Athletics Launches Fifth Third Arena Renovation Website
Oct. 27, 2016
CINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics has launched a website for the upcoming Fifth Third Arena Renovation titled OurHouse2018.com.
The website, created in conjunction with the University’s Office of Creative Services, was developed to provide Bearcats fans current and up-to-date information on the arena construction project which is already underway.
Four 18-seat baseline suites have been built on the sixth floor of the arena and will be ready for the fast approaching 2016-17 campaign. Full construction will begin in March 2017 with the new arena making its debut for 2018-19 season.
OurHouse2018.com features an updated fly-through of the arena renovations, new renderings and information for those interested in purchasing tickets, premium seating or making a donation to the $87-million privately-funded project.
Season tickets are selling at a record pace for the 2016-17 men’s basketball campaign and are available through the athletics ticket office by calling 1-877-CATS-TIX or visiting GoBearcats.com/tickets. Packages start at $125 or $6.58 per game. Season-ticket holders for the receive a 68 percent savings over single-game ticket prices and will receive priority seating opportunities for the 2018-19 return to Fifth Third Arena.
// PROJECT OVERVIEW
$87 million privately-funded renovation of Fifth Third Arena.
Full construction begins in March 2017.
Opening in Fall 2018.
// UPGRADES
360-degree concourses on two levels and permanent lower level bowl with new chair back seating.
Open entrance plaza with centralized ticket and guest services.
New HD scoreboard, ribbon boards, sound system & LED lighting to enhance game experience.
New upper-level concourse with its own fan amenities.
New restrooms and concessions.
Premium seating options, including a courtside club, arena club, concourse club, luxury suites, loge seating, Bearcats Lounge, wine bar and super suites.
New classroom space with e-learning capabilities.
New locker rooms.
Renovation of building façade.
Athletics Launches Fifth Third Arena Renovation Website
Oct. 27, 2016
CINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics has launched a website for the upcoming Fifth Third Arena Renovation titled OurHouse2018.com.
The website, created in conjunction with the University’s Office of Creative Services, was developed to provide Bearcats fans current and up-to-date information on the arena construction project which is already underway.
Four 18-seat baseline suites have been built on the sixth floor of the arena and will be ready for the fast approaching 2016-17 campaign. Full construction will begin in March 2017 with the new arena making its debut for 2018-19 season.
OurHouse2018.com features an updated fly-through of the arena renovations, new renderings and information for those interested in purchasing tickets, premium seating or making a donation to the $87-million privately-funded project.
Season tickets are selling at a record pace for the 2016-17 men’s basketball campaign and are available through the athletics ticket office by calling 1-877-CATS-TIX or visiting GoBearcats.com/tickets. Packages start at $125 or $6.58 per game. Season-ticket holders for the receive a 68 percent savings over single-game ticket prices and will receive priority seating opportunities for the 2018-19 return to Fifth Third Arena.
// PROJECT OVERVIEW
$87 million privately-funded renovation of Fifth Third Arena.
Full construction begins in March 2017.
Opening in Fall 2018.
// UPGRADES
360-degree concourses on two levels and permanent lower level bowl with new chair back seating.
Open entrance plaza with centralized ticket and guest services.
New HD scoreboard, ribbon boards, sound system & LED lighting to enhance game experience.
New upper-level concourse with its own fan amenities.
New restrooms and concessions.
Premium seating options, including a courtside club, arena club, concourse club, luxury suites, loge seating, Bearcats Lounge, wine bar and super suites.
New classroom space with e-learning capabilities.
New locker rooms.
Renovation of building façade.
UC continues to get the renovations right. No matter our conference, our university is committed to top level athletics.
Doesn't it make you wonder how they got it so wrong the first time around?
As has been chronicled many times, the designers were forced to work with several conditions no longer required. They were forced, for example, to design a "multi-use" building that led to the retractable bleacher seating. And they had to build a whole building on a pretty tight lot and budget.
Thankfully they can now go and redesign the existing building with a much tighter focus and a freer hand.
UC continues to get the renovations right. No matter our conference, our university is committed to top level athletics.
Doesn't it make you wonder how they got it so wrong the first time around?
Well, according to the extensive story Rag posted (that I still haven't found the time to complete, but looking forward to it), the first and second time.
Edit - doesn't change the fact that it is a very impressive facility. Looking forward to my first visit there.
(This post was last modified: 10-28-2016 05:58 AM by Ring of Black.)
UC continues to get the renovations right. No matter our conference, our university is committed to top level athletics.
Doesn't it make you wonder how they got it so wrong the first time around?
Multi-purpose and low bid created the generic brick box that it is today. As I recall, it was built for less than $20 million. And of course someone in Columbus made sure it had just a few less seats than OSU's arena at the time.
Next game look up at the the steel crossbeams that only have a primer coat. I heard once the original project was over budget and they were unable to put a finish coat on those.
The new 5th/3rd should be among the top twenty on-campus basketball facilities in the country.
(This post was last modified: 10-28-2016 06:56 AM by OKIcat.)
UC continues to get the renovations right. No matter our conference, our university is committed to top level athletics.
Doesn't it make you wonder how they got it so wrong the first time around?
That's an easy answer. The Ohio government got involved and stated that the only way they would receive State money for the project was to build an all-purpose use arena. Hence the retractable seating.
UC continues to get the renovations right. No matter our conference, our university is committed to top level athletics.
Doesn't it make you wonder how they got it so wrong the first time around?
That's an easy answer. The Ohio government got involved and stated that the only way they would receive State money for the project was to build an all-purpose use arena. Hence the retractable seating.
not a ton of new info here , but some interesting tidbits included...
Construction will start almost immediately after UC’s last home basketball game on March 5. It's expected to finish in fall 2018.
UC athletic director Mike Bohn said he expects UC to announce by Feb. 14 where its men’s basketball team will play next season while the arena is closed for renovations.
The statue of UC legend the Big O that now stands at the arena’s northwest corner will be moved to what Bohn called the “grand entrance” on the east side of the building.
The lower level and part of the upper level will feature cushioned seats and cupholders. Seats will be wider than they are currently, too, causing UC to lower its capacity.
It’ll make up for that partly by adding hundreds of premium seats. The renovated arena will feature 16 suites seating 20 each. That’s the same as it has now, but these will be in better locations. Some suites now don’t directly face the court.
UC is also adding 600 club seats, filling the west side of the arena in line with the court. It’ll install three club areas for fans with club seats to get concessions, eat, drink and mingle. Those are an arena, concourse and courtside club. That’s a marked improvement from the zero club seats the arena has now. It does offer one club for donor-club UCATS members.
It’s adding 14 loge boxes, too, with four seats each. Those are like mini-suites in the seating area and include TV monitors and a small refrigerator. That adds 56 more premium seats.
The new arena will include two bar areas with one on each level. Those will feature plenty of local craft beers.
UC’s renovations will actually lower the arena’s seating capacity from 13,176 to about 12,000, Bohn said. That’s mainly due to wider seats.
The arena is all privately funded, Bohn said. UC is working on wrapping up raising the money, $40 million of which comes from private gifts, Bohn said. The rest comes from bonds that enable UC to borrow money against projected future revenues.
Although seating capacity will be less than the current configuration, is it accurate that there are anticipated to be more "good seat" in the remodeled arena?
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