UC's Fifth Third renovation may be approved in coming week

The University of Cincinnati's plan to renovate Fifth Third Arena is expected to be approved at the next UC Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday Aug. 25, The Enquirer has learned.

The estimated $70 million project will update the campus home of UC men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball. The project will be paid for with private funds and some fundraising is in progress, sources told The Enquirer.

UC athletic director Mike Bohn, when asked about the arena project Saturday, declined comment on any specifics.

"We do have work to do," Bohn said. "We are making progress."

Construction would begin immediately after the Bearcats complete the 2015-16 basketball season, possibly in May 2016.

UC teams would have to leave Fifth Third Arena for the 2016-17 season, with US Bank Arena and Cincinnati Gardens among several possibilities as a temporary home. It is expected that UC teams will return to the renovated Fifth Third for the 2017-18 season.

The current seating capacity of 13,176 will be reduced to about 11,500, according to the plan to be presented to the Board of Trustees.

The Enquirer reported last month that UC was close to approving renovations of the building, which opened in 1989.

The plan includes a 360-degree seating bowl, and would replace the current rollaway bleachers with permanent seats.

A new roof is planned along with upgrades to concessions, lighting and the heating and cooling systems. Retail kiosks for fans will be located in the upper bowl. Many upper level bench seats will be replaced with chairback seating.

UC also is near completion of an $86 million renovation and expansion of its Nippert Stadium football facility, which will reopen for the 2015 Bearcats football season on Sept. 5 against Alabama A&M. That project also is being financed by private funds.