What To Expect In The Bailey
Welcome to the Bailey! We are excited to have you join us on the Incline. As you will soon see, the Bailey is so much more than a section of TQL Stadium… it’s an experience, a community, and it’s unlike any other place in any Cincinnati stadium. That being said, we want to take this opportunity to help you know what to expect during your time in the Bailey. As a section designated for supporters and supporter groups, your experience in the Bailey will be different than what you’ve experienced at other sporting events. Simply put: This is not a passive observation section of the stadium; there will be people moving and chanting for the entire match. There will be moments of obstructed view when supporters wave flags. After goals are scored, you may be engulfed in colored smoke and may get some beer on you. This is how we love this sport and we hope you will love it this way too. If not, that’s ok, but, as this is what the Bailey is all about, we request that you find an FC Cincinnati team official and ask to be re-seated elsewhere in the stadium.
Dress
Everyone in the Bailey is encouraged to wear FC Cincinnati team apparel or team colors (Orange, Blue, and White). To promote a safe environment, wearing opposing team gear on matchday is strictly prohibited in the Bailey and is grounds for removal. Even if you are a visiting friend of a FCC fan in the Bailey, exceptions will not be made. Retailers are available throughout the area that can help you support the Orange and Blue.
Singing and Standing
The Bailey is a safe-standing section. There are no seats. All supporters will stand for the entirety of the match, from kickoff to final whistle. This is an active participation section; you’ve got halftime and the rest of your life to sit down. Everyone in the Bailey is encouraged to sing and participate in the songs. This can often include clapping, stomping on the metal floor, and dancing (it’s OK – no one in the section knows how to keep rhythm, so you won’t stand out). Follow along with the capos (the people on the front stands with the PA systems) and have a ball! Your voice will add to the environment that creates a strong home-field advantage for our Club. You can learn the songs here
Flags
Flags (of all sizes) will be waving in the Bailey throughout the match. Occasionally, this may result in an obstructed view for brief moments. If this becomes a problem, we encourage you to relocate elsewhere in the Bailey to areas with fewer flags. Please do not intervene with people waving flags or ask them to stop; flags are there to improve the environment for everyone.
Smoke
At set times during the match (for example, after an FC Cincinnati goal), specifically designated supporters are permitted to set off smoke devices. These devices are approved as safe for use by FCC and Major League Soccer and the smoke emitted is non-toxic. Please note, only approved supporters are permitted to utilize smoke devices, and any other individuals using smoke devices in stadium will be subject to ejection.
Tifos
Tifos are the large, supporter-created prematch displays that are done occasionally in The Bailey. The Incline Collective will communicate information about tifos to everyone prior to the match. West End Stadium is equipped with a rigging system specifically made for tifos. Tifos will usually go up immediately following the National Anthem. They will not be up for the entirety of the match, so don’t freak out if your view is impeded for the brief time it’s raised. Plenty of funds and manpower go into the creation of these works of art. They are created by hand, not just printed at Kinkos, so please let us know if you would like to help with future projects!