Press Release

FC Cincy senior account executive tabbed to “Rising 25”

courtney 25

CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati senior account executive Courtney Steele has earned a place on Front Office Sports’ Rising 25 Class of 2020. Front Office Sports has named its top 25 sports business professionals aged 25 and younger annually since 2017.


Steele, 24, joined FCC as a part-time sales representative in 2017 after graduating from the University of Cincinnati. In her almost three years with the Orange and Blue, she has earned a full-time role as an account executive, and most recently her promotion as the senior account executive on the service staff. 


“We’re so proud of Courtney,” Jeff Smith, FC Cincinnati senior vice president of ticket sales and service, said. “She is highly motivated, detailed orientated, and resilient young professional looking to make an impact. In just a short time with us, her impact has been immense and she has a bright future in our industry.”


In 2019 as FC Cincinnati transitioned to Major League Soccer, Steele posted the fourth-highest sales total in the entire league. Also in 2019, she aided the entire club’s game entertainment delivery by expanding the pre-match tailgate series, which saw a 200% year-over-year growth from 2018. In her first two full seasons with FC Cincinnati, her personal ticket sales were just shy of $1 million – which also helped the club finished third overall in average attendance in 2019 as a first-year MLS team after topping the United Soccer League in 2018 with a record-setting average attendance.


Steele also has prior professional experience at the Kentucky Speedway, University of Cincinnati Athletics and the Cincinnati Bengals, all focusing in ticketing and game day/event marketing.


For ongoing updates, please stay up-to-date by following the club’s social media accounts at @FCCincinnati or visiting fccincinnati.com. For the club’s on-going updates related to the current public health crisis, please visit fccincinnati.com/season-suspension-updates.