Cincinnati considering moving games downtown

[Bearcat_NTS]

Zach Wells ‏@WellsZach 3m
#Bearcats Coach Mick Cronin said playing in 5/3 Arena, as is, probably isn't viable long-term. Exploring option of moving games downtown.

Zach Wells ‏@WellsZach 2m
Nothing is definitive. Ideas are on table. Cronin said he and AD Whit Babcock are on the same page, tackling challenges head-on. #Bearcats


This, to me, would be awesome and exactly the type of forward thinking UC needs to advance in conference realignment. US Bank Arena would put up around $100 million dollars to renovate the arena and allow Cincinnati to become a much more desired host for NCAA tournament games, concerts, conference tournaments, etc. With the improvements done downtown on the Banks, moving UC games down there would create a buzz. I thought the Cross Town Classic went great, and was terrific for business downtown. If UC could get into a league like the ACC, think of a game against Duke or North Carolina (even Louisville, Syracuse, etc) at US Bank Arena. The area definitely would be buzzing.

Thoughts on this? I know the first thing people will bring up is how it will hurt student attendance.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Zach Wells ‏@WellsZach 3m
#Bearcats Coach Mick Cronin said playing in 5/3 Arena, as is, probably isn't viable long-term. Exploring option of moving games downtown.

Zach Wells ‏@WellsZach 2m
Nothing is definitive. Ideas are on table. Cronin said he and AD Whit Babcock are on the same page, tackling challenges head-on. #Bearcats


This, to me, would be awesome and exactly the type of forward thinking UC needs to advance in conference realignment. US Bank Arena would put up around $100 million dollars to renovate the arena and allow Cincinnati to become a much more desired host for NCAA tournament games, concerts, conference tournaments, etc. With the improvements done downtown on the Banks, moving UC games down there would create a buzz. I thought the Cross Town Classic went great, and was terrific for business downtown. If UC could get into a league like the ACC, think of a game against Duke or North Carolina (even Louisville, Syracuse, etc) at US Bank Arena. The area definitely would be buzzing.

Thoughts on this? I know the first thing people will bring up is how it will hurt student attendance.

Anything that gets us out of the Shoe I'm all for it. My dream would be to spend the money updating the shoe.Thus keeping games on campus. If that isn't going to happen I would much rather go to 5th third arena. Had two kids at TOSU. If you've never taken in a game at the Schott. your missing out. Great facility. We should have a similar place here. If basketball is big time at UC its time we upgrade the facilities.

 

[cincycpaw]

Had two kids at TOSU.

I stopped reading right there.


Personally, I think moving games off campus for basketball especially is a terrible idea, unless only temporary while improvements are being made.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Anything that gets us out of the Shoe I'm all for it. My dream would be to spend the money updating the shoe.Thus keeping games on campus. If that isn't going to happen I would much rather go to 5th third arena. Had two kids at TOSU. If you've never taken in a game at the Schott. your missing out. Great facility. We should have a similar place here. If basketball is big time at UC its time we upgrade the facilities.

If UC could get a YUM! Center type deal, where US Bank puts up the 100 mill and UC agrees to be a tenant for X number of years...I would be ecstatic. That is why I think this is a good possibility, UC is already upgrading Nippert, so not having to front the bill should be enticing.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

I stopped reading right there.


Personally, I think moving games off campus for basketball especially is a terrible idea, unless only temporary while improvements are being made.

Cincycpaw LOl. My youngest boy was on athletic scholarship to TOSU and his younger sister followed him. Needless to say there are lots of heated sports discussions in my family. My oldest graduated form Dayton..

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

If UC could get a YUM! Center type deal, where US Bank puts up the 100 mill and UC agrees to be a tenant for X number of years...I would be ecstatic. That is why I think this is a good possibility, UC is already upgrading Nippert, so not having to front the bill should be enticing.

I go to the games regardless but if we could get something equal to the Yum center I would be all for it.

 

[JasonS]

If UC could get a YUM! Center type deal, where US Bank puts up the 100 mill and UC agrees to be a tenant for X number of years...I would be ecstatic. That is why I think this is a good possibility, UC is already upgrading Nippert, so not having to front the bill should be enticing.

This is the key. UC doesn't have the money to upgrade Nippert and 5/3rd. It was decided (and correctly IMO) to upgrade Nippert. If UC can play in a newly renovated arena that they didn't have to pay for, how can anyone be against that? So it isn't on campus. Big deal. The arena would be state of the art and a much better experience for the fans after the renovations (assuming they happen). I am sure the city would love to have the Bearcats down there to help fill out the arena schedule. An empty arena makes no money. Even if the city doesn't make a lot on UC games, it is still better than sitting empty. Hopefully this financially works out for UC if it happens.

 

[L-T]

That arena brings back some really bad memories for me. The 80s were the dark ages of UC Basketball and not a lot of fans went to that arena to watch. The general consensus was that it was far less convenient to go downtown then to drive to the campus. Back then, games started at 8:00. Now with games starting at 7:00, that whole rush hour issue of getting off work, going home, rushing to get ready, then back out on the road still during rush hour and getting back to campus, will now be further complicated with having to get downtown. Plus, the single biggest issue to consider is the impact on the students. The students did not come to that arena at all. They have already been showing up less and less with the games on campus. If you take the games downtown, I think you'll have far fewer students at the games, especially if the team isn't a high profile, top rated team.

Now, I like that arena much more now than I did in the 80s. There still is absolutely no leg room in the seats. If someone wants out of the row, its a major pain because your stepping on feet, tripping over stuff, etc. It's a really tight squeeze. But, in general, I like the arena more than 5/3. And, most importantly, our record there is amazing. We have always played well there. I just think with the profile of the program the way it is today, the fans won't support us as well down there and we can't afford that right now. If we became a top level program again, the fans will follow you anywhere, but we're not there now.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

That arena brings back some really bad memories for me. The 80s were the dark ages of UC Basketball and not a lot of fans went to that arena to watch. The general consensus was that it was far less convenient to go downtown then to drive to the campus. Back then, games started at 8:00. Now with games starting at 7:00, that whole rush hour issue of getting off work, going home, rushing to get ready, then back out on the road still during rush hour and getting back to campus, will now be further complicated with having to get downtown. Plus, the single biggest issue to consider is the impact on the students. The students did not come to that arena at all. They have already been showing up less and less with the games on campus. If you take the games downtown, I think you'll have far fewer students at the games, especially if the team isn't a high profile, top rated team.

Now, I like that arena much more now than I did in the 80s. There still is absolutely no leg room in the seats. If someone wants out of the row, its a major pain because your stepping on feet, tripping over stuff, etc. It's a really tight squeeze. But, in general, I like the arena more than 5/3. And, most importantly, our record there is amazing. We have always played well there. I just think with the profile of the program the way it is today, the fans won't support us as well down there and we can't afford that right now. If we became a top level program again, the fans will follow you anywhere, but we're not there now.

Good Point L_T it really doesn't matter where you play if you can't sell it out. The attendence is picking up but will it continue to trend up if we move the games down town is the question?

 

[All we do is Guyn]

I don't think student attendance would be a huge issue. Providing some type of direct shuttle system for students would help a lot though

 

[Cataclysmo]

You have to think our biggest knock in recruiting is 5/3. However, the place is a cool atmosphere when its poppin'. Regardless, Im all for a move, but if i was a student, i would much rather be on Campus for a game, especially one on a wednesday night.

 

[All we do is Guyn]

These discussions on upgrading the facilities are tough for me. Because part of me thinks "yeah, of course we need better facilities" but another part thinks "If we can't sell out what we have why even upgrade?"

I wonder how our fan support compares to schools with similar success. I would guess its a lot worse.

 

[nparker1]

what is TOSU?...Waite, if you say "Thee", i have lost all respect for you..."thee" is not on their degree...therefore, it has no purpose being used...just another reason why OSU fans are obnoxious

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

what is TOSU?...Waite, if you say "Thee", i have lost all respect for you..."thee" is not on their degree...therefore, it has no purpose being used...just another reason why OSU fans are obnoxious

LOL!!! I won't say it but I've got two Buckeyes in my family and I can tell you first hand they can be obnoxious. I still love them though.

 

[L-T]

I didn't give my kids a choice. It was UC or pay your own way.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

With this announcement that UC wants to possibly move games downtown and with Whit's announcement a few weeks ago about offering schollies for all olympic sports sounds like we are getting our ducks in a row for the next shuffle of conference alignment. I hope that Santa and Whit look at UL and what they did, we could get there.

 

[nparker1]

LOL!!! I won't say it but I've got two Buckeyes in my family and I can tell you first hand they can be obnoxious. I still love them though.

glad to hear you are loyal...but you have to refrain from typing "tOSU"...OSU is manageable, but not TOSU...

L-T: i would like to think i would have the same mentality...

Go Bearcats!

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

With this announcement that UC wants to possibly move games downtown and with Whit's announcement a few weeks ago about offering schollies for all olympic sports sounds like we are getting our ducks in a row for the next shuffle of conference alignment. I hope that Santa and Whit look at UL and what they did, we could get there.

Absolutely, I just hope it isn't too little too late. They are certainly doing their best to seperate from the non-Power 5 pack.

Cincinnati is probably number 2 overall in terms of expansion targets (behind BYU), the problem is there has to be a need for expansion!

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

I didn't give my kids a choice. It was UC or pay your own way.

lol! Essentially my son did. Daughter is on my dime. They were a year apart so I rationalized he could keep a eye on her. They have now both been brain washed.

 

[nparker1]

personally, i am not a fan of US Bank as a basketball venue...granted, i was not able to attend Crosstown to experience what sounds like an awesome atmosphere, but from my experiences in the past, like UC vs Miami, CUSA tournament games, etc., it always seemed like US Bank was almost too large, preventing/tempering crowd noise/energy...personally, i would prefer to continue to play at the Shoe' simply for the buzz as well as student attendance (which i think will be affected by a move downtown)...i have never been to Villanova or Duke, but their arenas do not seem that much larger than the Shoe', especially Villanova...ulimate wish is for a new arena, on campus...and i wonder what a move to US Bank would do to season ticket prices?