they might have to sell the naming rights to everything.  The point guard crossed the kroger half court line, stands at the top of the Key Bank key, passes the ball into the sherman williams paint, kicks the ball out to the foward near the procter and gamble side line, shoots from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati three point line.  the center gets a rebound off of the Champion windows backboard and dunkin' dougnhuts the ball for two cintas points.

^ lol

 

 

I found these on a UC basketball website.  I didnt know that there were actual renderings of a new UC arena.  Although it looks like they have been shelved for the time being.  

 

http://www.trahanarchitects.com/

 

click on "Featured Architecture"

click on "Sports Experience" and scroll through.

 

I'm not sure that I understand this design.

 

Haha, i bet that trash took them 10 minutes to do in Maya.

I just would like to add that while UC is not in a great financial state right now...it should also not be this way for long.  They have balanced their budget and have a pretty good plan to emerge from their debt within 5 years.  It is not as bad as what it has been made out to be...especially given the fact that UC is about to embark on its largest fund raising drive ever...one that will put UC among a handful of universities that could pull off those kinds of efforts.

I just would like to add that while UC is not in a great financial state right now...it should also not be this way for long.  They have balanced their budget and have a pretty good plan to emerge from their debt within 5 years.  It is not as bad as what it has been made out to be...especially given the fact that UC is about to embark on its largest fund raising drive ever...one that will put UC among a handful of universities that could pull off those kinds of efforts.

 

This fundraising effort your talking about is what I was referring to when I mentioned my recent work with the UC Foundation. The UC Band has several scholarship endowments they are working on increasing monetarily. I'm working with the Band representative to talk to possible donors and generally do PR from a student perspective. The rules and everything are strict, but the effort they are putting forth and the goals they have are nothing short of amazing.

Unfortunately, I think UC is going to find a far more challenging fundraising environment over the next few years than many have over the last decade. A whole of the middle and upper middle class folks who might have given UC money even two years ago will likely start saving more cash as their houses either lose value or more likely fail to appreciate in the fashion they expected. The housing market debacle is going to put a hurt on fundraising across the board. I also don't trust the state of Ohio not to cut ever more from higher ed as three-quarters of the state is swamped by serious economic problems.

Interesting news coming out; I posted it over here:

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=3267.msg221721#msg221721

No money for new Nippert

UC not close to arena, renovation of stadium

BY BILL KOCH | [email protected]

 

An architectural study that estimates it would cost up to $240 million to build a new basketball arena and expand Nippert Stadium is not an indication that the University of Cincinnati is about to move on those projects, UC athletic director Mike Thomas said Sunday.

 

"That study was begun before my arrival and was completed after I arrived," said Thomas, who took over as UC's athletic director in 2005. "Varsity Village hasn't been paid off yet. We have incurred a great deal of debt that we need to pay off. We've got to bring some financial stability to the daily operation of our department. These are projects that are probably not going to come to fruition anytime soon."

 

The Georgetown News-Graphic newspaper released details of the study, which was done by Trahan Architects of Baton Rouge, La., in a story published Sunday. According to the paper, the master plan was obtained from a source on the condition of anonymity.  According to the story, the study estimates that it would cost $159 million to build a new, 16,001-seat basketball arena with 40 suites to replace Fifth Third Arena, which seats 13,176 and opened in 1989.

 

Read full article here:

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080107/SPT0101/801070336/-1/CINCI

We've got to bring some financial stability to the daily operation of our department.

 

 

I am kind of impressed that somebody at UC understands this! :wink:  The well is dry!

Someone I know VERY well has informed me that there have been some significant donations lined up for the football program.  Now these will most likely go towards an indoor practice facility first and foremost.  In the mean time the Athletic Department will probably see if interest (in terms of attendance and donations) in the program holds up.  If it does then I would expect the expansion/renovation of Nippert to follow, but this is at least 3 years off.

 

As for a new basketball arena...I don't see it happening within the next 10 years unless some major donation comes forward with the specific purpose of building a new arena.

 

Furthermore, the new billion dollar plus fund-raising campaign that UC is about to embark on is already well ahead of projections in terms of pledges.  UC has been raking in money like crazy lately.

good to hear.  A streetcar line running to the new arena could cut costs by dropping the amount of parking they need for the stadium

Maybe these conceptual designs will inspire some donations.

 

 

 

The stadium definitely needs more seating.  I just hope that they dont block the view from main street.  Sitting there on my lap top in the amazing civic space that is main street and looking into nippert...it brings such an awesome feel and really makes main street feel so interesting and cool.  If a backwall of seating gets put up, the openness of main street will be closed off and the feel will be gone.

The stadium definitely needs more seating.  I just hope that they dont block the view from main street.  Sitting there on my lap top in the amazing civic space that is main street and looking into nippert...it brings such an awesome feel and really makes main street feel so interesting and cool.  If a backwall of seating gets put up, the openness of main street will be closed off and the feel will be gone.

 

Agreed, but something will have to give in order for any expansion to happen.  Just look at the expansion into TUC!!!

 

BTW, these are fantastic...thanks a ton for pulling these moonloop.

What i don't understand is why they would spend 100+ million to get the new arena and only up the seating by three thousand, and the same goes for the stadium. With the stadium there are probably restraints as to how many more the stadium can fit regardless, but for the millions that they are going to spend i would like to see about 20,000 for the arena and somewhere around 48,000 in the stadium. For a project of this magnitude and cost i just don't see the justifications for slightly larger stadiums. In the words of Daniel Burnham "Make no little plans"

 

(I also am worried about the historic character being lost at Nippert. That is one of the most beautiful stadiums)

What i don't understand is why they would spend 100+ million to get the new arena and only up the seating by three thousand, and the same goes for the stadium.

 

The thing that is most lacking at The Shoemaker Center is not seating capacity (although a little more wouldn't hurt), but rather it is the lack of luxury suites and what not.  That is where the money is and that is also a major focus for the Nippert expansion plans.

Thats what i figured, but to spend that kind of money and not get a lot more seating is insane to me. Maybe thats just me, but 16000 seats is not a lot, and same goes for the football stadium. I feel like if your going to go, go all out. I understand that the financing is not there for that right now, but i would much rather hold of for several years than 7 years down the road realize "Oh maybe we should have expanded when we had the chance." Does anyone else feel this way? I just think that they are spending a lot of money for a temporary fix.

^ It depends on the demand.  I agree that if you're spending money anwyay, you should probably add capacity, but you don't want to make the thing so big that you don't fill it on a regular basis. 

 

I'm also concerned about the historic character of Nippert, though I really like the renderings I've seen thus far.

Michigan Staduim is being renovated at a cost of $226 million. Net seating gain of about 500, I think. Just to show how expensive these things are without adding that much more in raw capacity.

UC football only sold out a couple games this season and two of the those games were against WVU and Louisville who brought a ton visiting fans.  Until UC starts selling out all of their games expanding Nippert just seems like a waste of money.  Besides, Nippert is a great stadium the way it is Nippert is great the way it is.  I would much rather see any money in the atheletic budget go to replacing the Shoe.

^ How much is a ton? The Louisville game was Homecoming, and there weren't that many UofL fans there. The WVU game.. maybe 1/3 of the people were WVU fans.

 

We also sold out the game vs. Marshall and were only about 1,000 shy of selling vs UConn (who didn't bring ANY fans).

Michigan Staduim is being renovated at a cost of $226 million. Net seating gain of about 500, I think. Just to show how expensive these things are without adding that much more in raw capacity.

 

The Michigan Stadium renovation is adding over 3000 seats and a new press box.  Just about all of the new seats will be club seats and luxury box seats.  They are adding over 80 luxury boxes in total.  I am sure that any renovation of Nippert would be heavy on luxury box/club seats.

 

Here is what the Michigan project looks like.  A Nippert renovation might be similar on a much smaller scale.

http://www.umich.edu/stadium/project-description/designs.html

^Right. Except that seats are being lost in the bowl for improved accessibility and wider seats. That's why I said net. As I understand it, UM was sued for non-compliance with the ADA, so the plans to increase capacity to 110,000+ have been trimmed.

 

I know that most of the cost is in the façade, the press box, and suites. My point was in response to comments above complaining about the cost of renovation and not getting more seats.

 

 

Let Nippert go for now. If UC suddenly becomes the next 'big' thing, there is always PBS available. Give me four or five years of continued success and probably the next set of conference TV contracts before we start playing with Nippert. Yeah, that means UC plays off campus but the tail-gating is much better for PBS and UC students could use the bus system to head to the game. As to the Shoe, a year or two will reveal if UC can parlay entrance into the Big East into having a serious program again. If yes, then start fundraising for the renovated Shoe.

UC football only sold out a couple games this season and two of the those games were against WVU and Louisville who brought a ton visiting fans.  Until UC starts selling out all of their games expanding Nippert just seems like a waste of money.  Besides, Nippert is a great stadium the way it is.

 

Everyone needs to keep in mind that this is not a proposal that is intended to be executed within the next couple of years, but rather these are plans that are being put in place if/when the time comes.  Right now you're right...UC Football is not yet ready for an expansion, but I bet every home game next year will be sold out and that's with higher ticket prices.

 

Couple that with the better non-conference games that UC is scheduling (Oklahoma, Hawaii, Georgia, etc) and you're going to have continued excitement about this program...especially if the wins keep coming.  By that time 2-3 years will have passed and if we're selling out consistently then it will be time to pull out these plans and get the cranes ready.

^Right. Except that seats are being lost in the bowl for improved accessibility and wider seats. That's why I said net. As I understand it, UM was sued for non-compliance with the ADA, so the plans to increase capacity to 110,000+ have been trimmed.

 

I know that most of the cost is in the façade, the press box, and suites. My point was in response to comments above complaining about the cost of renovation and not getting more seats.

 

 

 

I am amazed UC hasn't been sued for nippert's non complaince with the ADA

^They actually did add some ADA accessible seating areas on the main concourse area directly behind the last row of seating.  This is on the Lidner Center side of the stadium only though...plus there are also some new areas near the opening at Main Street and the walkway that crossed behind the North endzone.

 

I would doubt that the stadium is totally ADA compliant, but these efforts were probably done in good faith.

UC Football Dome Plans Unveiled

 

Reports that Brian Kelly is about to be named new head football coach at the University of Tennessee are largely internet figments. Sure, he could be lured away from the University of Cincinnati, but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

 

He likes Cincinnati and the university is doing its part to provide everything he needs to elevate the program to national prominence. That includes an all weather practice facility. Recently, I observed that UC administrators should be more aggressive in fulfilling the terms of Kelly's recently extended contract, which included some fashion of cold weather dome.

 

Read full article here:

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=09e3baf2-dbba-4ed3-b2bb-3879712cb392

Holy crap is this going to be ugly.  I was really hoping they wouldn't put one of these facilities on an already congested campus.  I could think of so many better uses for that space.  This ugly piece of crap could go just about anywhere.

Putting it in that space allows for a more permanent structure to built in its place in the future. I think the location is excellent. The space wasn't being used anyway.

Yes, I like the fact that they are using up the last of the undeveloped land on campus.  If we can just get rid of the last few surface lots on campus...

how do you kick a field goal, the uprights are on the other side of the bubble

how do you kick a field goal, the uprights are on the other side of the bubble

 

The bubble might literally be inflatible.  It would then act as a separate practice field, and when the weather turns bad then they'll inflate the bubble and practice...just without the goal posts.  This is definitely not a top of the line indoor facility.

^Yes, it appears to be the inflatable type of temporary shelter.  They are quite common.  Heck, the public pool I used to go to in Louisville in the early 1980's in high school had one of those, so when the weather turned cold the pool could stay open year round.

This is what Kelly prescribed as an acceptable place to start.  Whats interesting to me is the timing of this release.  Is it a last ditch effort by the University is trying to prove to Brian that "things are progressing" or is the result of Brain and the University working together.  One certainly paints a prettier picture of him staying a few years.

 

The location for the field doesnt lend itself to much privacy.  I suppose neither does nippert for "top secret" scheming.  When i was in school at Tennessee, the practice fields were situated in a similarly dense area as far as proximity to roads. Extra long field goals would mean balls flying into traffic. 

So this is taking the place of the Daniel's parking lot and the fenced-in maintenance area?

So this is taking the place of the Daniel's parking lot and the fenced-in maintenance area?

 

Yes, that is my understanding from the conceptual renderings.  Other than a parking lot, there is an ungly fenced-in maintenance shed currently in place.  It is in close proximity to Varsity Village and is comparable to what many other schools currently have.  I know that Rutgers and Boston College have very similar "bubbles" that are in use for practice during cold/inclement weather.

^ Based on my knowledge, which is I think pretty sound insider information, is that it includes the Corry Lot and that ravine area of trees right along Jefferson, east of Corry.  You can see the Schott Stadium in the rendering.

Here are some better quality images of the football stadium expansion plans, and a couple exterior renderings for the arena that probably won't happen for another decade or so.

 

1.

 

2. Looking north

 

3. Looking east

 

4. Arena looking west...yup, the same location where the bubble facility is now going

 

5.

 

6.

 

The architecture firm behind these designs is Trahan Architects based out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  You can read more about them and their other projects here (you can find the Nippert info in their "work in progress" section) - http://www.trahanarchitects.com/

i'd like to go on record as hating the nippert expansion plans. i'm coming to terms with the inevitable loss of the press box, but the design just falls flat. i don't know how to do it better i just don't like that one. i like the new shoe though.

i'd like to go on record as hating the nippert expansion plans. i'm coming to terms with the inevitable loss of the press box, but the design just falls flat. i don't know how to do it better i just don't like that one. i like the new shoe though.

I do like the design and I think its pretty zippy looking but at what price?  IMO, they need to keep open the space between Main Street and the stadium, maintaining its great atmosphere.  Putting up an ugly wall to main street will kill main street.  Tell me when it is a good idea to put up a lifeless wall to any 'Main Street'?  Bah! 

If they can get the stadium to 40k without ruining the campus then I'm fine with an expansion of Nippert, but considering the very poor usage of PBS and all the money the taxpayers is shelling out, I'd rather see UC play a couple games a season there than try to fit a 60k stadium on campus. I'm not sure the numbers are right, but the gist is that some expansion is fine, but to get 'full size' stadium, I don't think its worth it.

and also, what happens to daniels hall and the student housing?  It looks like there are two new structures to the east of the new Shoe.  What are these, does anyone know? 

^ pipe dreams

I really don't like either.  The new stadium totally disregards the Lindner Center and Main Street, which would not be that difficult to fix.  And the Arena is just unnecessarily deconstructivist. 

 

Regarless, I'm not going to try to stop them or anything.  It's exciting to see progress and expansion.  I'll just hold out for more detailed renderings.

^ i was planning a sit it in at their office.

 

 

mainly for an excuse to go to baton rouge in the winter, maybe on my way to miami for the bowl game!

and also, what happens to daniels hall and the student housing? It looks like there are two new structures to the east of the new Shoe. What are these, does anyone know?

 

I don't think anything is happening to Daniels Hall anytime soon.  They just spent a million dollars putting a new roof on it 2 years ago.  I am sure these are just ideas and have no solid basis in reality...yet. 

I think that if they go ahead with a Nippert expansion it will look much different than that model.  The model doesnt include a press box or luxury suites as far as I can tell.  Throws those two elements in and you have a more realistic design.  This looks like a very early and rough draft.

 

Nevertheless, I like where they are going with this design.  I was at the game last week and I was trying to picture what a Nippert expansion would look like.  I think you have to tear down the press box on the West side and the entire second level on the East side and build a new unified second level, with a layer of suites either above or below the new level (most likely below).  They also desperately need to widen the concourse and expand the bathrooms.

I think you have to tear down the press box on the West side and the entire second level on the East side and build a new unified second level, with a layer of suites either above or below the new level (most likely below).  They also desperately need to widen the concourse and expand the bathrooms.

 

That's basically what the plans call for.  The rendering doesn't clearly show where luxury suites/press boxes would be, but the description said that there would be more than there is currently and the only place that could happen is in between the two level.  The description also said that concessions and restroom facilities would be greatly expanded.  Since this would be new construction, that means ADA accessibility would be a must.

From C. Trent at 1530 homer:

 

I know there are old plans floating around on the internet from Trahan Architects out of Baton Rouge -- there are these three pictures on their website. Those are old and dated.

 

The architects Mike Thomas has hired are from HNTB in Kansas City, which also has an office here in Cincinnati. The stadium HNTB has done that most here would be familiar with is Louisville Slugger Stadium in Louisville, home of the Bats. They also did Invesco Field in Denver, home of the Broncos.