Revision DateRevision Date

Intended Production DateIntended Production Date

5/01/2012

10/15/2010Resurrecting the “Cincinnati Celts”Resurrecting the “Cincinnati Celts”Bringing Professional Mens/Women’s Soccer to NE Cincinnati

The team colors were white, black and gold, and played from 1910-1921 - and declined a chance to enter the

NFL.

A Team of History

Cincinnati Celts FC: Professional Soccer Franchise

Cincinnati Celts FC

Shot Description text - i.e. “Scene 2b-1: Establish Mood”

Who Were the “Cincinnati Celts”Who Were the “Cincinnati Celts”

The Cincinnati Celts (pronounced with a hard C) was the first professional football team to play in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team played in the unofficial "Ohio League" and the American Professional Football Association (renamed the National Football League in 1922). The Celts were a traveling team, playing all of their APFA games in other cities' stadia. In its only season in the APFA, 1921, the team had a record of 1-3. For the entire span of the team's existence, the Celts were coached by Mel Doherty, who was also the team's center.

An early member of squad, and early NFL legend, George Roudebush, referred to the team as being ran “by a bunch of wild Irishmen.”

The team is credited for the first successful and strategic use of the “forward pass.”

In contrast to other Cincinnati sports teams, the Celts will be closer to families - based in the suburbs of the

Northeast

Changing the Local Sports Paradigm

Cincinnati Celts FC: Professional Soccer Franchise

Cincinnati Celts FC

Bringing Professional Soccer to the Suburbs

Overview of the “Cincinnati Celts FC”Overview of the “Cincinnati Celts FC”

Cincinnati minor league, professional sports teams have historically based themselves too far away from their target markets.Families wish to eat, shop, and spend their time in easy to access surroundings, and nearer to their homes.

Former and current Cincinnati Soccer options have typically not settled well and become a symbol of the local community - basing themselves in either downtown, near Xavier, or in industrial Wilder, Ky.

Cincinnati’s East and NorthEast side is the area’s hotbed of Soccer. Most families have children who participate and/or have participated in the sport. Select Clubs are flourishing. And the area is the home of former US National Team / World Cup winner Heather Mitts.

Cincinnati’s Heather Mitts holds annual soccer camps in

Cincinnati.

Families want closer sports entertainment

Cincinnati Celts FC: Professional Soccer Franchise

Cincinnati Celts FC

Quantitative Research is NeededQuantitative Research is Needed

Anecdotal research strongly supports that modern families are often hesitant about taking their children long distances - especially into areas that will require off site parking, or walking long distances, and/or are far away from areas where they can eat before or after the game.

Families want entertainment that is quality, fun, aimed at their kids, promote health and good sportsmanship, and at a low price.

Research shows that a professional sports franchise that would be located in the NorthEast areas (Montgomery, Blue Ash, Kenwood, Loveland, Mason, etc) would attract families from Anderson to West Chester - as well as soccer enthusiasts from the entire area (west side, Fairfield, etc).

Placing the franchise - in an attractive stadium near chain and independent restaurants and shopping - would create a “win-win” proposition for many families looking for entertainment - and businesses looking for expansion opportunities.

The Dutch Lions features a dynamic partnership with Dutch teams, an influx of local players and building

strong ties with Under-18 teams and a new Pro Women’s Team.

http://www.dutchlionsfc.com/cms/

Cincinnati Celts FC: Professional Soccer Franchise

Cincinnati Celts FC

Dayton’s Team also based its home in the wealthier suburbs

A Great Local Example and Future Arch-RivalA Great Local Example and Future Arch-Rival

Dayton Dutch Lions is an new professional soccer team based in the suburban Centreville-Bellbrook areas near the popular Dayton Mall. Founded in 2009, the team is joining USL Pro for its inaugural season. The team has already attracted a solid fan base, a women’s team, formed several youth teams, sports academy’s, held exhibition matches with MLS teams, and hosted talent scouts from some of the top European clubs.

The team plays its home games at the Miami Valley South Stadium, on the campus of Bellbrook High School in nearby Bellbrook, Ohio[2]. The team's colors are orange, white and blue. The team is supported by Dutch Eredivisie side FC Twente, and is co-owned by Erik Tammer of Tammer Sportmanagement and Mike Mossel of Business and Sports Performance.

Cincinnati Celts will explore avenues of sponsorship and “player sharing” with MLS

and/or with Scottish/English teams

The Steps to Opening Kickoff

Cincinnati Celts FC: Professional Soccer Franchise

Cincinnati Celts FC

Goal: Have a team ready for 2012Goal: Have a team ready for 2012

- Recruit team of energetic volunteer stakeholders to engage/produce quantitative needs analysis to prove the team’s financial viability - put out “feelers” for experts, and potential locations for the team.

- Stakeholder group recruits potential group of sponsors/investors, identifies all potential financing options, and potential tie-ins or associations with overseas teams. Partner with Dayton club for best practice models for “start up.”

- Formally approach locales and/or specific community’s with already a strong reputation as a “destination location” to be the official “Home” of the Celts. Identify areas for stadiums (for future expansion) and existing fields that could be used as a temporary home.

- Incorporate the business, develop a business plan, identify “experts” that will hold offices and corporate positions (business manager, head coach), secure financing.

- Fill out all required documents and paperwork and file with the USL. Hire sales and marketing person to begin securing advertising and sponsors.

- Finalize office and location for inaugural season (if stadium option cannot be exercised), host USL administrative officials and earn USL approval of business plan.

- Hire Men’s Team coach. Coach begins process for recruiting players and hold tryouts to identify local talent to feature. Coach will also broker relationships with local “Select” Teams and roll one system in as the “Youth Academy.”

- Begin major marketing strategy to bring in teams, fans, and to create strong ties between the team and the local community. Introduction of the professional women’s team will happen after first successful season.

In contrast to other Cincinnati sports teams, the Celts will be closer to families - based in the suburbs of the

Northeast

Changing the Local Sports Paradigm

Cincinnati Celts FC: Professional Soccer Franchise

Cincinnati Celts FC

The Cincinnati Celts FC franchise will be much more than “just a team”

“Cincinnati Celts FC” Franchise“Cincinnati Celts FC” Franchise

With vibrant youth academies all under the “Celts” uniforms, it will be easy to create a strong, enthusiastic fan base

Celts will feature a vibrant marketing campaign with merchandise for parents/fans to purchase - with theme of the Cincinnati Celts Football Club as being a Cincinnati original - and “bringing back a the tradition of the Football Club” - with a modern twist

Team nights and partnerships with local teams/schools

Camps for kids - and special academies and outreach initiatives to inner city areas where soccer and/or access to equipment is non-existent

There will ALWAYS be something going on in the CELT NATION! The field will be the “home” for games by the men’s team, women’s team, youth academy’s - and offer a home for other alternative sports that are blossoming in the area (Rugby, Australian Rules Football, Amateur Football, etc).

This constant energy will provide solid traffic builders for the area’s businesses - who will play an active role with the team and its marketing success

Go to http://www.youtube.com/user/thepmac42 to see potential Scottish League teams

Recreating a Cincinnati Original

Cincinnati Celts FC: Professional Soccer Franchise

Cincinnati Celts FC

Needed: Sports Marketing Enthusiasts and Researchers/Business Partners

ClosingClosing

The Celts use of the “forward pass” as an offensive weapon shocked other teams - that rarely, if ever, threw the ball.

The Cincinnati Celts FC model will be different from the ground up and ensure success by centering the professional sports team atmosphere in an easy to access suburban area - one that already has strong community ties and hundreds of youth participants enrolled into the system.

We will aim to create a professional sports environment that is easily accessible - one that openly promotes competitive excellence, sportsmanship and local, community service.

Through building quality programs we will fulfill the dreams of young student-athletes to become a healthy, smart, skilled soccer players. Our work with the youth in the community will create strong, permanent bonds with the team and community at large.

We know our franchise is successful when we see a stadium full of fans, watching winning mens, women’s and youth teams. The backbone of the franchise is the establishment of a vibrant youth system, with student-athletes who are succeeding with their minds and on the field.