortion care access in Ohio until Oct. 14.
Judge Christian Jenkins issued an order Sept. 14 that temporarily blocked enforcement of Ohio’s six-week abortion ban; he then extended that order by another two weeks on Sept. 27, according to court documents. Until Oct. 14, abortion access within the state has returned to the standards in place before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Dobbs. V. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in June. Patients once again have the choice to terminate their pregnancy until 20 weeks’ gestation, or 22 weeks after the rst day of their last menstrual period. e rule Jenkins had blocked was Senate Bill 23, or Ohio’s “heartbeat bill.” e law banned abortion procedures upon the detection of a “fetal heartbeat” (medical experts say that this is not an actual heartbeat, but rather sporadic electrical utters) or around six weeks gestation, before most patients know they are pregnant.
AHamilton County judge has temporarily restored abortion care access in Ohio until Oct. 14. Judge Christian Jenkins issued an order Sept. 14 that temporarily blocked enforcement of Ohio’s six-week abortion ban; he then extended that order by another two weeks on Sept. 27, according to court documents. Until Oct. 14, abortion access within the state has returned to the standards in place before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Dobbs. V. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in June. Patients once again have the choice to terminate their pregnancy until 20 weeks’ gestation, or 22 weeks after the rst day of their last menstrual period. Jenkins’ block was part of Preterm Cleveland vs. Dave Yost, a lawsuit brought by various abortion providers in the state, who were represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio. In the ACLU’s motion, the clinics argue the six-week ban on abortion care is unconstitutionally vague and violates protections in the state Constitution that guarantee individual liberty and equal protection. “Since taking e ect on Jun 24, 2022, S.B. 23 has had devastating consequences on the health and well-being of Ohioans seeking fundamental reproductive health care,” the motion reads. e rule Jenkins had blocked was Senate Bill 23, or Ohio’s “heartbeat bill.” e law banned abortion procedures upon the detection of a “fetal heartbeat” (medical experts say that this is not an actual heartbeat, but rather sporadic electrical utters) or around six weeks gestation, before most patients know they are pregnant. Jenkins’ block was part of Preterm Cleveland vs. Dave Yost, a lawsuit brought by various abortion providers in the state, who were represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio. In the ACLU’s motion, the clinics argue the six-week ban on abortion care is unconstitutionally vague and violates protections in the state Constitution that guarantee individual liberty and equal protection. “Since taking e ect on Jun 24, 2022, S.B. 23 has had devastating consequences on the health and well-being of Ohioans seeking fundamental reproductive health care,” the motion reads.
Testifying against S.B. 23 Testifying against S.B. 23
A davits led in the lawsuit paint a painful picture of patients’ experiences seeking abortions on a near-impossible timeline, including evidence that at least one young victim of incest rape seeking an abortion was forced to ee the state under Ohio’s six-week ban.
Dr. Aeran Trick, operations manager of Women’s Med Center of Dayton, testi es in the a davit that a 16-yearold patient in southwestern Ohio “had become pregnant after being sexually assaulted by a family member.”
“ e girl was unable to have an abortion in Ohio due to the presence of fetal heart tones, so she was forced to go to Indiana to have an abortion,” the a davit reads (Indiana’s abortion ban went into e ect Sept. 15, but a judge on Sept. 22 issued a preliminary injunction, temporarily halting the ban).
Trick goes on to warn that out-of-state abortions could pose problems for local law enforcement investigating cases of rape.
“ e local Ohio law enforcement agency — which was already involved at the time the clinic was contacted about the patient — had to drive to our Indianapolis clinic to retrieve the tissue for crime lab testing related to the sexual assault investigation,” Trick testi es. “I am concerned that Ohio’s ban and the need to travel increasingly far distances to obtain abortion care not only causes
unimaginable harm to these young victims, but could also hamper law enforcement’s ability to investigate and prosecute these cases in the future.” Dr. David Burkons runs the Preterm abortion clinic in Cleveland. In an a davit, he cites an example of a young patient who sought an abortion when a medical condition related to her pregnancy threatened her ability to nish high school. “[O]ne young woman, who became pregnant near the end of her senior year of high school, su ered from hyperemesis (excessive vomiting) as a result of her pregnancy. None of the medication that she had been prescribed for A davits led in the lawsuit paint a painful picture of patients’ experiences seeking abortions on a near-impossible timeline, including evidence that at least one young victim of incest rape seeking an abortion was forced to ee the state under Ohio’s six-week ban. Dr. Aeran Trick, operations manager her condition was working, and she was so ill that she could not sit in a classroom without throwing up. e pregnancy was therefore preventing the young woman from nishing her schooling. She was hoping to end her pregnancy and obtain her high school diploma, but we had to turn her away shortly after the ban went into e ect. We later learned that she ended up in
of Women’s Med Center of Dayton, testi es in the a davit that a 16-yearold patient in southwestern Ohio “had become pregnant after being sexually assaulted by a family member.”
“ e girl was unable to have an abortion in Ohio due to the presence of fetal heart tones, so she was forced to go to Indiana to have an abortion,” the a davit reads (Indiana’s abortion ban went into e ect Sept. 15, but a judge on Sept. 22 issued a preliminary injunction, temporarily halting the ban).
Trick goes on to warn that out-of-state abortions could pose problems for local law enforcement investigating cases of rape.
“ e local Ohio law enforcement agency — which was already involved at the time the clinic was contacted about the patient — had to drive to our Indianapolis clinic to retrieve the tissue for crime lab testing related to the sexual assault investigation,” Trick testi es. “I am concerned that Ohio’s ban and the need to travel increasingly far distances to obtain abortion care not only causes unimaginable harm to these young victims, but could also hamper law enforcement’s ability to investigate and prosecute these cases in the future.”
Dr. David Burkons runs the Preterm abortion clinic in Cleveland. In an a davit, he cites an example of a young patient who sought an abortion when a medical condition related to her pregnancy threatened her ability to nish high school.
“[O]ne young woman, who became pregnant near the end of her senior year of high school, su ered from hyperemesis (excessive vomiting) as a result of her pregnancy. None of the medication that she had been prescribed for her condition was working, and she was so ill that she could not sit in a classroom without throwing up. e pregnancy was therefore preventing the young woman from nishing her schooling. She was hoping to end her pregnancy and obtain her high school diploma, but we had to turn her away shortly after the ban went into e ect. We later learned that she ended up in
the hospital on suicide watch,” Burkons testi es in the a davit. the hospital on suicide watch,” Burkons “We have had at least three patients testi es in the a davit. threaten to commit suicide,” Burkons “We have had at least three patients continues. threaten to commit suicide,” Burkons Stories of patients threatening to end continues. their pregnancies through dangerous Stories of patients threatening to end and deadly methods are found throughtheir pregnancies through dangerous out the a davit. and deadly methods are found through“A patient stated that she would out the a davit. attempt to terminate her pregnancy by “A patient stated that she would drinking bleach. Another asked how attempt to terminate her pregnancy by much vitamin C she would need to drinking bleach. Another asked how terminate her pregnancy,” Dr. Sharon much vitamin C she would need to Liner, medical director for Planned terminate her pregnancy,” Dr. Sharon Parenthood of Southwest Ohio, says in Liner, medical director for Planned the a davit. Parenthood of Southwest Ohio, says in the a davit.
Racing the clock
Racing the clockLiner says that in July, 60% of her Liner says that in July, 60% of her patients were turned away after an initial ultrasound, and 16% of patients who returned for the required second visit were turned away for detection of a “fetal heartbeat.” “Still, other patients who appear at their rst appointment to be eligible for an abortion in Ohio return to their second appointment after waiting the required 24 hours only to discover that fetal heart tones have appeared and that they cannot obtain care in-state,” Liner testi es. Burkons tells CityBeat that because he is involved in the lawsuit, he was able to give some patients notice about the possibility of a temporary lift of the six-week ban to help them make scheduling decisions for abortions. “People who were too far along when they called in, we said, ‘Hey, we think this [court decision] is going to happen,’ but we would also tell them about going to Michigan and Pennsylvania,” Burkons tells CityBeat. “Many of those people have come back in since the ban was lifted.” He says it’s been “all hands on deck” at his clinics in Cleveland and Toledo since the state’s “heartbeat” laws went into e ect in June. “We started staying open seven days a week when the ban went into place,” Burkons says. “ at extra day helps.” Kersha Deibel, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio, says in a Sept. 19 news release that the courts within Ohio have a responsibility to fully restore abortion care access. “Although we celebrate this temporary win, we know that true access to abortion care has not been fully restored,” Deibel says. “And while we welcome this important rst step, Planned Parenthood in Ohio will stop at nothing to ensure that Ohioans’ rights under their state constitution are upheld, including the ability to access reproductive health care.” e temporary ban on S.B. 23 is set to patients were turned away after an initial ultrasound, and 16% of patients who returned for the required second visit were turned away for detection of a “fetal heartbeat.” “Still, other patients who appear at their rst appointment to be eligible for an abortion in Ohio return to their second appointment after waiting the required 24 hours only to discover that fetal heart tones have appeared and that they cannot obtain care in-state,” Liner testi es. Burkons tells CityBeat that because he is involved in the lawsuit, he was able to give some patients notice about the possibility of a temporary lift of the six-week ban to help them make scheduling decisions for abortions. “People who were too far along when they called in, we said, ‘Hey, we think this [court decision] is going to happen,’ but we would also tell them about going to Michigan and Pennsylvania,” Burkons tells CityBeat. “Many of those people have come back in since the ban was lifted.” He says it’s been “all hands on deck” at his clinics in Cleveland and Toledo since the state’s “heartbeat” laws went into e ect in June. “We started staying open seven days a week when the ban went into place,” Burkons says. “ at extra day helps.” Kersha Deibel, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio, says in a Sept. 19 news release that the courts within Ohio have a responsibility to fully restore abortion care access. “Although we celebrate this temporary win, we know that true access to abortion care has not been fully restored,” Deibel says. “And while we welcome this important rst step, Planned Parenthood in Ohio will stop at nothing to ensure that Ohioans’ rights under their state constitution are upheld, including the ability to access reproductive health care.” e temporary ban on S.B. 23 is set to expire Oct. 14. expire Oct. 14.
Report: Cincinnati in Top 10 U.S. Cities for Largest Report: Cincinnati in Top 10 U.S. Cities for Largest Year-Over-Year Rent Increase
Year-Over-Year Rent Increase BY ALLISON BABKA
BY ALLISON BABKA
A new report claims that the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in A new report claims that the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Cincinnati is $1,283 – an increase of 26.32% over a year. PHOTO: EDOUARD BOSSE, UNSPLASH Cincinnati is $1,283 – an increase of 26.32% over a year.
PHOTO: EDOUARD BOSSE, UNSPLASH T he pandemic-fueled singlefamily housing frenzy may be cooling down a bit, but it seems Cincinnati rents haven’t reached their limits yet. According to a recent report from Rent.com, Cincinnati is one of the top10 U.S. cities with the biggest year-overyear average rent increase for August. Moreover, that spike is being felt by renters of both one-bedroom and twobedroom units. e average monthly rental cost of a one-bedroom unit in the Queen City is $1,283, an increase of 26.32% since August 2021, the report says. Meanwhile, monthly rent for a two-bedroom unit here is $1,537, a spike of 28.13%. Ohio is experiencing its own statewide spike. Average rents throughout the Buckeye State increased by 49.69%, from $633 per month in August 2021 to $948 last month for a one-bedroom. e jump for a two-bedroom in Ohio isn’t quite as large — 22.69%, or an average of $1,038 per month last year to $1,253 in August. Nationally, the average onebedroom monthly rent is $1,721, an increase of 27.13%. Two-bedroom units average $2,052 per month, up by 23.43%. Cincinnati’s 28.13% year-overyear spike for two-bedrooms is larger than the national increase. Rent.com says its ndings are based on data from its multi-family rental T he pandemic-fueled singlefamily housing frenzy may be cooling down a bit, but it seems Cincinnati rents haven’t reached their limits yet. According to a recent report from Rent.com, Cincinnati is one of the top10 U.S. cities with the biggest year-overyear average rent increase for August. Moreover, that spike is being felt by renters of both one-bedroom and twobedroom units. e average monthly rental cost of a one-bedroom unit in the Queen City is $1,283, an increase of 26.32% since August 2021, the report says. Meanwhile, monthly rent for a two-bedroom unit here is $1,537, a spike of 28.13%. Ohio is experiencing its own statewide spike. Average rents throughout the Buckeye State increased by 49.69%, from $633 per month in August 2021 to $948 last month for a one-bedroom. e jump for a two-bedroom in Ohio isn’t quite as large — 22.69%, or an average of $1,038 per month last year to $1,253 in August. Nationally, the average onebedroom monthly rent is $1,721, an increase of 27.13%. Two-bedroom units average $2,052 per month, up by 23.43%. Cincinnati’s 28.13% year-overyear spike for two-bedrooms is larger than the national increase. Rent.com says its ndings are based on data from its multi-family rental inventory. inventory.
A ordability in question
A ordability in question Nationally and locally, rental rates Nationally and locally, rental rates have increased while wages haven’t have increased while wages haven’t kept pace with in ation, which means kept pace with in ation, which means that people are paying a larger porthat people are paying a larger portion of rent from the same (or lower) paycheck. According to Realtor.com, the average monthly rent burden in Cincinnati in August for anything from a studio to a two-bedroom apartment is 21.3%. at’s up from a 20.2% rent burden at the same time last year. For decades, nancial websites have suggested that most renters keep their rent burden to no more than 30% of their gross income. Financial resources website NerdWallet explains in a hypothetical, “If you earn $2,800 per month before taxes, you should spend about $840 per month on rent.” NerdWallet notes that major cities and hot markets may demand a higher rent burden or special considerations, plus renters may have additional needs that eat up their paycheck, such as student loans or car payments. Ohio’s average two-bedroom monthly rent is $1,253, according to Rent.com. But a July 28 article from Bloomberg shows that a worker in Ohio would have to make $17.05 per hour to a ord that average. Bloomberg notes, “In every state in the U.S., the cost to rent a home exceeds their minimum wage.” According to a calculator from MIT, a single Ohio resident with no children would need to be paid $15.61 per hour to earn a living wage (the minimum income to meet a person’s basic daily needs). However, Ohio’s minimum wage is just $9.30 per hour. Federal minimum wage is just $7.25 and has been the same since 2009. In March, the 2022 Demographia International Housing A ordability Index from the Urban Reform Institute tion of rent from the same (or lower) paycheck. According to Realtor.com, the average monthly rent burden in Cincinnati in August for anything from a studio to a two-bedroom apartment is 21.3%. at’s up from a 20.2% rent burden at the same time last year. For decades, nancial websites have suggested that most renters keep their rent burden to no more than 30% of their gross income. Financial resources website NerdWallet explains in a hypothetical, “If you earn $2,800 per month before taxes, you should spend about $840 per month on rent.” NerdWallet notes that major cities and hot markets may demand a higher rent burden or special considerations, plus renters may have additional needs that eat up their paycheck, such as student loans or car payments. Ohio’s average two-bedroom monthly rent is $1,253, according to Rent.com. But a July 28 article from Bloomberg shows that a worker in Ohio would have to make $17.05 per hour to a ord that average. Bloomberg notes, “In every state in the U.S., the cost to rent a home exceeds their minimum wage.” According to a calculator from MIT, a single Ohio resident with no children would need to be paid $15.61 per hour to earn a living wage (the minimum income to meet a person’s basic daily needs). However, Ohio’s minimum wage is just $9.30 per hour. Federal minimum wage is just $7.25 and has been the same since 2009. In March, the 2022 Demographia International Housing A ordability Index from the Urban Reform Institute and the Frontier Centre for Public and the Frontier Centre for Public Policy found that Cincinnati had the Policy found that Cincinnati had the ninth-most a ordable housing market as of the third quarter of 2021. at’s after comparing 92 major markets in eight countries. e report considered housing to be “a ordable” only when its median multiple was at or below 3.0 (the median multiple is “a price-to-income ratio, which is the median house price divided by the gross median household income,” the report explains). Cincinnati’s median multiple in that report was 3.8, which was classi ed as “moderately una ordable.” e only reason Cincinnati ranked in the top 10 of a ordability was because other cities were much worse; Pittsburgh was the only city under the “a ordable” threshold of 3.0 for that time period. “In a well-functioning market, the median priced house should be a ordable to a large portion of middle-income households, as was overwhelmingly the case a few decades ago,” the report asserted. e index was ranked primarily on income in relation to housing prices, a situation that started becoming unsustainable several years back and has worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020. And the Urban Reform Institute and the Frontier Centre for Public Policy said in March that the crisis wasn’t over. “ e number of severely una ordable markets rose 60% in 2021 compared to 2019, the last pre-pandemic year,” the report said. In 2019, the United States had 14 severely una ordable housing markets; that number jumped to 27 in 2021. e report added that the combination of high-income shoppers buying larger houses further from urban cores due to working from home during the COVID years, plus supply-chain issues that slowed the construction of new housing, have contributed heavily to the disruption in a ordability. In the June 19 episode of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, comedian and host John Oliver noted that Cincinnati experienced a rent hike of 30% during the previous month, leaving many residents priced out of their homes. “With rents being squeezed across the board, and protections few and far between, lower-income renters are, obviously, the most vulnerable,” Oliver said. “Even before the [COVID-19] pandemic struck, 23 million people lived in households that paid more than half their income on rent and utilities, which is just not sustainable ninth-most a ordable housing market as of the third quarter of 2021. at’s after comparing 92 major markets in eight countries. e report considered housing to be “a ordable” only when its median multiple was at or below 3.0 (the median multiple is “a price-to-income ratio, which is the median house price divided by the gross median household income,” the report explains). Cincinnati’s median multiple in that report was 3.8, which was classi ed as “moderately una ordable.” e only reason Cincinnati ranked in the top 10 of a ordability was because other cities were much worse; Pittsburgh was the only city under the “a ordable” threshold of 3.0 for that time period. “In a well-functioning market, the median priced house should be a ordable to a large portion of middle-income households, as was overwhelmingly the case a few decades ago,” the report asserted. e index was ranked primarily on income in relation to housing prices, a situation that started becoming unsustainable several years back and has worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020. And the Urban Reform Institute and the Frontier Centre for Public Policy said in March that the crisis wasn’t over. “ e number of severely una ordable markets rose 60% in 2021 compared to 2019, the last pre-pandemic year,” the report said. In 2019, the United States had 14 severely una ordable housing markets; that number jumped to 27 in 2021. e report added that the combination of high-income shoppers buying larger houses further from urban cores due to working from home during the COVID years, plus supply-chain issues that slowed the construction of new housing, have contributed heavily to the disruption in a ordability. In the June 19 episode of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, comedian and host John Oliver noted that Cincinnati experienced a rent hike of 30% during the previous month, leaving many residents priced out of their homes. “With rents being squeezed across the board, and protections few and far between, lower-income renters are, obviously, the most vulnerable,” Oliver said. “Even before the [COVID-19] pandemic struck, 23 million people lived in households that paid more than half their income on rent and utilities, which is just not sustainable for anyone.” for anyone.”
New Ad: Cincinnati Republican Steve Chabot Is Watching Your Bedroom Antics
BY ALLISON BABKA
Big Brother is always watching — including when you’re in the bedroom. at’s the message behind ads targeting a handful of right-wing Republicans who have signaled an intent to prohibit contraceptives, including U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, who represents the 1st Congressional District that encompasses much of Cincinnati. Separate ads, also developed by the Democratsupporting Progress Action Fund, use the same script and actors but target Ken Calvert of California’s 42nd District and Mike Garcia of California’s 25th District (due to recent redistricting, Calvert and Garcia are running for the state’s 41st and 27th districts, respectively).
In the ad — which began circulating in September — a man and woman passionately kiss in bed, wearing only their underwear. “Do you have a condom?” the woman asks. e man a rms that he does and opens the drawer of a nearby nightstand, reaching for the condom.
Suddenly, a hand snatches away the rubber, causing the couple to yelp and cover up with a sheet. e camera cuts to a much older, white-haired man, who creepily says, “Sorry, you can’t use those.”
“What are you talking about? Who are you?” the woman demands.
“I’m your Republican Congressman. Now that we’re in charge, we’re banning birth control,” he replies calmly. e woman is clearly confused and disgusted. “ is is our decision, not yours! Get out of our bedroom!” she tells him.
“I won the last election. I’m not going anywhere,” he says matter-of-factly. “I’m just going to watch and make sure you don’t do anything [dramatic pause] illegal.”
In an emailed release, Progress Action Fund says its ads targeting Chabot, Calvert and Garcia are part of a “mid six- gure ad buy that will run on connected TVs, streaming services and online platforms.”
“Republicans are not the party of small government. ey want to invade the bedroom of every American and take away their birth control,” Joe Jacobson, founder and executive director of the Progress Action Fund, says in the release. “ e GOP should really stand for ‘Grand Old Perverts.’” e ad is available on YouTube.
Progress Action Fund has gone after Chabot in the past. An August ad from the Super PAC highlights Chabot’s support for restrictions or bans on abortion care and says Chabot “supports putting women in prison for abortion.”
“But Republicans won’t stop there. ey support eliminating our right to contraceptives, our right to healthcare and our right to marry who we love,” the voiceover says.
On his government website, Chabot includes “protecting the unborn” as one of his key issues. According to Just Facts, a database of politicians’ votes, Chabot has voted multiple times against measures that would protect the right to contraception and to abortion care. is year, he voted against the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would prohibit federal, state and local restrictions and impediments to abortion care. He also voted against a similar measure that protects access to out-of-state abortions.
In the wake of the conservativeleaning U.S. Supreme Court’s June 24 overturning of Roe v. Wade, abortion continues to be a big issue leading up to the Nov. 8 election. Some observers fear that other rights are seemingly being teed up for reversal, including the right to contraception, LGBTQ+ marriage and healthcare, among others.
Chabot is running against Cincinnati City Council member Greg Landsman, a Democrat, in the election.
CityBeat has reached out to both Chabot and Landsman with questions about the bedroom ad as well as their stances on contraception. We did not receive responses as of press time.
TQL Stadium Named Best Across the Globe at World Football Summit
BY ALLISON BABKA
TQL Stadium lights up before opening to the public in early 2021.
PHOTO: FRANCISCO HUERTA JR.
TQL Stadium is less than two years old, but it already has had some impressive moments. e most recent? Being named the best venue in the entire world.
Bi-monthly sports venue publication Mondo|Stadia named TQL Stadium as “Best Venue” for 2022 at the World Football Summit on Sept. 28. In addition to being home to Major League Soccer team FC Cincinnati, the publication noted, the stadium is also a bridge between two of Cincinnati’s neighborhoods.
“ e design of TQL Stadium intentionally harnesses the energy of a dedicated fan base to bring a worldclass soccer experience to Cincinnati,” Mondo|Stadia said. “ e new, state-of-the-art venue boasts a striking presence, connecting two historic neighborhoods — Over-the-Rhine and the West End — and honoring the legacy of soccer in the Queen City through a progressive design and ambitious interpretation of a Cincinnati on the rise.”
A judging panel selected TQL Stadium as the winner based on fan experience, technological advances, match-day operations, personalized attention and catering, a release says.
“We built TQL Stadium to be a world-class MLS stadium which would proudly represent Cincinnati across the nation and on the world stage,” Je Berding, co-CEO of FC Cincinnati, said in the release. “It is an honor to receive this prestigious global recognition.”
FC Cincinnati became the 24th team to enter the MLS as a professional soccer team in 2019. Before that, the team played in the second-division United Soccer League (USL) from 2016 to 2018.
TQL Stadium opened in the West End in 2021 after beginning construction in 2018 at a cost of more than $200 million and leveling neighborhood blocks near Central Avenue. e stadium has the capacity for about 26,000 fans and is named for Total Quality Logistics, a large freight brokerage rm based in Cincinnati.
FC Cincinnati played Inter Miami FC during the rst match at TQL Stadium on May 16, 2021.
A growing soccer city
In 2021, WalletHub said Cincinnati was one of the best soccer cities in the United States, landing at No. 16 on the nancial website’s list.
Later that year, TQL Stadium played host to the United States Men’s National Soccer Team’s 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Mexico. e United States Women’s National Soccer Team (featuring Cincinnati’s own Olympian Rose Lavelle) also trounced Paraguay during an international friendly there.
e USMNT match was central to the region’s biggest tourism weekend since the onset of COVID19 in early 2020, regional o cials said shortly after the game. Cincinnati was among many North American cities vying to host FIFA World Cup matches in 2026, a multi-year bid the region had launched back in 2017. ough FIFA ultimately did not select the Queen City, the 2026 Cincy Local Organizing Committee has indicated that it will pursue future World Cup opportunities.
Winning ways
FC Cincinnati set the league’s longest unbeaten streak on Sept. 27 — 11 consecutive games without a loss at that point (the team fell to Chicago on Oct. 1).
Moreover, the team’s captain and attacking mid elder Luciano Acosta and forward Brandon Vasquez played in Major League Soccer’s 2022 All-Star Game in August — the rst time any member of Cincinnati’s club had been invited to the match in the league’s 26 installments.
FC Cincinnati (11-13-8) will hit the road for the season’s nal match against D.C. United in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 9.
Cincinnati Bengals Make History with White Helmets, Franchise Record Crowd
BY ALLISON BABKA
Paycor Stadium is decked out in white for the Cincinnati Bengals’ game against the Miami Dolphins.
PHOTO: TWITTER.COM/BENGALS
Bengals players celebrate a win.
PHOTO: TWITTER.COM/BENGALS Joe Burrow sports the Bengals’ white helmet and jersey.
PHOTO: TWITTER.COM/BENGALS
For years, Cincinnati Bengals fans have begged for white helmets. Now it’s nally happened.
When the Bengals took on the Miami Dolphins at Paycor Stadium on Sept. 29 as part of the nationally televised “ ursday Night Football,” they sported a new look that’s going straight into the history books: white helmet, white jerseys and white pants, all with black stripes. e Bengals announced in July that the team would introduce a white tiger-style helmet into the mix for the 2022-2023 season as an option alongside its classic orange headgear. A short time later, o cials said that a new white “color rush” jersey would premiere, as well.
In January 2021, the NFL nally lifted a long-held rule that had prohibited secondary helmets, with 2022 as the new gear’s rst season on the eld. e alternate helmets must be identical to primary helmets except for color and must be worn during practices before the games in which they’ll be used, the league says. e “white Bengal” look seemed to help the team during the game against the Dolphins, with the Bengals winning 27-15 in front of 67,260 fans – the team’s largest crowd in history.
“Unbelievable. When [Bengals head coach] Zac [Taylor] told us it was the largest crowd ever, that speak volumes to the crowd,” middle linebacker Logan Wilson told reporters after the game. “We felt the crowd, especially in that rst quarter when they burned two timeouts because they couldn’t communicate with each other. at’s big time for us on defense. We feed o of that.”
Until this game, the Dolphins had been undefeated. e Bengals now are 2-2 and the Dolphins are 3-1 on the regular season. is was the second consecutive win for the Bengals.
During halftime, the team inducted o ensive tackle Willie Anderson and wide receiver Isaac Curtis into the Bengals’ Ring of Honor. ey join Paul Brown, Ken Anderson, Anthony Muñoz and Ken Riley, who were inducted as the inaugural class in 2021. e Ring of Honor recognizes former players, coaches and individuals who have signi cantly a ected the franchise. e Bengals’ next game will be on the road against the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 9. NBC will nationally broadcast the battle.
