The Univ. of Cincinnati BOT yesterday "took the next step toward moving ahead" with an $85M renovation of Fifth Third Arena, "unanimously approving" $2.2M in design financing toward the privately funded project, according to Tom Groeschen of the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. UC AD Mike Bohn said that $15M "has been raised toward the project," but the UC BOT wants $25M more "to be raised by December before fully going ahead." He added that the project "originally was to cost" $70M but the "final price tag should be around" $85M. Groeschen noted yesterday's approval "was to move ahead with drawings as rendered," and the mood was "overwhelmingly positive." But a faculty rep "expressed concern about the amount of funds being raised for UC athletic projects." Construction is "expected to begin immediately" after the school completes the '15-16 basketball season, with a "target start" of March '16. UC also "is near completion" of an $86M renovation and "expansion of its Nippert Stadium football facility, which will reopen" for the '15 football season on Sept. 5 against Alabama A&M. That project also is "being financed by private funds." UC teams under the renovation plan "would vacate" Fifth Third Arena for the '16-17 season. Bohn said that US Bank Arena, Cincinnati Gardens, Xavier Univ.'s Cintas Center and Northern Kentucky Univ.'s BB&T Arena are "among possibilities as a temporary home." It is "expected that UC teams will return" to the renovated Fifth Third for the '17-18 season. The plan shows that the current seating capacity of 13,176 "will be reduced to about 11,500," Bohn said that he would "like to find a way to get it closer to 12,000, as plans continue to evolve" (CINCINNATI.com, 8/25).
TWO-MINUTE WARNING: The ENQUIRER's Groeschen noted the renovations to Nippert Stadium include "expansion from 35,000 to 40,000 seats." Bohn said that UC has "surpassed 17,000 in football season ticket sales, the most since" '10. He added that premium seats "will be ready for the UC opener." Groeschen notes construction "continues but is mostly done." The expansion "mainly will come via premium seating and has focused on the west side of the stadium, adding suites, club seats and loge boxes within a new press box structure." There will be "more than double the former amount of both restroom and concession availability, with wider concourses" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 8/23).
