UC Requesting Quotes on $70M Fifth Third Arena Renovation

[#BearcatNation]

@buildingcincy: OFCC issues RFQ for design/architecture services for $70M renovation/redesign of Fifth-Third Area/Shoemaker Center: http://ofcc.ohio.gov/Portals/0/Documents...15074A.pdf

Looks very promising!

 

[jbreeds1]

Looks like they are shooting for it to be ready for the 2018-19 season.

 

[BearcatSpaniard513]

This just makes me think when it's all said and done Mick is going to be a Legend here. Returning UC basketball from where it was, pushing for and getting the facilities upgraded, not leaving for more money or other programs with better facilities... I'm glad they are actually moving forward with this or at least getting quotes for it

 

[#BearcatNation]

Looks like they are shooting for it to be ready for the 2018-19 season.

It says in the PDF that they're looking to begin construction in April 2016 and have it ready by November 2017. So 3 seasons from now. Also says it would require the basketball team to play elsewhere for a season (guessing at US Bank Arena downtown like they did with football).

My guess is, they're going to use this season to go over the plans with architecture firms, have a deal with the official announcement and photos/details following this season, and a year later, they begin construction. That's basically how it went with Nippert.

The link says basically everything I thought they were looking into. Fewer seats, but more quality seats. More box suites. Fixing the lower "bowl." Consessions, bathrooms, etc. all getting renovated. It also mentioned they won't be turning the court 90 degrees, which I'm happy about as well.

Very excited.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Good to hear! Get rid of the obstructed seats and adding more luxury suites will probably bring the capacity around 11.5-12k. That would be satisfactory to me.

 

[BearcatSpaniard513]

Good to hear! Get rid of the obstructed seats and adding more luxury suites will probably bring the capacity around 11.5-12k. That would be satisfactory to me.

Yeah the seats in the corner and the bleachers up top need to go. We've all been there when it hits 13,176, but honestly how many times does it hit that a year? 11.5-12k should be perfect

 

[#BearcatNation]

Yeah the seats in the corner and the bleachers up top need to go. We've all been there when it hits 13,176, but honestly how many times does it hit that a year? 11.5-12k should be perfect

To me, attendance doesn't matter as much as having a nice, packed arena. It just looks good. On TV, to recruits, fanbase as a whole, etc. If you start selling out every game and wish you had more seats, you can always up the prices on the seats a little to continue increasing revenue. Nothing worse to me than giant arenas that are only half full.

 

[TheShoeFits]

http://cincyontheprowl.com/2014/10/31/rfq-issued-70-million-fifth-third-arena-renovations/

 

[aronius]

The seating number being talked about by UC is closer to 10K than 12K. The renovation will be primarily focused on premium seating and amenities. I was opposed to renovating 5th 3rd but the preliminary drawings they have are very encouraging.

 

[UCalum08]

Always good to hear. I really hope the focus on really upgrading the amenities for the normal fans. (The ones who aren't sitting in club suites.) I really want to see a full reamp of food/consessions, technology like nice TV's in the concourses etc, obviously the rest rooms.

This renovation is bigger than adding more suite boxes to generate more money.

 

[#BearcatNation]

Always good to hear. I really hope the focus on really upgrading the amenities for the normal fans. (The ones who aren't sitting in club suites.) I really want to see a full reamp of food/consessions, technology like nice TV's in the concourses etc, obviously the rest rooms.

This renovation is bigger than adding more suite boxes to generate more money.

The Shoe is going to look completely different. $70 mill will change everything. To put it in perspective, the entire Cintas Center was $46 mill. I bet there isn't much they keep, to be honest. Even the entire structure.

 

[BCM]

The Shoe is going to look completely different. $70 mill will change everything. To put it in perspective, the entire Cintas Center was $46 mill. I bet there isn't much they keep, to be honest. Even the entire structure.

How much overhead is there for a renovation though (demolition, removal of materials, working within confines of a structure) than building from scratch, though? Probably not a 24 million dollar difference, but I don't know.

 

[#BearcatNation]

How much overhead is there for a renovation though (demolition, removal of materials, working within confines of a structure) than building from scratch, though? Probably not a 24 million dollar difference, but I don't know.

I thought I read somewhere that they want to get an entirely new roof. Not sure if that means the side walls stay the same...?

 

[BCM]

Well that in and of itself will be ridiculously expensive I imagine. Definitely needed, but expensive.

 

[ccmbearcat]

How much overhead is there for a renovation though (demolition, removal of materials, working within confines of a structure) than building from scratch, though? Probably not a 24 million dollar difference, but I don't know.

Cintas is built on the old US Shoe property, so there was demolition involved, but it may not have been included in the 46 million.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

The Shoe is going to look completely different. $70 mill will change everything. To put it in perspective, the entire Cintas Center was $46 mill. I bet there isn't much they keep, to be honest. Even the entire structure.

Cost of building has gone up a lot since then. Is that figure for Cintas in 2014 dollars?

Edit: it would be 63 million in today's dollars per Wikipedia.

 

[bearcat8290]

At the meeting Sept 10 2014, Bohn indicated the seating would be 10,578. A number of people in the crowd urged him to go higher. So we shall see. I hope they change the lousy food offerings and drinks. It's pretty much popcorn, steamed hot dog or hamburger or gross out nachos, wonderful pepsi product of your choice and a domestic beer. Service is also very big and it's not happening at Shoemaker. So not only is change in the venue necessary but a change in service.

 

[ccmbearcat]

At the meeting Sept 10 2014, Bohn indicated the seating would be 10,578. A number of people in the crowd urged him to go higher. So we shall see. I hope they change the lousy food offerings and drinks. It's pretty much popcorn, steamed hot dog or hamburger or gross out nachos, wonderful pepsi product of your choice and a domestic beer. Service is also very big and it's not happening at Shoemaker. So not only is change in the venue necessary but a change in service.

I just hope they are not short sighted. 10,578 seems small, a decade ago they were talking about a renovation to get to 16,500. It seems that 12,000 is the magic number that separates the big guys from the mid majors, at least most of the time. Instead of copying what others have already done (like the Reds did with GABP), look forward and anticipate what will be state of the art ten years from now, and build for that. And don't go cheap, since we will not get another shot to do this for a long time. If you get that wonderful plan but it costs an extra ten million then do it. Getting this right now will pay off big in the future.

 

[UCalum08]

This is a little off topic but didn't want to start a thread... I am at the Cintas Center watching MSJ game in support of Lauren and I'm a little jealous of Xavier's court. They have the entire skyline of the city of Cincinnati. It looks awesome. We should have that not them, we are the university for the city. Ughhhh

 

[ccmbearcat]

They have the entire skyline of the city of Cincinnati. It looks awesome. We should have that not them, we are the university for the city. Ughhhh

They did that on purpose. But they will never be the city team. With 6x as many alumni, UC will always be top dogs. Oh and six final fours to none, two national championships to none. Not to mention the greatest college player of all time.