Cincinnati, which is just weeks away from completing their $90 Million renovation/expansion of Nippert Stadium, has released some renderings of their planned $80 Million renovation of their 26 yr old Fifth Third Arena.
Article and video from local Cinci TV station
http://www.fox19.com/story/29390542...e-for-renderings-of-the-potential-renovations
While Fifth Third is a good size college arena (13,100 plus capacity), it was built at a time (late 80's) when multiple use was still in vogue (from student Rec use to other sports) as it was basically a rectangle box with retractable seating vs being a college basketball arena.
Fifth Third Retractable seating:
Which leads to not many good and/or premium seats (even in a large arena) close to the court:
New $80 Million project will add a lot of premium seating, replace all the square like retractable seating areas with new 360 degree permanent seating areas...plus replace thousands of 2nd level bleacher seats with individual chairback seats, by turning the old large box into a 360 degree college basketball arena.
By adding large premium seating (high revenue) areas, and moving seats much closer to the court while replacing lots of bleacher seating, new arena capacity will be approx 10,800 but will bring in a ton of new and more revenue.
New 360 renderings:
Entire new upper concourse will be built as well...plus improvements to the existing concourse, along with new ribbon video boards, new center court video and scoreboards will be added as well.
Also the outside of Fifth Third Bank will also be modernized vs its now ugly block look.
Article and video from local Cinci TV station
http://www.fox19.com/story/29390542...e-for-renderings-of-the-potential-renovations
While Fifth Third is a good size college arena (13,100 plus capacity), it was built at a time (late 80's) when multiple use was still in vogue (from student Rec use to other sports) as it was basically a rectangle box with retractable seating vs being a college basketball arena.
Fifth Third Retractable seating:
Which leads to not many good and/or premium seats (even in a large arena) close to the court:
New $80 Million project will add a lot of premium seating, replace all the square like retractable seating areas with new 360 degree permanent seating areas...plus replace thousands of 2nd level bleacher seats with individual chairback seats, by turning the old large box into a 360 degree college basketball arena.
By adding large premium seating (high revenue) areas, and moving seats much closer to the court while replacing lots of bleacher seating, new arena capacity will be approx 10,800 but will bring in a ton of new and more revenue.
New 360 renderings:
Entire new upper concourse will be built as well...plus improvements to the existing concourse, along with new ribbon video boards, new center court video and scoreboards will be added as well.
Also the outside of Fifth Third Bank will also be modernized vs its now ugly block look.