December 11, 201311 yr There could very likely be physical constraints to adding more suites beyond the 21
December 30, 201311 yr They are currently demolishing the old suites/boxes. Take a look at the live camera too. Pretty interesting to see it deconstructed.
January 15, 201411 yr Yep, I approve. So much better than the hideous post-modern thing that was there before.
January 15, 201411 yr I hope this renovation greatly improves the bathrooms on the West side as well as the flow of people. It takes a good 15 minutes to get a beer from the student section with the small passages and hordes of people.
January 15, 201411 yr I hope this renovation greatly improves the bathrooms on the West side as well as the flow of people. It takes a good 15 minutes to get a beer from the student section with the small passages and hordes of people. My understanding has long been that improving the West concourse was as much a goal of any proposed Nippert renovation project as improving the press/luxury box situation (revenue notwithstanding). I know they've already demoed the old concessions and restrooms on that side, so I'm optimistic that the new setup will be a great improvement. Also, this is going to be an incredible place to watch and play football. It was already so cavernous and loud when full. Will now be only more so.
January 15, 201411 yr Some additional renderings in addition to the one above. UC reveals latest look at Nippert Stadium renovations: SLIDESHOW Steve Watkins Staff Reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier University of Cincinnati Athletic Director Whit Babcock released updated renderings on Tuesday of what the renovated Nippert Stadium will look like. Work started last month on the $86 million project and is scheduled for completion in August 2015. Changes to the 89-year-old football stadium nestled into UC’s campus will boost capacity from 35,097 to around 40,000. http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/01/14/uc-reveals-latest-look-at-nippert.html
January 15, 201411 yr I hope this renovation greatly improves the bathrooms on the West side as well as the flow of people. It takes a good 15 minutes to get a beer from the student section with the small passages and hordes of people. My understanding has long been that improving the West concourse was as much a goal of any proposed Nippert renovation project as improving the press/luxury box situation (revenue notwithstanding). I know they've already demoed the old concessions and restrooms on that side, so I'm optimistic that the new setup will be a great improvement. Also, this is going to be an incredible place to watch and play football. It was already so cavernous and loud when full. Will now be only more so. Both the West and East side get new and expanded restrooms and concessions. FWIW I have not been on the West concourse area since the 92' renovation. I am keeping my East side seats for now although those club seats look inviting. Will miss Nippert next season but I can walk to all of the games at PBS next season. Don't forget Bearcat Basketball on tonight at 9PM @Temple, CBSSN.
January 15, 201411 yr ^ tonight's game is a home game Thanks for the correction. We go there in a couple of weeks.
January 30, 201411 yr Update on the renovation of Nippert Stadium. It includes a tour underneath Nippert.. Enjoy. http://www.gobearcats.com/allaccess/?media=430470
April 10, 201411 yr Mike Bohn: 'Basketball venue UC's top priority' UC Athletics Blog Bill Koch, [email protected] 12:46 p.m. EDT April 9, 2014 Improving the venue for men's and women's basketball is now the top priority for the UC athletic department, according to athletic director Mike Bohn. "It's the total fan experience that we're working on," Bohn said, "the arena, the pre-game opportunities, the egress after games, all those pieces. We're taking a full bore down into all of those different issues to ensure the commitment to basketball is well-represented and fully demonstrated. We have some of the nation's top people helping us work on that." http://www.cincinnati.com/story/ucathleticsblog/2014/04/09/bohn-basketball-venue-ucs-top-priority/7506069/
April 19, 201411 yr UCBearcats @UCBearcats 2m NEW DETAILS on UC's proposed renovation of 5/3 Arena, coming soon. Would cut to 10,000 seats, no bleachers (via @cliffpeale) #Bearcats
April 19, 201411 yr Wow. That's the size of Cintas Center (actually a little smaller). To me, the issues with the Shoe relate to things like lack of concourses, etc. If they can remedy some of that via this cutting seats, I guess it makes sense.
April 19, 201411 yr I think they should play downtown. UC basketball needs more seating not less. Build the program don't make it smaller
April 19, 201411 yr Austerity won't stop UC's plan to rehab 'tired' arena Cliff Peale A renovated Fifth Third Arena with 3,000 fewer seats, all-permanent seating and improved upper-deck views has emerged as the University of Cincinnati's favored option for basketball. UC hasn't settled on a renovation plan for the on-campus arena – or whether to move to a renovated U.S. Bank Arena downtown – but this is the first look at its vision for basketball. http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/university-of-cincinnati/2014/04/18/uc-basketball-intimate-fifth-third-arena/7876339/
April 20, 201411 yr That's disappointing they feel the need to drop the seating to 10K. Granted it was a reach to think the Bearcats can fill a NBA-type arena. That was reinforced with the start of the NBA playoffs. All the glamour shots of each arena pack with 18-20K. Toronto even has several thousand outside their arena.
April 21, 201411 yr That's disappointing they feel the need to drop the seating to 10K. Granted it was a reach to think the Bearcats can fill a NBA-type arena. That was reinforced with the start of the NBA playoffs. All the glamour shots of each arena pack with 18-20K. Toronto even has several thousand outside their arena. I think going down to 10k is more about design, wider seating areas, chairbacks, take out bleachers, and doing something with the awful lack of concourses and amenities.
April 21, 201411 yr no, people get weird about empty seating. Even the symphony gripes about it at Music Hall. I don't get it.
April 21, 201411 yr My first visit visit to Cincinnati was yesterday and I hadn't read this thread beforehand so I didn't know what they were doing at the stadium. Of course that didn't stop me from taking some pictures. Here is a pretty good one of the stadium. I had to resize this to fit UO's max file size though.
April 21, 201411 yr I think UC should go the the Villanova/St. Johns route where they play half their games on campus, and half at a larger off campus arena. UC's non-conference schedule has been very poorly attended the past several years. They could play those early games at a renovated 5th/3rd and then play their conference slate downtown at the (what will be) much larger US Bank.
April 24, 201411 yr New Nippert construction update video. http://www.gobearcats.com/allaccess/?media=445110
April 30, 201411 yr New flyover/thru video of Nippert Stadium... http://www.gobearcats.com/allaccess/?media=445780
May 1, 201411 yr I love how the stadium is so tightly integrated with the surrounding buildings. Most college campuses place their athletic facilities (especially football stadiums) on the periphery of campus, usually surrounded by parking or greenspace. The Nippert renovation further enhances the "urban" feel of the stadium. I love it. Does anybody know of any other college campus that has a similarly (or better) integrated football stadium into the surrounding buildings? Or even any professional football stadium? I can't think of one, though I am by no means an expert in football stadiums.
May 1, 201411 yr Does anybody know of any other college campus that has a similarly (or better) integrated football stadium into the surrounding buildings? Definitely not better: Bobby Dodd Stadium at Georgia Tech (200 North Ave NW, Atlanta, Ga.) http://binged.it/1kmrBT4
September 11, 201410 yr If you visit the Nippert Construction Cam it looks as if they just started the 2nd and 3rd floors of the luxury suites/club level! http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/Nippert-Construction-Cam.html
September 11, 201410 yr I love how Nippert fits into the middle of campus surrounded by other buildings. It is unique. Isn't much tailgating space but again UC is different. Houston and Tulane opened brand new on Campus stadiums this year. Houston Tulane On campus Garden District good video on nippert
October 8, 201410 yr Hopefully the team starts doing better soon! Nippert Stadium Construction Update...
October 31, 201410 yr UC reveals plans for $70M arena overhaul Oct 31, 2014, 3:29pm EDT Updated: Oct 31, 2014, 4:10pm EDT Chris Wetterich Staff reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier The University of Cincinnati is looking for architects and engineers to plan and design a $70 million overhaul of Fifth Third Arena. UC put out a request for qualifications on Friday and indicated the design work will have two phases. The first will require the firms to come up with a more solid cost estimate. http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/10/31/uc-reveals-plans-for-70m-arena-overhaul.html
November 3, 201410 yr I remember going to a game in Shoemaker Center with my dad the first year it opened, sitting in the upper deck. The sight lines were horrible. That place was not impressive in the least the first year it opened. It was built on the cheap and we're paying for it now.
November 3, 201410 yr The upper decks do have some horrible sight lines (particularly in the far upper corners of the upper deck), but there's also some seats with pretty solid views up there. I've got season tickets in the upper level bleachers very near midcourt, and I have no problem with the sight lines from where I sit. And at $99 for season tickets, you can't beat this deal. Keep in mind that for 90% of UC's home games, the seats with awful sight lines aren't even filled because attendance is well below the 13,176 capacity. However, I do agree that 5/3 Arena is long overdue for a renovation. I honestly don't think anything has changed in that place since I arrived at UC back in 1999. I hope they can keep this on schedule so that they have a state of the art renovated facility ready for use in 3 years.
November 3, 201410 yr ^UC season tickets are $99 a seat in the upper levels near midcourt? I thought my Xavier tickets were a steal, and I pay like 3 times that.
November 4, 201410 yr ^UC season tickets are $99 a seat in the upper levels near midcourt? I thought my Xavier tickets were a steal, and I pay like 3 times that. All upper level bleachers are $99 for a season ticket. Even those right at midcourt. http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/ucats/spec-rel/tickets-mbb.html $99 is a ridiculously good deal if you are in a low row bleacher section near midcourt.
November 4, 201410 yr ^UC season tickets are $99 a seat in the upper levels near midcourt? I thought my Xavier tickets were a steal, and I pay like 3 times that. All upper level bleachers are $99 for a season ticket. Even those right at midcourt. http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/ucats/spec-rel/tickets-mbb.html $99 is a ridiculously good deal if you are in a low row bleacher section near midcourt. That's what I have. Bleachers at mid court. Went to the game last night, awesome sight lines. Great deal from Greg and crew.
November 4, 201410 yr The upper level mid court seats are fine. The reason for the poor design is that UC needed state money to build the place and Ohio required UC to build a multi purpose facility, not a dedicated "Arena". Even the lower level seats are wood and the entire sections fold up like a high school gym. Common areas, concessions, concourses are awful. Looking forward to seeing some plans for the renovation ASAP.
November 4, 201410 yr woa woa woa. Was that a light rail line with a stop right at UofH's stadium???? UGH!
November 12, 201410 yr woa woa woa. Was that a light rail line with a stop right at UofH's stadium???? UGH! Good eye, probably yes. http://www.ridemetro.org/services/rail.aspx
November 12, 201410 yr Latest Nippert Stadium video update... The suites and club area are going to be top shelf. Lots of Glass, club area very open. I bought club seats at PBS for ECU. Have 2 free tickets, regular season tixs for ECU game, free, if anyone wants them.
November 13, 201410 yr Latest Nippert Stadium video update... The suites and club area are going to be top shelf. Lots of Glass, club area very open. I bought club seats at PBS for ECU. Have 2 free tickets, regular season tixs for ECU game, free, if anyone wants them. I would gladly use them, send you a PM
November 14, 201410 yr Latest Nippert Stadium video update... The suites and club area are going to be top shelf. Lots of Glass, club area very open. I bought club seats at PBS for ECU. Have 2 free tickets, regular season tixs for ECU game, free, if anyone wants them. I would gladly use them, send you a PM Very sorry I missed your post. That was a heart attack game last night. Along the football discussion Campus stuff, Well, they were new details to me and I haven't heard them mentioned on this board yet. My friend and I were taking a break from the cold in the club area last night and were watching the broadcast when they showed the renderings for the new stadium. A young woman heard us talking about the new stadium and walked up. She introduced herself, but I forget her name and said she was in development or something and was heavily involved with the new stadium. She had a very official looking ID on a lanyard. So, we talked to her for a few minutes. *I asked her about the east side. I first asked her if there were any renderings/pictures of the East side because I've sure as heck not seen them. She reacted to the question in a way that made me feel like she would like to see them released, but there is something holding that up. So, there are renderings, but obviously they haven't been released. *Since the stairs are gone, I asked how people would get to the upper level on the east side. She said that there will be a skywalk that will connect the Sheakley lawn level with that upper level. *Sheakley lawn is going away and that area will be a big gate for the new Nippert *They're working with Kroger on the South-East of campus to set up tailgating there. They are well aware of the lack of prime tailgating space and are working it. *Here's big news. She said that they are working hard on getting permission to close down Calhoun on game days. They want to turn that stretch into something like a Beale or Bourbon St. before games. Fans could hang out in the street and bounce from bar to bar. That's all I can remember for now. If I think of anything else, I'll post it. http://www.csnbbs.com/thread-712631.html
November 14, 201410 yr How on earth would closing Calhoun work? There's no other way to move west across the southern portion of campus unless you direct everyone to Ohio Ave and west along Warner. That seems problematic. Closing down a major road for the sake of a college football game is a strange idea when it basically ruins the ability for the thousands of people who live and work in the area to function properly. Sheakley lawn is going away? That seems like it'll be a controversial idea. Football should stop being treated as the end-all-be-all of college programs. 44,000 students go to UC to learn. Football is a game. Removing a major asset to students for yet more football infrastructure when several educational programs are lacking proper funding or facilities is a questionable decision. I like the renovations to Nippert, but these new details wreak of the type of "football as religion" that I think plagues so many colleges.
November 14, 201410 yr You could use the same argument for anything else: closing the streets for Oktoberfest, the Flying Pig Marathon, the Opening Day parade, etc. Perhaps part of the conversation will include an eventual conversion on McMillan/Calhoun to 2-way streets. That way people could still go west on that stretch. Also, I think that college football helps encourage civic pride, which is very much needed in Cincinnati. Perhaps Sheakley Lawn isn't going away entirely. We should probably wait to reserve judgement until actual details are released.
November 14, 201410 yr If they turned McMillan into 2-way it could work. Big events can hurt business for neighborhood businesses. That's why a lot of downtown restaurants used to or maybe still close during big downtown events.
November 14, 201410 yr I doubt the lawn will go away entirely, but I have also heard there will be an entrance of sorts that faces Corry. I figured it’d be back near the athletic center, though. I’ve also heard the second level seats will be accessed via skywalk of sorts - and that the concession stands are going to be double height spaces so that there is circulation between seats and concessions on both levels. As for closing Calhoun, I imagine traffic would just be directed up to MLK which has more than enough capacity. If anyone has ever tried to drive down Calhoun on a Friday night at 5:30 when there’s a game at 7:00, you’ll know it might as well be closed, anyway. There’s just not enough room for both through traffic and 30,000 people trying to find parking spots. It’d be closed for a couple of hours, 6 days a year. Compared to how often Vine and 5th are closed for festivals downtown, that’s nothing. The trick would be closing it to thru traffic, but still maintaining access to the garages that fill up. UC has fielded a very good football team over the last few years. Most people don't realize they're one of the winningest programs since 2007 or so. The new stadium, and encouraging more tailgaiting closer to the stadium will be huge for UCs football culture.
November 14, 201410 yr You could use the same argument for anything else: closing the streets for Oktoberfest, the Flying Pig Marathon, the Opening Day parade, etc. Perhaps part of the conversation will include an eventual conversion on McMillan/Calhoun to 2-way streets. That way people could still go west on that stretch. Also, I think that college football helps encourage civic pride, which is very much needed in Cincinnati. Perhaps Sheakley Lawn isn't going away entirely. We should probably wait to reserve judgement until actual details are released. I think there is a big difference between closing 5th street for Oktoberfest and closing Calhoun 6-7 Saturdays a year, mostly because there are plenty of alternatives downtown to get West to East. Close Calhoun and that is going to be tough. Also, not to just be a naysayer, but I don't buy into the idea of "civic pride" in Cincinnati coming from UC football, especially with the Bengals already in town. If we didn't have a pro team people could identify and support, it would be different--but we do, and many people in Cincinnati are not UC alums, and their level of pride in the city is not going to be affected by UC football. (At least mine won't.)
November 14, 201410 yr I doubt the lawn will go away entirely, but I have also heard there will be an entrance of sorts that faces Corry. I figured itd be back near the athletic center, though. Ive also heard the second level seats will be accessed via skywalk of sorts - and that the concession stands are going to be double height spaces so that there is circulation between seats and concessions on both levels. As for closing Calhoun, I imagine traffic would just be directed up to MLK which has more than enough capacity. If anyone has ever tried to drive down Calhoun on a Friday night at 5:30 when theres a game at 7:00, youll know it might as well be closed, anyway. Theres just not enough room for both through traffic and 30,000 people trying to find parking spots. Itd be closed for a couple of hours, 6 days a year. Compared to how often Vine and 5th are closed for festivals downtown, thats nothing. The trick would be closing it to thru traffic, but still maintaining access to the garages that fill up. UC has fielded a very good football team over the last few years. Most people don't realize they're one of the winningest programs since 2007 or so. The new stadium, and encouraging more tailgaiting closer to the stadium will be huge for UCs football culture. UC tailgating has really been turning into a "thing" over the past few years. Sure this year it was displaced but since the Orange Bowl appearance they've been coming out of the woodwork.
November 14, 201410 yr Slightly off topic, but why does UC play seemingly every game on either Thursday or Friday? It's hard to take them seriously as a college football team when they never play saturday games. I think UC should just stick to basketball. The average non UC alum really couldn't care less about bearcat football, especially with the Bengals in town and OSU just 1.5 hours up 71.
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