page_title: Fifth Third Arena
section_title: 2018 Renovation
hierarchical_section_title: Fifth Third Arena / 2018 Renovation
caption_attribution_description: English: Men's basketball game March 10, 2019 University of Cincinnati hosting University of Houston View from Section 201
context_page_description: Fifth Third Arena is a 12,012-seat basketball arena in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. The number of seats in the arena was reduced from the initial 13,176 seat design to 12,012 in honor of the number 12 jersey of Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson. The arena opened in 1989 and is located on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. It primarily serves as the home venue for the Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball, women's basketball, and women's volleyball teams and hosts other events. It is located in the Myrl H. Shoemaker Center, which was also the name of the arena until 2005, when it was named for Cincinnati-based Fifth Third Bank).
context_section_description: On October 31, 2014, WLWT reported that the arena could be in line for a $70 million facelift. The project would reduce the amount of seating, but improve visibility in the arena. It would also upgrade club areas, restrooms, and even add a new roof.
  On June 23, 2015, WXIX-TV reported the price rose to $80 million. The new capacity would be 10,818. Per the Fifth Third Arena RFQ (Ohio Facilities Construction Commission) Construction was scheduled to start in March 2016 with completion by September 2017. The Bearcats would play games off campus during the 2016–17 season during renovations.
  On August 25, 2015, The university officially kicked off the multimillion-dollar fundraising campaign for the renovation. The UC Board of Trustees approved an interim $2.2-million funding request to allow for completion of documents in the design development phase. $15 million has been raised toward the project, an additional $25 million must be raised before the board gives full approval in December. UC teams under the renovation plan would vacate Fifth Third Arena for the 2016–17 season. UC Athletic Director Mike Bohn said that U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati Gardens, Cintas Center or BB&T Arena are possibilities as a temporary home. No timetable was provided on when a decision would be made on where events will be held.
  On June 16, 2016, the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority approved a contract to acquire the Cincinnati Gardens for $1.75 million. The arena will be demolished and the 19-acre (7.7 ha) site will be repurposed for future light manufacturing. The sale and imminent demolition of the Cincinnati Gardens eliminated the possibility of the facility being used as a temporary home arena during the renovations of Fifth Third Arena
  On December 15, 2015, the UC Board of Trustees approved an $87-million, privately funded renovation of Fifth Third Arena. Proposed improvements to the facility, include the creation of a 360-degree seating bowl, new HD scoreboard, ribbon boards, sound system, an LED lighting system which will allow for enhanced gameday presentation, new restroom and concession facilities, a new upper-level concourse with its own fan amenities, expanded food and beverage options and a new main entrance and plaza with centralized ticketing and guest services. The renovated arena also would feature upgraded locker room spaces, expanded premium seating options, including a courtside club, arena club and concourse club as well as enclosed suites, loge seating, a new Bearcats Lounge and super suites.  During the meeting, trustee Rob Richardson Jr. said the upgraded facility would support the university's objective to join a power athletic conference and in student-athlete recruitment. Construction was set to begin in April 2017 and be completed in fall 2018. Construction was originally scheduled to start in March 2016 with completion by September 2017, but the timeframe was pushed as a result of the project's complexity and pace of fundraising. Lessons learned from the renovation of nearby Nippert Stadium drove a desire not to rush the renovation of 5/3rd Arena, given the uniquely tight quarters of UC's campus. 
  A first phase of the renovation was completed prior to the start of the 2016-2017 season, adding four 18-seat luxury suites on the sixth floor of the arena behind the north baseline of the court, which formerly housed the UCATS Club. These suites were used during the 2016-2017 season. Men's and women's basketball and volleyball home events would be conducted off campus during the 2017–18 season while the rest of the renovation was performed. Major renovation work began after the 2016–17 season and is set to be completed by November 2018.  On February 10, 2017, the university announced that home men's basketball games would be moved to BB&T Arena on the campus of Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Kentucky during the renovations of Fifth Third Arena. In April 2017, the university announced that the women's basketball and volleyball teams will play their home games in the St. Ursula Academy Gymnas
caption: March 10, 2019 hosting Houston
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