The unofficial online home for fans of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

https://gobearcats.com/news/2019/8/22/fo...ments.aspx

CINCINNATI –The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics announced several new, exciting fan experience enhancements to game days at Nippert Stadium for the 2019 football season.

"Our athletics staff has worked extremely hard this offseason to develop a number of new fan-experience elements to enhance the excitement of Bearcats football gamedays," Director of Athletics Mike Bohn said. "We've added almost 3,000 new season tickets this year, along with great interest from our outstanding student body, and remain committed to providing a customer-centric, world-class experience for all of our fans at Nippert Stadium."

Among the enhancements being implemented are:

New tailgating options
New sponsored social gathering spaces
New concessions items
New fans first pricing concessions stand
New fan experiences
New Cincinnati Bearcats app and light show
New season-long DJ for in-game entertainment

NEW FOR THE 2019 SEASON
THE SHOE TAILGATE
Following the overwhelming success of the newly renovated Fifth Third Arena, the Bearcats will open the best on-campus basketball facility in the country four hours before kickoff to serve as an additional tailgating destination for fans. The popular Armory Bar will be fully operational with domestic and craft beers on tap and mixed drinks served by licensed bartenders. Concessions will be available, and both the menu and drink offerings will be catered to the kickoff time. The Shoe Tailgate will be contained to the north and west portions of the facility, and it will close 30 minutes prior to kickoff. Admission is free and game tickets are NOT required to enjoy the tailgate as the arena is not located within the perimeter of the stadium.

On college football Saturdays, the massive Jeff Wyler Vision videoboard with its 3.9 million LEDs will be dropped down from the ceiling as games from around the country will be played on televisions throughout the arena. In addition to the Armory Bar, there will be fun family activities such as pop-a-shot and corn hole on the concourses.

Prior to the season opener against UCLA on Thursday, August 29, 700 WLW will host the "Eddie and Rocky Show" from 3-6 p.m. ET live from the Armory Bar at Fifth Third Arena. In the week leading up to kickoff, iHeart Media will hold several UCLA ticket giveaways on their airways, including both ESPN 1530 and 700 WLW. On gameday, there will be additional ticket giveaways for games later in the season. Fans will have the opportunity to win various Under Armour prizes throughout the show. Planned appearances at The Shoe Tailgate include ESPN commentator Pat McAfee, UC men's basketball head coach John Brannen and Director of Athletics Mike Bohn. Coach Brannen will be available from 5-6 p.m. to meet and greet fans, take pictures and sign autographs.

"The unique layout of Varsity Village represents one of the special hallmarks of Bearcats athletics," Chief Revenue Officer Brandon Sosna said. "Our challenge is to continually identify creative pregame opportunities to make our campus an all-day destination on game days, specifically in the absence of traditional tailgating options. The Armory Bar was one of the most well received components of the Fifth Third Arena renovation and given the proximity of the arena to Nippert Stadium, we are thrilled to build this exciting and innovative pregame activity for our fans, especially for cooler-weather games."

THE TRULY ROOFTOP
Located at the Wyler Terrace, a new social space has been created on the rooftop patio deck on the fourth floor of the Nippert West Pavilion. Sponsored by the Boston Beer Company – the parent company of recognizable brands such as Truly Spiked & Sparkling, Samuel Adams, Angry Orchard and Twisted Tea – the Truly Rooftop is the best pure entertainment destination in Nippert Stadium.

The Truly Rooftop, which includes both the outdoor rooftop patio space and an interior lounge, features comfortable furniture, high-top tables, and multiple televisions. The outdoor patio includes lounge furniture, high-top tables overlooking the field, and heaters for cold weather games, as well as various fun entertainment activities. Fans will enjoy direct access to the area via elevators in the north lobby of the Nippert West Pavilion.

The $76 ticket, an ode to Boston Beer's Sam '76, includes a premium all-you-care-to-eat buffet and two drink tickets. The Boston Beer Company will provide an assortment of beverage options, which will be highlighted by their Truly Hard Seltzer and Sam Adams Boston Lager, '76, and Octoberfest. The food menu will rotate game-to-game, but the buffet will feature items such as beef brisket sliders, Cincinnati chili dip, Italian sausage, and freshly-baked desserts. Soda and bottled water are included at no extra cost.

"The social experience is as important to the modern fan as any gameday amenity," Sosna said. "The Truly Rooftop will be an outstanding social atmosphere suitable for both individuals and large-group outings. At $76 per ticket, with an all-inclusive buffet and two drink tickets, this is a premium experience that is affordable for all fans. The sightlines and expansive stadium views are incredible. We expect the Truly Rooftop to be extremely popular, and we're thankful to our partners at Boston Beer and Bearcats Sports Properties for bringing our shared vision to life."

You must be 21 or older to purchase. Your game ticket will serve as your drink tickets.

Click HERE to purchase your spot on the Truly Rooftop. Tickets are available online through the single-game portal and are limited.

THE COORS LIGHT CHILL ZONE
Located just off Main Street on the plaza above the west side concessions stands, the new Coors Light Chill Zone will be the most vibrant social gathering space in Nippert Stadium.

Sponsored by Coors Light, the Chill Zone will feature multiple bars, various high-top and regular tables, and a perfect view of the Lindner Family Vision videoboard. The bars will serve both domestic beers and mixed beverages. The Coors Light Chill Zone is open to all fans in the stadium.

The Coors Light Chill Zone will be the spot for Bearcats fans to chill during the game with the comfort of knowing the cans will always be blue because the beer is cold!

FANS-FIRST PRICING AND NEW CONCESSIONS ITEMS
The 2019 Nippert Stadium concessions layout is highlighted by the introduction of two dedicated Fans-First Pricing concession points of sale located at the Frisch's location on Victory Plaza on the east side of Nippert Stadium.

FANS FIRST PRICING:

Chips: $1
Popcorn: $1
Hot Dog: $2
Cotton Candy: $2
12 oz soda: $2
12 oz domestic beer: $5
Brat/Mett: $5

The Nippert Stadium gameday concessions menu will expand in the 2019 season to include several new premium items, many of which were taste tested during the spring football event. Stadium View Café, located in the north end zone of Nippert Stadium, will showcase a variety of options throughout the season, to include cheesesteak dogs (hot dogs with cheese sauce), pretzel burgers (freshly grilled burgers on a pretzel bun), chicken twists (pretzel breaded chicken twists), and smoked pork BBQ (shredded pork over three-cheese mac & cheese). Additionally, crisp apple churros and popcorn loaded with Cheetos cheese will be available on the concourses.

Local favorites such as City Barbecue, Donatos Pizza, Frisch's, and Skyline Chili headline the concessions options. The craft beer lineup features Braxton, Great Lakes, Madtree, Platform, Rhinegeist, and Taft's.

For fans on the east concourse, the reimagined Great Lakes Beer Garden will be located on Victory Plaza next to the Trabert-Talbert Tennis Center. The Great Lakes Beer Garden will begin the season serving some of their signature craft beers, such as Oktoberfest, Great Lakes IPA, Dortmunder, and Burning River. There will also be high-top tables for social engagement and corn hole boards for in-game entertainment.

The Scholarship Club level, which is all-inclusive of food and non-alcoholic beverages, has a menu which runs the gamut from local favorites (Montgomery Inn - pulled pork, chicken and beef brisket; Skyline Chili - coneys and 3-way's; Grippo's Potato Chips) to stations for burgers, brats and hot dogs, walking tacos, and a rotating cast of snack foods and dessert items.

The 3M level for patio suite holders will feature a French Fry bar, pizza station, skyline bar, burger and chicken brat station, and snacks at every game along with a rotational selection of snacks, desserts and hot menu items, including a baked potato bar, taco bar, carving stations, pasta bar, grilled cheese bar, and beef and chicken kabob stations.

Also new for 2019, one of the most popular recent additions to the Greater Cincinnati pizza scene, Camporosso, will be serving their authentic Neapolitan pizzas on both the Scholarship Club and 3M levels.

EXCLUSIVE FAN EXPERIENCES
Saturdays are for the fans. Do you dream of walking through the Bearcats CatWalk at the Grid, running through the tunnel with the team on gameday or watching pregame from the field at historic Nippert Stadium? Now, every fan will have the opportunity to enjoy exclusive fan experiences.

The perfect gift for the special people in your life, fans can purchase exclusive gameday experiences online at the Bearcats ticket office website.

Initial experiences will include participating in the CatWalk tradition at the Grid, running through the tunnel and taking the field with team before kickoff, and watching warm-ups from the field. More experiences will become available in the future. Starting at $50, those experiences can be purchased HERE.

Fans who purchase these unique experiences will receive follow-up communication from Bearcats athletics staff. Due to NCAA compliance regulations, those ages 13-18 cannot participate. Anyone 12 years old or younger must be accompanied by an adult.

#LIGHTUPNIPPERT WITH THE REFRESHED CINCINNATI BEARCATS APP
The aura and atmosphere of Nippert At Night is unmatched in college athletics. Download the free Cincinnati Bearcats app from your mobile device app store to participate in the electrifying new light shows at Nippert Stadium later this season.

At kickoff, all of Bearcats Nation is invited to take out their phones, open the Cincinnati Bearcats app, allow the app to access your microphone, and hold all phones to the sky as a synchronized light show energizes Nippert Stadium.

The Cincinnati Bearcats app is the best mobile option for staying up-to-date on all Bearcats news, schedules, and video content. Mobile ticketing will arrive on the app later this fall.

Visit the app store to download the Cincinnati Bearcats app today! You won't want to miss out on the chance to #LightUpNippert for national TV audiences later this season!



CATSKELLER $2 GAMEDAY BEERS
Unique to the University of Cincinnati, Catskeller is an on-campus pub on the lower level of the Tangeman University Center, located on the west concourse with a gameday entry gate behind the Nippert West Pavilion. When gates open 90 minutes before kickoff, Catskeller will sell $2 beers. All ticketed fans are welcome to visit Catskeller before and during the game.

DJ ETRAYN
Cincinnati's most prominent DJ, DJ ETrayn, will be in Nippert Stadium for all six games this season, adding to the gameday atmosphere after contributing to the success of the inaugural season back in Fifth Third Arena during 2018-19.

Covers a few things we have been talking about for years on here. Reduced concession prices, fan zones, additional tailgating spots, reduced prices at concessions. I like it a lot.

(08-22-2019 02:45 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Covers a few things we have been talking about for years on here. Reduced concession prices, fan zones, additional tailgating spots, reduced prices at concessions. I like it a lot.

I was just thinking that.. a lot of what's been brought in this forum up has been implemented, down to letting fans join in the catwalk for a price. A lot more dedicated, social general admission areas, $2 beers in catskeller (which i firmly believe that and TUC in general isn't utilized on gameday enough.)

You can tell they're trying hard to reduce the number of reasons people have to stay home.

Obviously the $2 Catskeller beer is the big new here . : )

12 oz domestic for $5 seems better as well

Good improvements! I have to say UC has been very proactive in this next generation of on-site game day sports entertainment. Plenty of options for everyone.

Only excuse people may say now is parking which we all know is an absolute joke. If I’m with cheap people I know the spots on the side streets to go to. All under 10-15 minute walks. If I’m not with cheap people parking has never been an issue (5 minute walk). FCC proved the parking excuse away (Thank you for that).

I’ll hardly use any of these as I’m a classic tailgater, then go to the game, then go out afterwards if it’s a Saturday game type of person, but $2 beers at Catskellar? I wonder if that is going to be cheap beer to target students from hiding them coming in lol. That place is going to be mobbed regardless.

(08-22-2019 03:39 PM)natibeast21 Wrote:  Good improvements! I have to say UC has been very proactive in this next generation of on-site game day sports entertainment. Plenty of options for everyone.

Only excuse people may say now is parking which we all know is an absolute joke. If I’m with cheap people I know the spots on the side streets to go to. All under 10-15 minute walks. If I’m not with cheap people parking has never been an issue (5 minute walk). FCC proved the parking excuse away (Thank you for that).

I’ll hardly use any of these as I’m a classic tailgater, then go to the game, then go out afterwards if it’s a Saturday game type of person, but $2 beers at Catskellar? I wonder if that is going to be cheap beer to target students from hiding them coming in lol. That place is going to be mobbed regardless.

Fans (here) spoke and UC listened and responded. What a great concept! Excellent improvements. It will leave the chronic complainers searching for some new targets for their wrath I suppose.

I wonder what it would take to go Disney with an online ordering app. Take the ordering and money exchange out of the equation would greatly speed things up. I don't know if using it 6/7x a year could pay for the infrastructure.

(08-27-2019 02:06 PM)bearcat_df Wrote:  I wonder what it would take to go Disney with an online ordering app. Take the ordering and money exchange out of the equation would greatly speed things up. I don't know if using it 6/7x a year could pay for the infrastructure.

Disney has one already. You can use it at many quick service locations at Disney World.

(08-27-2019 02:06 PM)bearcat_df Wrote:  I wonder what it would take to go Disney with an online ordering app. Take the ordering and money exchange out of the equation would greatly speed things up. I don't know if using it 6/7x a year could pay for the infrastructure.

Include basketball games and other sporting events and you can probably justify it.