Anthony's Declassified Men's Basketball Guide

For those who don't know my background, I was born and raised in Syracuse. (My boss still thinks I'm from Jersey; I'll save that gripe for my next column.) Well, there was not much to do outdoors from August through June in "almost Canada," so they would lock us indoors and roll a little orange ball out on the gym floor and watch us work on our left-handed layups. Truth be told, I was a defensive specialist who played about three minutes during garbage time while on my elementary school "B" team. I understood my skill level... I quickly made the switch to playing hockey.

But, as with any youth in Syracuse, we were dragged to basketball games at the Carrier Dome in 27 inches of snow and minus-37-degree wind chills. It was called "just another Saturday" by the weather people. Each game I'd watch as 20 or 30 thousand people a night filed into a 50,000-seat venue with a huge blue curtain. It was a strange and magical place. If I could write to my 8-year-old self, I would send a "stadium guide" on where the best burgers were.

But I can't do that. What I can do is share my knowledge of the best venue in college basketball: Fifth Third Arena. I mean it. What a beauty. It's intimate, it's a pure basketball arena, and it gets LOUD. The sight lines, the ability to view the game from the north and south concourses, and the amenities make it perfect. As a curator of gameday, I hope to pass along my intimate knowledge of some tips, tricks, and little-known secrets to help you with your visit. Follow these helpful guidelines, and impress your friends and guests like you own the place.

Before the game:

• Download the app and your tickets before leaving home. Please don't wait until you get to campus. Nobody wants to be the one fiddling with their phone in line while everyone behind you is standing in the cold. Download the app here.
• Our campus has gone cashless. Leave the cash at home!
• Make sure you have parking. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to purchase parking in advance. Parking passes are digital and can be purchased in advance here. If you do not have a parking pass, the pay-at-the-gate option is Campus Green garage ($10). Please note: Like the rest of campus, this is also cashless.
• Review the latest clear bag policy. You can find it here and acceptable items here.
• Arrive at your garage at least 90 minutes prior to tip-off. This gives you ample time to park, walk to the venue, and be in your seat to watch warm-ups. 
• Sign up for text messages here. You'll receive promotion info and ticket deals, as well as major updates regarding basketball. Who knows, you may even get a video message from Wes Miller!
• Sign up for our fan contests here. We also use this contest page at our events for in-arena promotions. Create your account on our website and start entering to win cool prizes like trips with the team or Bearcats gear!
• Wear red, black, or white. Pick up some new Jordan gear from our partners at Rally House. To get your hands on your new gear as quickly as possible, order for in-store pick up! If you're more of a visual person, our bookstore locations on campus also have a great selection of athletic wear. Find them behind sections 115 and section 203-204 (on select games).
• Beat the rush at the gates. 85% of our attendees enter through Gate A (on the east side, where the Oscar statue is) or Gate B (on the west side, nearest Sheakley Lawn). While the other gates are less traveled, Gates A and B are the best place to enter. Just be aware that wait times tend to be 5-7 minutes as tip-off approaches which can feel like an eternity during the winter months. Get there early and get out of the cold!

At the arena:

• Enjoy Bearcats Happy Hour. Here's another perk for showing up early: For the first hour after gates open (90 minutes before tip-off), enjoy a $5 Cincy Light drink special. That means you want to be in the arena at least 30 minutes before the game starts to grab a discounted drink!  
• Don't miss "show time." This will start around the 12-minute mark pregame. The hype video, the team entrance, and starting lineups make this a can't miss, high-energy moment that helps define why Fifth Third Arena is unparalleled in basketball atmosphere. We like fans in their seats for this because it gets the team excited and shows off our home-court advantage to visiting fans and TV viewers.
• If you have kids, head over to the windows outside of The Vault behind section 114 on the east concourse. Here you'll find some coloring items to keep them entertained. While they're coloring the media timeouts away, scan the QR code to sign them up for the Junior Bearcats Club It's the best deal in town. $40 gets them a boatload of stuff!
• Locate the best bathrooms near your seats. Did you know about the bathrooms tucked behind sections 105-106, hidden behind the Champions Club near our housekeeping? It's our least traveled set of bathrooms on the first level. They're FAST!
• Show appreciation to our ushers. Our ushers are the unsung heroes of gamedays, dedicating their time for your experience. High-five them, treat them well, and if you need assistance, they are more than willing to help.
• Get on the videoboard with Tagboard. Tag your social posts with #Bearcats and check the rotations during timeouts to see if your post made it to the big screen!
• To my 8 year old self:   Find the Frisch's stand behind Section 118 (best burger), then buy some cotton candy right next to the stand.  

Bars.  We. Have. Bars. Drink responsibly and reasonably, please.  Our food service team has worked hard to curate some new and exciting experiences at the bars in the arena. Here's a tip sheet!

100 Level:
Armory Bar
Located on the main-level concourse, The Armory Bar highlights the history of Armory Fieldhouse, the home of Bearcats basketball from 1954-76. The bar features the original floor from Shoemaker Center. The Armory Bar serves vodka and gin as liquor options. Cincy Light and Cincinnati's favorite beers find a home at the heart of Fifth Third Arena, a full offering of cocktails including specialty vodkas and gins selections.

Champions Club (ticket required)
Facing the team benches, the Champions Club boasts an all-inclusive food package and complimentary soft drinks. A fully stocked cash bar allows for access to those that enjoy an adult beverage or two. Getting access to this sold-out area is perfect for a date night, or a business outing.

200 Level:
Overlook Bar
Located on the upper-level concourse, The Overlook Bar overlooks UC Baseball Stadium and offer a great place to meet friends before or after games. The Overlook Bar serves a curated selection of scotches, whiskey and rye as liquor options. It features some of the best beers available in Cincinnati, plus Guinness and Harp from Ireland anddouble-barrel aged stouts from Rhinegeist featuring Mushhushshu with hints of coffee and vanilla bean. 

Queen City Bar
Rhinegeist, Great Lakes and Mad Tree breweries are our hometown beers. Tequila and Mezcals along with a full line of liquors make the fifth floor at Fifth Third Arena a worthwhile destination. Seating areas concessions guide: General Bowl
Access to most amenities and bars.

200 Level
We were tired of watching fans walk down 25 rows to just get a water. This season, walk up to the very last row and find our new mobile cart units that serve light fare and beverages, saving you valuable time and adding an amenity you didn't know you needed!

Champions Club
Facing the team benches, the Champions Club boasts an all-inclusive food package and complimentary soft drinks. A fully stocked cash bar allows for access to those that enjoy an adult beverage or two. Getting access to this sold-out area is perfect for a date night, or a business outing.  

Arena Club
Currently sold out, the Arena Club offers an exclusive concession stand for ticket holder use and access to the Vault.   Food and beverages are included in these seats, as well as perks like upgraded lounge chairs and massage chairs in the Vault (name another venue that has massage chairs in a club!).   If you can get your hands on these seats that are behind the team benches, get into the arena early and make sure you sneak (well, you're allowed to be there) into the team tunnel to give them high-fives before they take the court.

Herche Courtside
It doesn't get better than having your feet on the hardwood. Food and beverages are included in the Courtside Club Lounge, with rotating food menus and excellent bar services. Take in the game in style. These are worth the price of admission. Seats remain available on a single-game basis.  

Suites
Suites line both sidelines and we also have "sky suites" on the baseline. They are full service and state-of-the-art. We have one available for sale on a single-game basis, and it's great for parties or business use.

Loges
Those little "boxes with 4 seats and TVs" on the west side of the lower bowl are sold on a season basis and have food and beverage service. One remains open for sale for the season and is great for small business to close deals. Anthony's Favorites: 

• If I had to pick just one, I'd say it's the "speakeasy" we may or may not have placed in the arena (for select games) that serves very rare/high-end bourbons and other delights.
• But I can't pick just one...the addition of the mobile carts ran by many of our awesome international students are sprinkled throughout the arena and allow fans to skip the concession stands if they're just looking for staples like water, beer, seltzers, or snacks and candy. These entrepreneurs are there to expedite your experience and decrease wait times at our main stands. 
• Lastly, our Arena Club stand (behind section 113) is exclusive for our arena club seat holders. We have dedicated this to our long-time food service employee, Miss Karen. Please go say hi as she is usually out front greeting fans and being the unbelievable person that she is. She's the best!!

One more thing. What does Let's Reign mean? I keep seeing it...

In the Queen City, we need our athletes to wear crowns. To win championships, our fans and businesses need to help with our student-athletes' name, image and likeness opportunities. We encourage fans to contribute to Cincy Reigns, which helps to retain and develop student-athletes as valuable members of the Cincinnati community. Consider a contribution at CincyReigns.org today. $10 a month is great, but $50 a month is better!

With that, you're a gameday master. We look forward to seeing you this season at Fifth Third Arena as we welcome the best of the best in the Big 12 Conference during our inaugural season. Go Bearcats!