In retrospect, Melissa Bingle said booking 10 trips at once was a really dumb idea.
“I was not happy when that credit card bill came in the mail,” Bingle said, reluctantly. “You just get on the Delta app and it just lists them all out there for you.”
But the 2019 MLS regular-season schedule was out and Bingle, who only missed four games last season, told herself she’d attend every game in FC Cincinnati’s inaugural MLS season.
Already a Season Ticket Member in The Bailey, she committed to every away game, and other than two weekends in June, that meant attending a game every weekend from March 2 until this weekend at the D.C. United on Oct. 6.
Between those dates, that includes more than 26,000 miles flown – more miles than a trip around the planet (24,901 miles). Those 26,000 miles don’t include layovers.
So, why do it? Why make that commitment?
“I just want to share the joy of FCC,” Bingle said.
Photo provided by Melissa Bingle (pictured right)
Criss-crossing the country takes a lot of time and money.
Other than the LAFC away game in April, Bingle paid for every trip. (A business trip fit into the schedule that weekend.)
When it came time to find the right fights, she said her friend, who’s a travel agent, would help find the best deals on flights and hotels.
Not every trip was the same.
For some, Bingle flew the day of the game and came back the next morning. When possible, she went spent extra time visiting friends, like in New York City or Dallas.
She also never missed a flight.
“The few games where I flew out the morning of, there were no flight issues,” she said. “There’s been flight issues the day before, or two days early going to Montreal, so there fortunately haven’t been any games I’ve been worried about.”
For home games, the opener against the Portland Timbers was her favorite “for all the obvious reasons.” As for away trips, she loved LAFC.
“Everybody’s been nice at every stadium I’ve been to, but at LAFC they were just nicest people,” she said.
Photo provided by Melissa Bingle.
By traveling to every MLS match, Bingle has literally been to a game in all corners of the country.
In seeing every game, she’s also seen three different head coaches. In addition, no Orange and Blue player traveled to every game this season, and only seven of the FCC staff have traveled to all 17 regular-season away games.
She’s seen triumphant highs and lows. At one point midway through the season after a loss, she saw FCC goalkeeper coach Jack Stern at the airport and he offered optimism and words of encouragement.
“He’s like, ‘Stick with us, it’ll get better and better,’” She recalled. “I’m like, ‘Jack, my flights are all booked, so you’re stuck with me.’”
Because the Orange and Blue only have one game left, that means she stood in The Bailey every match ahead of Sunday afternoon when Cincinnati play at D.C. United.
Once the fulltime whistle sounds, Bingle said she’ll be proud of her accomplishment but sad the season’s finished.
So, what will she do with her free time?
“I’ve actually not gotten caught up on all the should that you should be caught up on, like Stranger Things and Orange is the New Black,” Bingle said. “I think that’s what I’m going to do.”
What’s her plan for games in 2020?
“If I have the same income that I had this year, I’ll probably keep doing it,” she said, without reluctance.
