The West End site was chosen in early 2018 and approved in April through a land swap deal with Cincinnati Public Schools.

FC Cincinnati was founded in 2015 and played its first three seasons in the second-division United Soccer League (since renamed the USL Championship) at Nippert Stadium, a college football venue.

After a successful first season in which the team's home games averaged 17,296 attendees, the club's ownership group began negotiations with Major League Soccer to bid for an expansion franchise.

[3] FC Cincinnati's management first suggested the possibility of building a new stadium in late November 2016, when the club hosted MLS commissioner Don Garber for a day-long visit.

During a town hall meeting held with club supporters that day, Garber suggested that Nippert was not a long-term solution for the team.

It was designed by Dan Meis, who envisioned steep terraced seating and homages to Allianz Arena in Munich, including the use of LED lights and a translucent ETFE roof, for use at the three shortlist sites.

[14][15] The club signed an option contract with the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority to acquire land in the West End neighborhood in January 2018, signaling their intent to choose the site.

[30] During the final negotiations for the West End site, a separate group proposed that the community benefits agreement be decided in a public referendum, but were rejected on the grounds that the city council used an emergency ordinance to approve the stadium deal.

Plans for 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2) in additional residential and commercial development along Central Parkway were scrapped in favor of opening the street with a pedestrian plaza.

[39] MEIS Architects was removed as the head architecture firm from the project by FC Cincinnati and replaced by Populous, a Kansas City-based company responsible for several MLS venues.

The new design revision, announced in March 2019, restored a reduced version of the orange lighting on the roof and exterior and expanded the canopy to cover the entire seating area.

[40][41] A grand staircase would connect the stadium's concourse with Central Parkway, while the exterior walls were redesigned to resemble a series of "ribbons" that wrap around the outer bowl.

[43] A zoning change to support commercial development on the Wade Street site drew criticism due to the potential displacement of at least 17 residents from the existing apartment buildings on the property.

[56][58] The original Stargel Stadium closed permanently on October 26, 2018, and demolition began the following month while the property was transferred from Cincinnati Public Schools to the club for $10 million.

[59] The new Stargel Stadium was built southwest of Taft High School and opened in September 2019 for the fall sports season after a month-long construction delay.

[60][61] A ceremonial groundbreaking for the TQL Stadium took place on December 18, 2018, attended by league commissioner Don Garber and local elected officials.

[66] Work was halted in early August due to two "racist incidents" involving subcontractors at the stadium site, resulting in mandatory anti-bias training for workers.

[73] TQL Stadium has a total capacity of 26,000 seats, which includes a safe standing space named "The Bailey" that holds 3,170 spectators.

The home team's spaces, which comprises a locker room, lounge, coach offices, training suites, and a warm-up area, totals 10,350 square feet (962 m2).

[80] FC Cincinnati announced plans in 2023 to build a mixed-use entertainment district on the north side of TQL Stadium with a hotel, music venue, housing, and restaurants.

[83][84] The capacity of the stadium was reduced to 6,000 for several weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic; season ticket holders in pods of up to four people were rotated between seats that were distanced apart.

[87] TQL Stadium hosted its first international soccer fixture on September 21, 2021, a friendly match between the United States women's national team and Paraguay.

[88] The first match for the United States men's national team was a World Cup qualifier played two months later on November 12 against Mexico that the hosts won 2–0.

[92][93] The stadium is located along Central Parkway, which splits the West End and Over-the-Rhine neighborhoods just northwest of Downtown Cincinnati, between John and Wade streets.