The Univ. of Cincinnati "will renovate Fifth Third Arena and its basketball program will stay on campus, but it will take a year longer than expected and cost significantly more than previously anticipated," according to Wetterich & Watkins of the CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER. UC AD Mike Bohn told trustees that the athletic department "had raised or had commitments for funds" in the low-$20M range. The board "wants the department to raise" $40M of the $87M cost of the renovation. The entire cost "is expected to be raised privately, including through the sale of suites." UC originally "had talked about the proposed massive renovation costing" $70M, but as designers "nailed down details, the price tag rose." The schedule "has moved back to give the athletic department more time to raise money and to give designers time to finalize plans." UC "does not expect to begin construction on the renovations until" April '17 and "finish in the fall" of '18. UC Associate AD/ Strategic Communications Ryan Koslen said that the school "hasn't determined how much needs to be raised so it can go ahead with construction." A decision "has not been made on where the basketball programs will play" their '17-18 seasons while the arena is renovated (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/15). Bohn said that the arena "is outdated compared to other modern arenas." In Cincinnati, Bowdeya Tweh notes proposed improvements to the facility include "the creation of a 360-degree seating bowl, new high-definition digital scoreboard, ribbon boards, sound system, and an LED lighting system." It will also have "upgraded locker rooms and new restroom and concession facilities, a new upper-level concourse with its own fan amenities, expanded food and beverage options and a new main entrance and plaza with centralized ticketing and guest services." UC also is "expanding premium seating options and will have a court-side club, arena club and concourse club, as well as enclosed suites, loge seating, a new Bearcats Lounge and super suites" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 12/16).
