The $86 million renovation of the University of Cincinnati’s
Nippert Stadium brings premium seats to college football’s fifth-oldest facility.
Heery International, in collaboration with Architecture Research Office, designed the stadium’s new West Pavilion, a 115,000-square-foot addition containing 21 suites, 30 loge boxes and 1,100 club seats. The glass-encased pavilion expands Nippert’s total seating to about 40,000, up 5,000 seats over the old configuration.
Heery’s job was to develop new premium spaces to generate revenue to help pay for the project, and at the same time add a new piece of modern architecture to a campus featuring contemporary buildings designed by Frank Gehry and Peter Eisenman, among others.
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The $86 million West Pavilion houses suites, loge boxes and club seats.
Photo by: JIM CURRY / HEERY
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There is no common design thread among the buildings surrounding the stadium, which was built in 1915. Heery’s task was to create a structure that stood on its own rather than follow a design theme.
“We were not trying to match other buildings,” said Mike Holleman, senior vice president of Heery Sports. “It’s an interesting architecture style.”
Due to the stadium’s location in the heart of campus, Heery
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The University of Cincinnati has sold out of all 21 suites in the West Pavilion.
Photo by: COURTESY OF HEERY (2)
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had to squeeze the pavilion between existing buildings and the main grandstand, keeping in mind the school’s desire to put suites on the 50-yard line, Holleman said.
The result is a striking five-story structure that hangs over the field with outdoor terraces overlooking campus, plus a modest number of premium seats. The school has sold all suites, including the 18 Founders Suites priced at $1 million over a 10-year term. The loges, grouped in four and eight seats, sold out at $16,000 and $30,000 a year
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A club lounge inside the glass-enclosed pavilion
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tied to five-year commitments. About 80 percent of the club seats are sold, priced at $2,500 a seat per year, said Athletic Director
Mike Bohn. Those agreements all carry three-year terms.
The upgrades speak to regular fans and students as well with upgraded concession stands and restrooms, LED ribbon boards and a new distributed antenna system to improve cellphone coverage, Bohn said.
In addition, Aramark, the stadium’s food provider, has rebranded its premium food service there as Corry Street Catering, named after the street that connects the school’s sports venues.
By virtue of being in the heart of campus, and being largely open to the students, the stadium plays a vital role in the daily life of the school. Many of the 44,000 students walk the main concourse to get to their classes elsewhere on campus, and they have free rein to play pickup games on the field on non-game days.
The project has injected new energy into the Bearcats’ fan base, Bohn said. Student ticket sales are up 25 percent this year over 2014. Total season ticket sales are about 18,000, up 18 percent over last year, he said.
“It’s unique,” Bohn said. “The football stadium project has spearheaded an intensity of interest that has allowed us to make improvements to the basketball arena.”
The project to rebuild Fifth Third Arena, a 26-year-old facility, starts in March, he said. Populous has teamed with local firm Moody Nolan to design the $85 million renovation. Skanska is the general contractor.
> BACK IN THE GAME: Former Centerplate President and CEO Des Hague has joined William Caruso & Associates as an investor and food consultant.
Hague and company founder Bill Caruso both own 47.5 percent of the firm. Steve Young, a third partner, owns the remaining 5 percent, Caruso said.
Together, they’re busy with multiple sports projects tied to food service design, including the expansion of Texas Tech’s Jones AT&T Stadium, Sun Life Stadium upgrades, AT&T Center’s $100 million-plus renovation in San Antonio and the Detroit Red Wings’ new arena project.
In Frisco, Texas, they’re working on the Dallas Cowboys’ new headquarters and practice facility, which includes a 12,000-seat indoor stadium.
Hague’s return to the sports food industry comes about a year after he resigned from Centerplate after he was captured on video kicking a dog in a Vancouver hotel elevator. “You learn from your mistakes and move on,” Hague said.
Don Muret can be reached at dmuret@sportsbusinessjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @breakground.
