Cincy on the Prowl
Fansided

Cincinnati Gardens To Be Sold, Demolished, Redeveloped

By Bearcat Jones

Mar 6, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats forward Octavius Ellis (2) talks with guard Troy Caupain (10) in the first half at Fifth Third Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats forward Octavius Ellis (2) talks with guard Troy Caupain (10) in the first half at Fifth Third Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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The historic arena was under consideration to host UC Bearcats basketball in 2017-18 during the renovation of Fifth Third Arena.

Reports are out that The Cincinnati Gardens arena, which opened in 1949, has been sold to the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority, and will be demolished and redeveloped as an industrial site.  The Gardens has hosted 42 Crosstown Shootouts, and previously hosted University of Cincinnati basketball from 1949-54 and again from 1987-89.  It has also been the home arena for NBA basketball, pro hockey, arena football, and Xavier at various times throughout its illustrious history.

This news is of interest to UC, as The Gardens had been mentioned as a potential home for Bearcats Basketball next season (2017-18), when Fifth Third Arena will be closed for major renovations.  The Port Authority expects to close on the sale in late July, but there is no timetable for demolition yet.  Even so, it appears clear that The Gardens is no longer a viable option to be a temporary home court for Cincinnati Basketball 17-to-21 months from now.

Personally, I loved the idea of the Bearcats playing at The Gardens in ’17-’18.  It’s a great venue with a rich history, and would probably have a far lower price tag than playing downtown at US Bank Arena or at some of the other alternatives.  Plus, The Gardens basically has no tenants at present (unless you count the women’s roller derby team and high school hockey), so UC could have free reign to schedule games on the dates that they want.  That wouldn’t be the case anywhere else.

But now, UC’s most streamlined option with the least amount of hurdles to clear looks to be off the table.  Remaining options are downtown’s US Bank Arena, NKU’s BB&T Arena, and Xavier’s Cintas Center (which I still can’t believe was even mentioned by UC AD Mike Bohn).  Perhaps a combination of the three will happen, given the challenges of scheduling around the primary tenants of those arenas.  More to come on this subject next week.