CSNbbs

Brett McMurphy ‏@McMurphyESPN 20s
Cincinnati Board of Trustees approves $80-85M renovation/expansion of Nippert Stadium to be completed by 2015

Awesome!

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130.../306250096


The University of Cincinnati’s trustees this morning approved a $86 million expansion of Nippert Stadium.

The approval came even though the project’s cost has risen from the $70 million price tag when it was first unveiled in December.

The higher cost will be offset by the fact that there have been two donors step up with at least $1 million for the project and the athletic department’s ability to get commitments from people to buy nearly all of the new club seats that will be available.

Construction will take 12 to 18 months and will mean the Bearcats will play at Paul Brown Stadium for the 2014 season.

The expansion will include 18 Founders Suites that will cost $100,000 a year to lease. A skywalk from Tangeman University Center will connect to the new pavilion on the west side of the stadium.

The pavilion will be one story taller than the existing press box on the stadium's west side.

Technically, UC couldn’t sign contracts to sell or lease until the board’s approval. Athletic department officials got assurances from potential buyers ahead of the meeting.

UC Athletic Director Whit Babcock previously said that even with no private donations, selling three-quarters of the new seats would cover debt payments on the renovation. UC will borrow and pay off bonds as gifts and ticket revenue come in.

This will be good for when the Sooners and Longhorns come to play....

Last piece of the puzzle.

There is no question, based on academics, tv market, football pedigree, that Cincy is determined to be in a power 5 conference.

The availability of a pro stadium cinches their qualifications.

The only variable is when the ACC comes calling.

The only leftover school with a real ON CAMPUS stadium!

Santa Ono is the MAN.

Good for Cinci, bad for this conference.

Nice... congrats to Cincy fans... now fill it!

(06-25-2013 12:24 PM)wavefan12 Wrote: [ -> ]Good for Cinci, bad for this conference.

Why bad for the conference?

I absolutely love Nippert and I can't wait to see her post-renovation. I'm pumped!

(06-25-2013 12:24 PM)wavefan12 Wrote: [ -> ]Good for Cinci, bad for this conference.

for at least 5-10 years its good for The American

Good job, Cincy. I feel that both of our programs just need to continue to go about their business as marquee programs and never even think about adjusting to any so-called new reality. Keep building and don't look back and I hope UConn adopts the same attitude.

(06-25-2013 12:25 PM)IceJus10 Wrote: [ -> ]Nice... congrats to Cincy fans... now fill it!

I've always maintained that attendance for UC would not be an issue if the stadium was made adequately comfortable enough for a large crowd. Sounds like they are addressing these concerns. I am confident crowds will be significantly better as a result of the things they are doing on the east side of the stadium in addition to the massive press box/suite area.

(06-25-2013 12:08 PM)BE4evah Wrote: [ -> ]Last piece of the puzzle.

There is no question, based on academics, tv market, football pedigree, that Cincy is determined to be in a power 5 conference.

The availability of a pro stadium cinches their qualifications.

The only variable is when the ACC comes calling.

The only leftover school with a real ON CAMPUS stadium!

Santa Ono is the MAN.

I hope you are right my friend.

(06-25-2013 12:24 PM)wavefan12 Wrote: [ -> ]Good for Cinci, bad for this conference.

At the very very least we will be in the American for 3 years (and probably longer). I hope this motivates everyone in the AAC to continue to raise their program.

I really like the American. What I don't like is the TV payout and bowl situation. If those negatives didn't exist I would be satisfied to be with all the schools in the American.

(06-25-2013 12:46 PM)HartfordHusky Wrote: [ -> ]Good job, Cincy. I feel that both of our programs just need to continue to go about their business as marquee programs and never even think about adjusting to any so-called new reality. Keep building and don't look back and I hope UConn adopts the same attitude.

Agreed, Cincinnati and UConn deserve P5 bids right now but unfortunately circumstances worked against us. As long as both programs continue to invest into athletics as well as academics, they will find a home in the next decade or so.

Now Cincinnati can focus its attention on a new arena for its basketball team.

Sexy stadium.... we will have mirror set-ups for a little while.

(06-25-2013 12:46 PM)HartfordHusky Wrote: [ -> ]Good job, Cincy. I feel that both of our programs just need to continue to go about their business as marquee programs and never even think about adjusting to any so-called new reality. Keep building and don't look back and I hope UConn adopts the same attitude.

and for all the other schools in this league with tremendous upside...keep the ball rolling and we all will be just fine.

(06-25-2013 12:52 PM)stxrunner Wrote: [ -> ]

(06-25-2013 12:24 PM)wavefan12 Wrote: [ -> ]Good for Cinci, bad for this conference.

At the very very least we will be in the American for 3 years (and probably longer). I hope this motivates everyone in the AAC to continue to raise their program.

I really like the American. What I don't like is the TV payout and bowl situation. If those negatives didn't exist I would be satisfied to be with all the schools in the American.

How is everyone so sure that Cinci will be around that long? Who saw Rutgers and Maryland on the move? Nippert was Cinci's biggest weakness, particularly for the B12, now that has been addressed.