Renovation underway at Fifth Third Arena
UC begins the first stage of the $87-million Fifth Third Arena renovation with a premium seating for 2016-17 season.
Renovation underway at Fifth Third Arena UC begins the first stage of the $87-million Fifth Third Arena renovation with a premium seating for 2016-17 season. Check out this story on cincinnati.com: http://cin.ci/2bthC28
Kate Murphy, kmurphy@enquirer.com Published 4:18 p.m. ET Aug. 17, 2016 | Updated 4:34 p.m. ET Aug. 17, 2016
See what the Bearcats home might look like. Provided
UC announced the start of the $87-million renovation of Fifth Third Arena on Monday.(Photo: Provided/University of Cincinnati)
The University of Cincinnati Wednesday announced the first phase of the $87-million renovation of Fifth Third Arena this fall will be a new premium seating experience.
Construction is underway on four additional luxury suites on the sixth floor of the arena, which fans will have access to for the 2016-17 season.
UC Athletics spokesman Ryan Koslen said the university is able to start the construction now because it won't disrupt anything for the upcoming season.
"It's tangible and it shows that we're serious about it," Koslen said. "It's a kickstart of sorts."
The 18-seat suites, which formerly housed the UCats Club will be behind a basket, overhanging the north baseline of the court.
Koslen said the space was underused and now it will offer a new premium seating option with a unique view, which Fifth Third hasn't had for a long time.
Each suite is ADA accessible and features granite countertops, a flat-screen television and custom cabinets and furniture. In addition to a private lounge and restrooms, suite holders will also receive four parking passes.
UC Athletics is looking for a long-term commitment from interested fans. Each suite will cost $40,000 a year for 10 years, plus the cost of the ticket.
Donors and fans can reserve their baseline suite by calling the UCats office at 877-55-8227.
Once the basketball season is over, UC will pursue the renovation of the 26-year-old venue in earnest. Koslen said when the full renovation happens there will be more opportunities for individual buyers to purchase club seats.
The facility, which is home to the Bearcats men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams, is also something UC can show off in its bid to the Big 12 Conference.
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The renovation is expected to be 100 percent privately funded, through suite and ticket sales and donations. A $70-million deal with joint venture partners Skanska and Megan Construction in May brought UC closer to that goal, but Koslen said fundraising for the project is ongoing.
The Bearcats will have a temporary home for sports during the 2017 and 2018 seasons during construction, which is expected to be complete in fall 2018.
Athletic Director Mike Bohn has said the university is still weighing its options with Xavier University's Cintas Center, U.S. Bank Arena and Northern Kentucky University's BB&T Arena. UC officials haven't provided a timetable on when a decision would be made.
Enquirer archives contributed to this story.
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