JackBauer151
Well-known member
Interesting take. I tend to agree with him 
Something’s missing on The Banks. Every time I attend a Reds game now I look forward to soaking in the atmosphere at the Banks around Great American Ball Park, especially because I remember when the only thing you saw on the way to the ballpark was a giant hole where Riverfront Stadium used to be and where The Banks was supposed to be but after awhile seemed as if it never would.
I have a brother who grew up here before moving to Denver about six years ago. He comes home every Christmas but has not been to a Reds game or to the riverfront since he moved away. If he came now, he would think he was in a different city.
But there’s still one thing missing down there – and no, it’s not the merry-go-round that they’re going to put in Smale Park. What’s missing to make the riverfront – and downtown – complete is a state-of-the-art arena. U.S. Bank Arena simply has too many limitations, starting with the fact that it’s no longer considered suitable for an NCAA Tournament game. That’s a disgrace in a city where college basketball is such a big deal.
While the city suffers from this void on its now-thriving riverfront, UC plays on its campus in outdated Fifth Third Arena. The school is in the process of raising money to renovate Nippert Stadium. When that’s finished, officials will presumably turn their full attention to Fifth Third, but athletic director Whit Babcock told The Enquirer’s Cliff Peale just last week that he doesn’t have the answers for that project yet.
Moving UC’s home games downtown was tried in the 70s and 80s and didn’t work. But it’s a different time now. The riverfront has become an attraction and having UC basketball there would only add to the atmosphere during the winter. Ever been to the Yum! Center in downtown Louisville to watch the Cardinals play?
To get UC to play downtown, the city/county would probably have to partner with UC and the Nederlander Group, which owns U.S. Bank Arena, to finance a complete overhaul of the building, making it a true home court for the Bearcats, complete with priority over game dates (sorry, Cyclones). The Bearcats would get a new home court with better seating for its fans who can enjoy the Banks before and after the game. The city would fill the void on the river and Nederlander would get a new tenant.
I remember when UC moved into The Shoe in 1989 how excited everyone was because the games were back on campus where they belonged. But playing downtown can work for UC if it’s done right.
Time is of the essence. I’m told preliminary discussions have already taken place, but a decision will have to be made soon so that UC and Babcock know whether they should proceed with a fundraising plan to renovate or replace Fifth Third Arena or whether they should cast their lot downtown.
http://cincinnati.com/blogs/daugherty/2013/06/20/the-morning-line-620-move-uc-basketball-downtown/
Something’s missing on The Banks. Every time I attend a Reds game now I look forward to soaking in the atmosphere at the Banks around Great American Ball Park, especially because I remember when the only thing you saw on the way to the ballpark was a giant hole where Riverfront Stadium used to be and where The Banks was supposed to be but after awhile seemed as if it never would.
I have a brother who grew up here before moving to Denver about six years ago. He comes home every Christmas but has not been to a Reds game or to the riverfront since he moved away. If he came now, he would think he was in a different city.
But there’s still one thing missing down there – and no, it’s not the merry-go-round that they’re going to put in Smale Park. What’s missing to make the riverfront – and downtown – complete is a state-of-the-art arena. U.S. Bank Arena simply has too many limitations, starting with the fact that it’s no longer considered suitable for an NCAA Tournament game. That’s a disgrace in a city where college basketball is such a big deal.
While the city suffers from this void on its now-thriving riverfront, UC plays on its campus in outdated Fifth Third Arena. The school is in the process of raising money to renovate Nippert Stadium. When that’s finished, officials will presumably turn their full attention to Fifth Third, but athletic director Whit Babcock told The Enquirer’s Cliff Peale just last week that he doesn’t have the answers for that project yet.
Moving UC’s home games downtown was tried in the 70s and 80s and didn’t work. But it’s a different time now. The riverfront has become an attraction and having UC basketball there would only add to the atmosphere during the winter. Ever been to the Yum! Center in downtown Louisville to watch the Cardinals play?
To get UC to play downtown, the city/county would probably have to partner with UC and the Nederlander Group, which owns U.S. Bank Arena, to finance a complete overhaul of the building, making it a true home court for the Bearcats, complete with priority over game dates (sorry, Cyclones). The Bearcats would get a new home court with better seating for its fans who can enjoy the Banks before and after the game. The city would fill the void on the river and Nederlander would get a new tenant.
I remember when UC moved into The Shoe in 1989 how excited everyone was because the games were back on campus where they belonged. But playing downtown can work for UC if it’s done right.
Time is of the essence. I’m told preliminary discussions have already taken place, but a decision will have to be made soon so that UC and Babcock know whether they should proceed with a fundraising plan to renovate or replace Fifth Third Arena or whether they should cast their lot downtown.
http://cincinnati.com/blogs/daugherty/2013/06/20/the-morning-line-620-move-uc-basketball-downtown/