Yum! Center/Fifth Third renovation

[Robert]

It seems like there hasn't been any discussion of an arena renovation on these boards in a while.

First off, I know we've all seen it before, but WOW -- the Yum! Center has got to be the crown jewel of college basketball venues. You can tell when ESPN is broadcasting from a great arena, because they take every opportunity they can to show wide shots and show off the view as much as possible.

I know the money isn't there yet. So I realize this is all hypothetical. And, obviously, UC doesn't need a 20k+ arena. I have heard some debate on turning the court sideways at 5/3 and turning the seating into a bowl. Is this feasible at all? Some say it is and others say it's not.

Google image search the Yum! Center and take a look at some of the shots that show the entire lower bowl. Here would be a good one to look at: http://www.ermco.com/picture/kfc-yu...025.png?pictureId=8329036&asGalleryImage=true

Could this be replicated at Fifth Third? Or is the arena simply too narrow to accommodate, even assuming a complete gutting of the interior? It looks like the seats go back less than 30 rows at the Yum from pictures, but I have read that the lower bowl seats a little over 11,000. This would be perfect for UC -- attendance nationwide is down, not just here. A little smaller capacity is okay if paired with nicer amenities. Just imagine everything in that photo from the LED screen strip going around the arena down and picture that inside of Fifth Third Arena. I know, I'm dreaming, and it's probably not possible...

 

[UCalum08]

Its like comparing apples to oranges. UL has some of the best campus facilities, an unlimited financial pocket and yes the Yum center is absolutely stunning. I saw Roger Waters The Wall concert there last year and was in awe. I kept thinking I can't believe this is UL's home court. I try and not think about it too much because we are two different schools in two completely different scenarios.

 

[Robert]

Keep in mind, I'm not asking for the whole Yum Center... just the lower half haha.

 

[Cataclysmo]

Couple things:

1. The arena is not the universities, it is actually the cities and UL just has a sick deal (bastards)

2. The arena has the city in the red zone finacially (who cares tho it's UL bball )

3. How cool would this be?

http://archinect.com/features/artic...ing-local-architecture-at-a-variety-of-scales

(Scroll down)

 

[UCalum08]

Yeah it would be sweet. I hate to say it but unfortunately I think we are really far away from any kind of major improvement with fifth third. Football will come first and I think we are really far away on that as well. I try and not think about it too much because its so far away from being a reality.

 

[Robert]

Couple things:

1. The arena is not the universities, it is actually the cities and UL just has a sick deal (bastards)

2. The arena has the city in the red zone finacially (who cares tho it's UL bball )

3. How cool would this be?

http://archinect.com/features/artic...ing-local-architecture-at-a-variety-of-scales

(Scroll down)

Whoa. Where did that design for Fifth Third come from? Was that commissioned by the university?

 

[Cataclysmo]

Yeah it would be sweet. I hate to say it but unfortunately I think we are really far away from any kind of major improvement with fifth third. Football will come first and I think we are really far away on that as well. I try and not think about it too much because its so far away from being a reality.

With the money we are reported to get, we might be closer than one could ever expect.

 

[Cataclysmo]

Whoa. Where did that design for Fifth Third come from? Was that commissioned by the university?

I honestly have no idea. Im a stadium junkie

 

[Lobot]

With the money we are reported to get, we might be closer than one could ever expect.

NONE of the incoming exit fee money is going towards facilities. It's going to amortized over the long run to make up difference between our current TV contract and the new one and to put us in a position where we can pay an exit fee.

 

[Cataclysmo]

NONE of the incoming exit fee money is going towards facilities. It's going to amortized over the long run to make up difference between our current TV contract and the new one and to put us in a position where we can pay an exit fee.

True, but adressing other finacial demands cant hurt Nipperts expansionh

 

[UCBearcats]

Yeah it would be sweet. I hate to say it but unfortunately I think we are really far away from any kind of major improvement with fifth third. Football will come first and I think we are really far away on that as well. I try and not think about it too much because its so far away from being a reality.

I have heard rumblings from some upper crust folks that UC is actually close on having a large portion of the money for Nippert. What I've heard is that certain companies/individuals have agreed to pledge money but the money will be pledged over a period of time and UC will have to figure out how to get the capital to begin the project knowing that it will be paid for in donations over the next 10 to 15 years. There will also be a rather lucrative naming rights deal for the pavilion and a few large corporate sponsors that will take a much more prominent advertising presence in the new stadium in return for their financial assistance.

 

[mplebanon]

Cincinnati fans really have the best and worst, in terms of sports. Louisville and Lexington don't have any pro sports teams. I don't think their high school football and basketball is as revered as Ohio's. Outside of UK and Louisville, none of the other colleges really come to mind. It's pretty much college basketball and horse racing in the state of Kentucky. Not much competition for the fan dollar at all.

In Cincinnati, there are so many sports to spend your money on. You could expand it to the the State of Ohio.

Pro sports in Cincinnati - Reds, Bengals. Both made the playoffs last season and should continue to be good for awhile.
Then there's the Cyclones if you like hockey.
I know Louisville has the Bats, but the Dayton Dragons sell out every game.
Then you have Moeller, Elder, St. Xavier and all the good football teams in the area. And most of Kentucky's best high school teams are in Northern Ky which is like being in Cincinnati.
Colleges? UC, XU, Miami, Ohio State, including lots of Notre Dame fans in the area. And for some reason, lots of UK fans.

I just have always thought that the dollars of Cincinnati sports fans have been divided up far more than fans living in Kentucky or Indiana. There is just so much more to do in Cincinnati in terms of sports, and even non-sports, such as Kings Island, etc.

I mean, if you lived in Louisville or Lexington, your sports dollar would go to one or both of those basketball teams and probably the Kentucky Derby. That's it.