The University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees on Tuesday morning took the next step toward moving ahead with an $85 million renovation of Fifth Third Arena, unanimously approving $2.2 million in design funding toward the project. Fifth Third is the campus home of UC men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball since 1989, and the project will be financed by private funds.

"We're thrilled. This is a huge step," UC athletic director Mike Bohn said. "This begins the process for architectural design."

Construction is expected to begin immediately after the Bearcats complete the 2015-16 basketball season, with a target start of March 2016.

"From our standpoint, obviously, we're very experienced in our traveling," UC men's basketball coach Mick Cronin said, speaking before the Board of Trustees on Tuesday. "What I can tell you is that this on-campus arena would be as good or better, or maybe the best on-campus arena for competition in the country. This is truly state of the art. From a recruiting and competitive standpoint, this would be huge for us."

fly through rendering included in link.
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../32316051/

Seating will be between 11,500 and 12,000 (down from the current 13,176) but all chair backs, more luxury, and just FIRST CLASS no expense spared. It will be a GEM of an arena.

Looks great!

(08-25-2015 09:46 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  Seating will be between 11,500 and 12,000 (down from the current 13,176) but all chair backs, more luxury, and just FIRST CLASS no expense spared. It will be a GEM of an arena.

so what you're saying is...

Where will they spend next season? Cintas? That would be crazy getting in bed with Xavier!

NKU seems like a hassle to get to their arena.

Congrats Cincy!

Cincy isn't spending $85M on Nippert and $85M on Fifth Third for a future in the American Conference.

Same for Houston and their $128M football stadium, $25M basketball practice facility opening in a couple of months, plus $60M basketball arena renovation and $20M indoor football practice facility breaking ground ~ Spring of 2017.

No two G5 schools are spending more on facilities with the possible exception of Colo State and their planned $225M football stadium.

(08-25-2015 10:50 PM)NoDak Wrote:  Where will they spend next season? Cintas? That would be crazy getting in bed with Xavier!

NKU seems like a hassle to get to their arena.

We are not sure yet...options are:

US Bank Arena downtown (my choice)
Cintas (UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Cindy Gardens (LOL)
NKU Arena (not a bad option)

(08-25-2015 10:50 PM)NoDak Wrote:  Where will they spend next season? Cintas? That would be crazy getting in bed with Xavier!

NKU seems like a hassle to get to their arena.

It's just a few miles across the river. I live in an eastern suburb of Greater CIncinnati and can get to NKU in about the same time I can get to UC.

I would be shocked if they didn't play downtown at the riverfront arena. That makes the most sense.

(08-26-2015 07:47 AM)Dr. Isaly von Yinzer Wrote:  I would be shocked if they didn't play downtown at the riverfront arena. That makes the most sense.

That is my take as well but there seems to be equal groups who want either Cintas or NKU's arena

I can stomach NKU but not Cintas....it would be demoralizing to play on that court as "home". Pass.

I think they are working to negotiate the best deal for the university. I think US Bank Arena makes a lot of sense and I would not be surprised if all of this talk of playing at NKU, Cintas or the Gardens is leverage for negotiations with the ownership down there.

Not only that but there would be logistical hurtles to overcome at those places as well.

Cincinnati would not be the primary tenant in either of those other places so your schedule would likely be impacted in an adverse way.

I have no idea if there is even an anchor tenant at the riverfront arena but even if there is, it is easier to work around minor-league hockey than it is Xavier basketball for example.

Looks to be like the Pitt Arena...Pitt is a very tough place to play. Congrats to Cincy. Like to see you guys get in the ACC.

(08-26-2015 08:00 AM)TexanMark Wrote:  Looks to be like the Pitt Arena...Pitt is a very tough place to play. Congrats to Cincy. Like to see you guys get in the ACC.

It will be a new arena Mark. Pretty much all gets gutted to the exterior walls. Honestly, it is needed. 5/3 was designed as an all purpose practice facility. Even the the upper bowl with new club areas will be more appealing than the current lower bowl wood seats. Lots of open space in the concourses, 4 or so new club bar food areas.

(08-26-2015 06:35 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 10:50 PM)NoDak Wrote:  Where will they spend next season? Cintas? That would be crazy getting in bed with Xavier!

NKU seems like a hassle to get to their arena.

We are not sure yet...options are:

US Bank Arena downtown (my choice)
Cintas (UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Cindy Gardens (LOL)
NKU Arena (not a bad option)

You could always play a season in Millett.

(08-26-2015 08:59 AM)Love and Honor Wrote:  

(08-26-2015 06:35 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 10:50 PM)NoDak Wrote:  Where will they spend next season? Cintas? That would be crazy getting in bed with Xavier!

NKU seems like a hassle to get to their arena.

We are not sure yet...options are:

US Bank Arena downtown (my choice)
Cintas (UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Cindy Gardens (LOL)
NKU Arena (not a bad option)

You could always play a season in Millett.

I thought that was a library?

(08-26-2015 05:43 AM)CougarRed Wrote:  Cincy isn't spending $85M on Nippert and $85M on Fifth Third for a future in the American Conference.

Same for Houston and their $128M football stadium, $25M basketball practice facility opening in a couple of months, plus $60M basketball arena renovation and $20M indoor football practice facility breaking ground ~ Spring of 2017.

No two G5 schools are spending more on facilities with the possible exception of Colo State and their planned $225M football stadium.

The facilities all look great.

But we both know that facilities and on-field/on-court performance aren't what get you the invite.

(08-26-2015 09:16 AM)SuperFlyBCat Wrote:  

(08-26-2015 08:59 AM)Love and Honor Wrote:  

(08-26-2015 06:35 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  We are not sure yet...options are:

US Bank Arena downtown (my choice)
Cintas (UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Cindy Gardens (LOL)
NKU Arena (not a bad option)

You could always play a season in Millett.

I thought that was a library?

To be honest UC would probably get better crowds in Oxford than Miami does now. But with the recent renovations, it's no longer as dumpy as it used to be; just dated and lacking fans.

(08-26-2015 11:59 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  

(08-26-2015 05:43 AM)CougarRed Wrote:  Cincy isn't spending $85M on Nippert and $85M on Fifth Third for a future in the American Conference.

Same for Houston and their $128M football stadium, $25M basketball practice facility opening in a couple of months, plus $60M basketball arena renovation and $20M indoor football practice facility breaking ground ~ Spring of 2017.

No two G5 schools are spending more on facilities with the possible exception of Colo State and their planned $225M football stadium.

The facilities all look great.

But we both know that facilities and on-field/on-court performance aren't what get you the invite.

FWIW, UC has sold out its allotment of student season tickets (4,000). Today students picked up another 2,000 tickets for the season opener against Alabama A&M on 9/5. Here is a video from this morning: