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

2

Study: Additional radiation for liver cancer does not increase toxicity

March 10, 2026

New research led by University of Cincinnati Cancer Center researchers published in the American Journal of Clinical Oncology found external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is safe to administer to patients with liver cancer even after they undergo a targeted internal radiation therapy called Y90.

5

Is uACR the key to cardiovascular and kidney disease prevention?

March 8, 2026

As a precision biomarker, the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) can guide physicians toward personalized, patient-centered prevention and treatment of both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to new data published in the Journal of Internal Medicine.

6

Driven by her own pain

March 8, 2026

Endometriosis is a painful and often debilitating disease that affects an estimated 6.5 million women in the U.S. It occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of it, causing pain, inflammation and sometimes infertility. Now a University of Cincinnati College of Medicine researcher is developing what is believed to be the first at-home diagnostic test.