TicketsHere it is... again. My favorite day of the year is our football home opener. After nine months of planning, reading surveys, talking with fans and making adjustments, we finally see it all in action.
I live for our home football games. It's what drives me. Making your day memorable is what makes me excited to work every day. I truly love hearing the stories about the memories you have created over the years and how Nippert is the hidden gem of college football. This year, we have dedicated more staff who have the same passion. We have created a new unit, led by Sydney Shelton, to be 100% committed to refining the fan experience. We know we can't please everyone, but we will try. If we fall short, please fill out our post-game surveys to help make us better. We're here for you and because of you—we will always work on your behalf to address any concerns.
If you have immediate needs on game days, use 513-450-8556. It's our new texting service, with which we can respond to your needs throughout the game.
We've rolled out a new marketing campaign you may have noticed: Saturday With Us. I've learned that, in Cincinnati, Saturday is an activity––a verb. When you're in Clifton on gameday, we want you to laugh with us, to cheer with us, to scream with us, to eat with us... to Saturday With Us. Win or lose, we're grateful that you choose to Saturday With Us and with your Bearcat family.
Thank you for being the best fans and helping mold your gameday with every survey, note, phone call, and other feedback. This is your day, and we are just stewards of it.
Without further ado, here are 15 tips, tricks, and quests for gameday:
- Download the brand new Cincinnati Bearcats app. Seriously, this isn't some marketing ploy––it was one of our biggest priorities of the summer. The app is your best source of information, and if you're a season ticket holder, you can claim your 10% concession discount code. This is only available in the app!
- Take the Eden Garage shuttle. This year, we will ensure the shuttles arrive and depart in an orderly fashion. Gameday ambassadors will be at the shuttles to guide fans onto the buses. We will also have a concession cart selling some staples. Drop-off and pick-up will be at Commons Way and W Daniels Street, an easy walk to Gate A!
- Download the Cincinnati Bearcats app, which is brand new! It's so important that I mentioned it twice. Download the app, log in with your Ticketmaster account, navigate to the Tickets tab, and add your seats to your wallet. This will get you in the gate regardless of whatever internet traffic jams may arrive on gameday.
- If you can't make it to a game, transfer your seats (in the app!) or resell them on Ticketmaster. We want those seats filled by screaming Bearcats.
- Get to Sheakley Lawn starting three hours before kickoff as we test opening the lawn early. Grab a picnic table, let your kids run around and play in our bounce houses, and watch games on our big screen. New this year: A beer hall.
- Try out our new Lifetime Financial Growth Commons Club on Bearcats Commons in front of TUC. Enjoy free games and prizes as well as a cash bar. Make new friends, take in the views, and enjoy the outdoors. It's a tailgate spot for those who don't have a tailgate spot, just outside the stadium perimeter.
- Getting too hot? Did it just start raining? Don't leave! Head into TUC or Fifth Third Arena for some relief. These venues are part of our gameday perimeter and offer the creature comforts needed for a brief respite from the elements while allowing you to return to your seat when you're ready.
- Kid bothering you for some candy, but don't want to break the bank? Or are you like me and need a Ring Pop because, well, why not? We created two 513 Stands in the stadium. Find these stands for gameday basics priced at $5, $1 and $3.
- You know you're getting older when stuff from college becomes cool again, and this is another one of those instances. Reminisce in the Rhine Room. It's in the former Catskellar space, complete with live music and a signature concession item. We might spill beer in there throughout the week so you get the nostalgia of a sticky bar floor. Don't forget to grab your modernized Mr. Jim's Steak Sandwich.
- Make things quick at Nippert Market. This has my vote for the coolest thing we're doing this year. We're bringing in local favorites like Donatos, Skyline Chili, Rhinegeist beer, Milton’s Donuts, Bibibop, and more. Stretching all the way down the east side of the stadium beneath the upper deck, it includes convenient grab-and-go stations with gluten-free and vegan options.
- Find your seat more easily and quickly! Okay, this was actually a tip you gave to us. We needed better wayfinding and we made it happen. You'll notice new section numbers on the columns and seat directional numbers above the stairwells leading down to your seats.
- Check out the new ribbon boards! We've completed the runs down the front of the upper deck and across the press box, plus thrown some more on the bridge, above the field suites, and at field level. These will help make the gameday atmosphere more immersive, and we'll also utilize them for out-of-town scores.
- Bring your shades. Our new team entrance packs even more pyro. Who doesn't like fireballs?!
- Make note of our new Guest Services booths. We now have TWO booths where you can seek assistance with any issues that you may have. At these stands, you will also find yearbooks, first-game and birthday certificates and more! One booth is located on the plaza by Sheakley Lawn, and the other is located on the northwest concourse at the bottom of the TUC steps.
- Review our revamped A-Z Guide.
We've waited 280 days to welcome you back to Nippert Stadium and it's finally here. We can't wait for you to Saturday With Us. Go Bearcats!