CINCINNATI - First Financial Bank (“First Financial”, Nasdaq: FFBC) is the first FC Cincinnati partner to officially align itself with a naming rights opportunity to West End Stadium, the club’s world-class stadium that is set to open in Spring 2021.
First Financial Bank is the newly named partner for the expansive east premium club space at West End Stadium, which will be called the First Financial Club moving forward. Full details and renderings of the stadium’s premium offerings – including the First Financial Club – will be released to the public soon.
Located on the east side of the stadium, the First Financial Club will be the largest club at West End Stadium with more than 2,100 seats, which will run along the sideline and offer the best sightlines of all east side seat locations. With one of the most unique premium space design concepts in North American sports facilities, the space will resemble a beer hall as a nod to Cincinnati’s rich brewing history and tradition.
The First Financial Club should prove to be a popular option for fans looking for their entry into a premium season membership experience, or fans who prefer an upgraded match day experience over reserved seating. The First Financial Club will also be available for private events and gatherings on non-event days.
“First Financial Bank is thrilled that our name will be prominently associated with one of the most exciting fan experiences available at the new West End Stadium,” said Archie Brown, president and chief executive officer of First Financial Bank. “We are a proud supporter of FC Cincinnati and look forward to helping our community come together again in the spirit of camaraderie and appreciation for the great game of soccer and our hometown team.”
“First Financial Bank has been a fantastic partner for FC Cincinnati and is dedicated to being a community leader,” Vince Cicero, FC Cincinnati senior vice president of partnerships and broadcasting, said. “The company strives to be ahead of the curve in their business with us, but also in their attention to their customers and greater community. It’s no surprise they aligned with the creative and impactful space that consumers will enjoy in the First Financial Club.”
First Financial Bank became an official FC Cincinnati cornerstone partner on Jan. 15, 2019, when they entered into a multiple-year agreement to become the club’s Exclusive Banking and Financial Services Partner. The agreement includes both club and stadium assets – at Nippert Stadium and at West End Stadium when it opens – as well as community programming, fan experiences, game day and in-game activations and consumer banking programs, including a specially branded FC Cincinnati debit card.
Among other public-facing elements of the partnership are a First Financial Gate at both Nippert Stadium on FCC game days and a permanent gate at West End Stadium. The new stadium’s gate announcements will be made in the future as construction continues.
First Financial Bank is a full-service financial institution headquartered in Cincinnati which operates 145 banking centers in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois. First Financial Bank combines world-class financial expertise with personal customer service that builds lifelong relationships. For more information about products and offers related to FC Cincinnati, visit bankatfirst.com/fccincinnati.
First Financial is also one of the club’s construction financing partners.
Regular updates about West End Stadium are available at westendstadium.com, as well as the stadium’s social media profiles: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
About West End Stadium
When West End Stadium opens in Spring 2021, FC Cincinnati’s future home is expected to be one of the most ambitious soccer-specific stadiums in not only North America, but the world. Critically acclaimed firm Populous designed an innovative and forward-thinking stadium that will be one of the largest soccer-specific facilities in Major League Soccer. The $250M privately funded stadium will have a 26,000 capacity, with the closest seats within 15 feet of the field. The design includes 53 traditional suites and 4,500 premium seats throughout four premium club spaces. Additionally, the team’s famous supporters’ section, The Bailey, will grow to be more than 3,100 strong and loom over opponents at a 34-degree angle at the stadium’s north end. A 360-degree canopy roof will cover every seat in the stadium, but still allow sufficient sun in to grow a natural grass field. The stadium will have five team locker rooms, including a comprehensive team suite for FC Cincinnati that features a dressing room, coaches offices, lounge, equipment storage and the Mercy Health Center of Excellence for the team’s medical and game day fitness needs. West End Stadium will meet all current requirements to host CONCACAF and FIFA events, featuring top national teams from around the world, including the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams, as well as the world’s top club teams for friendlies. | More information about the stadium is available at Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, or visit the stadium’s website.
About First Financial Bancorp.
First Financial Bancorp. is a Cincinnati, Ohio, based bank holding company. As of March 31, 2020, the Company had $15.1 billion in assets, $9.3 billion in loans, $10.6 billion in deposits and $2.2 billion in shareholders’ equity. The Company’s subsidiary, First Financial Bank, founded in 1863, provides banking and financial services products through its six lines of business: Commercial, Retail Banking, Investment Commercial Real Estate, Mortgage Banking, Commercial Finance and Wealth Management. These business units provide traditional banking services to business and retail clients. Wealth Management provides wealth planning, portfolio management, trust and estate, brokerage and retirement plan services and had approximately $2.6 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2020. The Company operated 145 full service banking centers as of March 31, 2020, primarily in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, while the Commercial Finance business lends into targeted industry verticals on a nationwide basis. Additional information about the Company, including its products, services and banking locations, is available at www.bankatfirst.com.
About FC Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati is a professional soccer team that plays in Major League Soccer, having entered the league as its 24th team in 2019. The club’s wide and diverse ownership group is led by controlling owner Carl H. Lindner III, as well as managing owners Meg Whitman, Scott Farmer, and George Joseph. Originally founded in 2015 by Lindner III and current president Jeff Berding, FCC played in the second-division United Soccer League (USL) from 2016 to 2018 before moving to MLS. The team currently plays its home games at the historic Nippert Stadium on the campus of the University of Cincinnati, while its $250 million, privately funded, 26,000-seat soccer-specific stadium is constructed in the West End neighborhood of Cincinnati. The world-class stadium is expected to open in Spring 2021. | Follow the team on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, or visit the club’s official website: fccincinnati.com.
