Our house rocks again

Renovated Fifth Third Arena reopens: a photo gallery

The University of Cincinnati reopened Fifth Third Arena in November, following an $87 million renovation. The new season at the re-imagined arena featured a ribbon-cutting, the men's basketball opener against Ohio State University, the first regular season game between the two in 99 years, and a victory at the annual Skyline Chili Crosstown shootout.

University of Cincinnati Bearcats won 62 to 47 over Xavier University in a basketball game at Fifth Third Area. UC/ Joseph Fuqua II

UC's Jarron Cumberland shoots over Xavier's Quentin Goodin during the Crosstown Shootout. UC beat Xavier 62-47. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative Services

5th3rd Arena Ribbon Cutting / game

UC benefactor and Board of Trustee member Margaret Valentine and her husband, Mike, led a ribbon-cutting prior to the men's basketball home-opener against Ohio State University. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative Services

5th3rd Arena OS vs UC

Visitors file across the East Concourse of the new Fifth Third Arena on game night. PhotoJoseph Fuqua II//UC Creative Services

University of Cincinnati Bearcats lost 64 to 56 against Ohio State Buckeyes in a basketball game at Fifth Third Area. UC/ Joseph Fuqua II

UC fans in the student section of Fifth Third Arena hold up cardboard cutouts of celebrities along with other banners to cheer the home team. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative Services

University of Cincinnati Bearcats lost 64 to 56 against Ohio State Buckeyes in a basketball game at Fifth Third Area. UC/ Joseph Fuqua II

UC men's basketball coach Mick Cronin argues a call during a game. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative Services

University of Cincinnati Bearcats lost 64 to 56 against Ohio State Buckeyes in a basketball game at Fifth Third Area. UC/ Joseph Fuqua II

UC Board of Trustees Chairman Thomas Cassady waves to the crowd from center court at Fifth Third Arena during a ceremony honoring the board for its support of the renovation project. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative Services

5th3rd Arena Ribbon Cutting / game

UC's $87 million renovation of the Fifth Third Arena included digital high-definition scoreboards and seating for 12,012 fans. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative Services

University of Cincinnati Bearcats lost 64 to 56 against Ohio State Buckeyes in a basketball game at Fifth Third Area. UC/ Joseph Fuqua II

UC's Jarron Cumberland shoots over Ohio State University's Luther Muhammad in UC's season opener. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative Services

Four men pose for a photo with the seats of Fifth Third Arena in the background.

Ohio Supreme Court Justice Pat DeWine, left, and Gov.-elect Mike DeWine, second from left, were guests of UC Board of Trustees Chairman Thomas Cassady and UC President Neville Pinto, right, for UC's home-opener against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative Services

University of Cincinnati Bearcats won 62 to 47 over Xavier University in a basketball game at Fifth Third Area. UC/ Joseph Fuqua II

UC guard Justin Jenifer dribbles against Xavier's Paul Scruggs during the annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout. UC won 62-47. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative Services

Featured image at top: UC center Nysier Brooks dunks during the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout at Fifth Third Arena. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative Services

For tickets to Bearcat games, go to GoBearcats.com

Related Stories

1

CCM Philharmonia presents concert + livestream on Feb. 20

February 18, 2026

Audiences can enjoy CCM Philharmonia's next concert in person or watch at home via livesteam at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 20. Featuring alumni guest artists Rebecca Barnes, viola; and Jonathan Lee, cello; tickets for the "Midlife Crisis" concert are on sale now through the CCM Box Office. The livesteam is free to watch on CCM's website and YouTube channel.

4

Scientists: Slushy snowmelt isn’t just a nuisance

February 13, 2026

Slushy snowmelt isn’t just a nuisance, scientists say. It can send a toxic flood of road salt, sand and car exhaust, as well as dog poop, into rivers and streams, The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine's Yevgen Nazarenko, PhD, assistant professor of environmental and industrial hygiene in the Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, recently told The New York Times that research has shined a light on how pollution from all sorts of vehicles — planes, cars, trucks — can get trapped in the snow.

5

Can Cincinnati become a Blue Zone?

February 12, 2026

Under the Blue Zones Project umbrella, 75 U.S. cities currently are working on group diet and exercise programs while also changing the community’s culture, so that residents are encouraged to make healthy choices. Cincinnati is not an official Blue Zones Project city yet, but Florence Rothenberg, MD, adjunct professor of cardiology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and clinical cardiologist at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center, is leading one public effort to encourage a Blue Zone lifestyle. Her work was recently featured in Cincinnati Magazine.