TicketsCINCINNATI – It's back! After 15 years, University of Cincinnati Athletics, in collaboration with UC Student Government, will once again celebrate the start of basketball season with "Bearcats Madness" Presented by Skyline Chili on Friday, Oct. 4 at Fifth Third Arena.
Festivities start at 11:30 p.m. ET following the football game against UCF.
Admission is free. Fifth Third Arena doors open at 10 p.m. The football game will be played on the videoboard and concourse televisions for those entering prior to the conclusion of the game.
Bearcats fans will get their first look at the 2019-20 men's and women's basketball teams with introductions from new men's coach John Brannen and women's head coach Michelle Clark-Heard.
DJ ETrayn will serve as emcee of the event.
// SKYLINE CHILI 4,000 T-SHIRTS GIVEAWAY
"Bearcats Madness" Skyline Chili T-shirts will be placed on 4,000 seats in the lower bowl for fans. The proud sponsor of UC Athletics will also shower fans with gift cards during a parachute drop.
// FIFTH THIRD BANK $100K HALF-COURT SHOT
Fifth Third Bank will offer one fan the opportunity to win up to $100,000 during "Bearcats Madness" as part of the Fifth Third Bank $100K Half-Court Shot. Prior to the half-court shot, the contestant will choose between taking a half-court shot themselves for a chance to win $100,000 or deferring to UC men's basketball alumni Kevin Johnson or Terry Nelson to attempt the shot on their behalf for $50,000.
To enter the Fifth Third Bank $100K Half-Court Shot sweepstakes, fans must tweet both #enter and #FifthThird100K. The contest closes at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1 and the winner will be contacted via Twitter on Wednesday, Oct. 2. The winning contestant will also receive four club seats and a parking pass to the football game against UCF courtesy of Fifth Third Bank.
Fans must be 18 years or older, residents of Ohio, Indiana, or Kentucky, and have a public Twitter profile in order to be eligible. Full contest rules and regulations: 53.com/bearcats.
// PRE-EVENT AUTOGRAPH SESSION PRESENTED BY FORMICA
Fans can get autographs and take pictures with some UC men's basketball players from the past at the Formica autograph session on the west concourse beginning at 10:30 p.m. Among the confirmed attendees are DerMarr Johnson, Steve Logan and James White.
// EVENT SPONSORS
UC Athletics salutes Skyline Chili, who returns as the title sponsor of "Bearcats Madness." Other sponsors include Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky Honda Dealers, LifeCenter Organ Donor Network, Kingsgate Logistics and the University of Cincinnati Alumni Association in connection with the university's Bicentennial celebration.
// SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
10 p.m. – Fifth Third Arena doors open
10:30 p.m. – Formica autograph session begins on west concourse
11:30 p.m. – Event begins with introduction of men's and women's coaches, staff and student athletes
Midnight - Fifth Third Bank $100K Half-Court Shot
12:05 a.m. – Men's and women's basketball three-point shooting contest
12:20 a.m. – Women's basketball team scrimmage (20 minutes)
12:41 a.m. – Skyline Chili Gift Card Parachute Drop
12:45 a.m. – Men's basketball team scrimmage (20 minutes)
// BEARCATS LIGHT SHOWS
Fans are encouraged to download the Cincinnati Bearcats app to join the new Bearcats light shows. The first light show will take place at kickoff of the UCF game at Nippert Stadium. There will also be a light show to tip-off "Bearcats Madness" in Fifth Third Arena.
The Cincinnati Bearcats app is the best mobile option for staying up-to-date on all Bearcats news, schedules, and video content. Mobile ticketing will arrive on the app later this fall. Visit the app store to download the Cincinnati Bearcats app today!
APP STORE | ANDROID
// SURPRISE SEASON TICKET OFFER
Season tickets for the 2019-2020 Bearcats basketball season are sold out. However, a limited number of tickets were held and will be available for purchase at the Fans First Center inside the east concourse at Fifth Third Arena during Bearcats Madness.
Important to note, the only way fans will guarantee their seats to the 2020 Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout against Xavier will be by purchasing 2020-21 season tickets. This will be the last chance to secure 2019-2020 season tickets, which will enter fans into the renewal process for 2020-2021 season tickets.
Fans interested in securing season tickets for future seasons at Fifth Third Arena are encouraged to place a $50 deposit to join the season-ticket waitlist, which is organized on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans can join by visiting GoBearcats.com/waitlist.
// ARENA ENTRANCE, PARKING AND CONCESSIONS INFORMATION FOR BEARCATS MADNESS
ARENA ENTRANCE NOTE: Fans coming to the event after attending the football game at Nippert Stadium should enter Fifth Third Arena via the west concourse. Fans attending the basketball event only should enter the arena via the east concourse. Gameday arena bag policies will be in effect.
PARKING NOTE: Fans attending only "Bearcats Madness," and not the football game, are encouraged to park in the Campus Green Parking Garage.
CONCESSIONS NOTE: Concessions, including alcohol sales, will be available from doors open until midnight. Concessions will only be available on the lower level concourses of Fifth Third Arena.
Festivities start at 11:30 p.m. ET following the football game against UCF.
Admission is free. Fifth Third Arena doors open at 10 p.m. The football game will be played on the videoboard and concourse televisions for those entering prior to the conclusion of the game.
Bearcats fans will get their first look at the 2019-20 men's and women's basketball teams with introductions from new men's coach John Brannen and women's head coach Michelle Clark-Heard.
DJ ETrayn will serve as emcee of the event.
// SKYLINE CHILI 4,000 T-SHIRTS GIVEAWAY
"Bearcats Madness" Skyline Chili T-shirts will be placed on 4,000 seats in the lower bowl for fans. The proud sponsor of UC Athletics will also shower fans with gift cards during a parachute drop.
// FIFTH THIRD BANK $100K HALF-COURT SHOT
Fifth Third Bank will offer one fan the opportunity to win up to $100,000 during "Bearcats Madness" as part of the Fifth Third Bank $100K Half-Court Shot. Prior to the half-court shot, the contestant will choose between taking a half-court shot themselves for a chance to win $100,000 or deferring to UC men's basketball alumni Kevin Johnson or Terry Nelson to attempt the shot on their behalf for $50,000.
To enter the Fifth Third Bank $100K Half-Court Shot sweepstakes, fans must tweet both #enter and #FifthThird100K. The contest closes at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1 and the winner will be contacted via Twitter on Wednesday, Oct. 2. The winning contestant will also receive four club seats and a parking pass to the football game against UCF courtesy of Fifth Third Bank.
Fans must be 18 years or older, residents of Ohio, Indiana, or Kentucky, and have a public Twitter profile in order to be eligible. Full contest rules and regulations: 53.com/bearcats.
// PRE-EVENT AUTOGRAPH SESSION PRESENTED BY FORMICA
Fans can get autographs and take pictures with some UC men's basketball players from the past at the Formica autograph session on the west concourse beginning at 10:30 p.m. Among the confirmed attendees are DerMarr Johnson, Steve Logan and James White.
// EVENT SPONSORS
UC Athletics salutes Skyline Chili, who returns as the title sponsor of "Bearcats Madness." Other sponsors include Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky Honda Dealers, LifeCenter Organ Donor Network, Kingsgate Logistics and the University of Cincinnati Alumni Association in connection with the university's Bicentennial celebration.
// SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
10 p.m. – Fifth Third Arena doors open
10:30 p.m. – Formica autograph session begins on west concourse
11:30 p.m. – Event begins with introduction of men's and women's coaches, staff and student athletes
Midnight - Fifth Third Bank $100K Half-Court Shot
12:05 a.m. – Men's and women's basketball three-point shooting contest
12:20 a.m. – Women's basketball team scrimmage (20 minutes)
12:41 a.m. – Skyline Chili Gift Card Parachute Drop
12:45 a.m. – Men's basketball team scrimmage (20 minutes)
// BEARCATS LIGHT SHOWS
Fans are encouraged to download the Cincinnati Bearcats app to join the new Bearcats light shows. The first light show will take place at kickoff of the UCF game at Nippert Stadium. There will also be a light show to tip-off "Bearcats Madness" in Fifth Third Arena.
The Cincinnati Bearcats app is the best mobile option for staying up-to-date on all Bearcats news, schedules, and video content. Mobile ticketing will arrive on the app later this fall. Visit the app store to download the Cincinnati Bearcats app today!
APP STORE | ANDROID
// SURPRISE SEASON TICKET OFFER
Season tickets for the 2019-2020 Bearcats basketball season are sold out. However, a limited number of tickets were held and will be available for purchase at the Fans First Center inside the east concourse at Fifth Third Arena during Bearcats Madness.
Important to note, the only way fans will guarantee their seats to the 2020 Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout against Xavier will be by purchasing 2020-21 season tickets. This will be the last chance to secure 2019-2020 season tickets, which will enter fans into the renewal process for 2020-2021 season tickets.
Fans interested in securing season tickets for future seasons at Fifth Third Arena are encouraged to place a $50 deposit to join the season-ticket waitlist, which is organized on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans can join by visiting GoBearcats.com/waitlist.
// ARENA ENTRANCE, PARKING AND CONCESSIONS INFORMATION FOR BEARCATS MADNESS
ARENA ENTRANCE NOTE: Fans coming to the event after attending the football game at Nippert Stadium should enter Fifth Third Arena via the west concourse. Fans attending the basketball event only should enter the arena via the east concourse. Gameday arena bag policies will be in effect.
PARKING NOTE: Fans attending only "Bearcats Madness," and not the football game, are encouraged to park in the Campus Green Parking Garage.
CONCESSIONS NOTE: Concessions, including alcohol sales, will be available from doors open until midnight. Concessions will only be available on the lower level concourses of Fifth Third Arena.