Capitalizing on Stadia Investment Through Strategic Integration with the Urban Neighborhood

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Capitalizing on Stadia Investment through Strategic Integration with the Urban Neighborhood

A thesis submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Cincinnati in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

Master of Architecture

in the department of Architecture of the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning by

Emily Adams

Bachelor of Science in Architecture University of Cincinnati May 2015

Committee Chair: M. McInturf, M.Arch. Committee Member: A. Kanekar, Ph.D.

Abstract

Sports have a special place in many people’s hearts. Stadiums create a venue for fans to witness their teams duke it out against competition in an emotional atmosphere riddled with tradition. While stadiums have been part of regions’ major infrastructure since Ancient Greek and Roman times, costs of modern stadiums have soared in recent years. The extreme investment associated with new stadiums is a hurdle for both cities and franchises. Stakeholders in stadium infrastructure can only capitalize on their investment by scheduling a variety of different types of entertainment to draw from the largest possible customer base. For a stadium to be an integral part of the urban fabric, it must perform at a much higher utilization rate than today’s standard. Local businesses must be incorporated into plans for stadia development. To better serve the diverse user group, a surround of hospitality spaces including bars, restaurants, and hotels must be present to allow for a customizable experience. Ease of transportation is another vital component of a successful stadium district. Ultimately, experiences hosted in stadia need to be versatile enough to excite a wide variety of users and offer them a customizable experience to cater to their personal traditions. Cincinnati, Ohio is home to a rich sports history. Traditionally, Reds baseball has been the talk of the town. Most recently however, soccer has moved to the forefront of the sports scene. While the city has never been able to successfully house a long-term professional soccer team, Carl Lindner, owner of recently founded Fútbol Club Cincinnati, is determined to secure a bid into Major League Soccer. In addition to strong financial standing and signed sponsors, the club is responsible for the addition of a soccer specific stadium to house the team. The city of Cincinnati, notoriously the home of bad stadium deals, is wary of the addition of yet another sports facility. A thorough investigation of urban site conditions led the stadium to Newport, Kentucky, a riverfront neighborhood in the Cincinnati metropolitan area. The development of the stadium as an urban artery on the existing vacant site led to exciting opportunities regarding the revitalization of the community. A unique landscape, uninterrupted cityscape views, and new publically funded infrastructure are the foundation of the extension of Cincinnati’s dense urban core across the Ohio River.

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Table of Contents

List of Tables / Figures v List of Illustration vi Introduction 1 Home Court Advantage 1 Viewer Experience 3 Cultural Context 5 Multipurpose Sports Venues 6 Madison Square Garden 7 Barclays Center 9 Intra-Sport Sharing 10 Professional-Collegiate Sharing 12 Public Stadia 13 Experiential Programming 14 Tailgating 14 Food and Beverage 15 Hotels 16 Commercial Offices 17 Residences 17 Cincinnati Sports History 18 Baseball 18 Tennis 19 Collegiate Sports 21 Football 22 Basketball 22 Hockey 23 Soccer 23 Cincinnati Sports Venues 26 Football Club Cincinnati 28 Stadium Siting 30 Oakley 33 West End 34 Newport 34 Development Plans 35 Interstitial Space 38 Conclusion 39

List of Tables / Figures

List of Illustration

Illustration 1: Cincinnati Sports Facilities 30 Illustration 2: Fútbol Club Cincinnati Top Ticket Sales by Zip-Code 31 Illustration 3: Ideal Stadium Site Region 32

Introduction

Sport has been an aspect of civilizations for thousands of years. Whether for entertainment or military training, sport has always had a strong following. Today, megastructures are being erected to allow for the mass viewing of sporting competitions. Stadia are a very complex building typology. Not only are they rooted in oversized footprints and serve a wide demographic of users, they also represent a major capital investment made by teams and regions that inherently reshape the surrounding environment.

Success for sports franchises is obviously measured in winning records and championship titles; however, sports teams are also businesses managing capital and cognizant of the bottom line. Stadiums are major elements of a city’s infrastructure and require large investments. Like any investment, it is important to understand the return. Urich and

Benkenstein of the Institute of Marketing and Services Research at the University of Rostock found that “stadium atmosphere is also likely to influence long-term internal and behavior variables. Team sport events can be categorized as atmosphere dominant services, which means that the experience of atmosphere is a pivotal factor in the popularity of these events”1. It is essential to note that the magnitude of the siting and design of the stadium contribute to building a fan base and, ultimately, a team’s long-term success.

Home Court Advantage

With the analysis of successful environmental qualities, sports infrastructure can inspire an emotional tie and allegiance to teams. “Because long-term psychological factors such as identification with the team or the image of the club, and behavioral variables such as purchases

1 Uhrich, Sebastian, and Martin Benkenstein. "Journal of Sport Management." Sport Stadium Atmosphere: Formative and Reflective Indicators for Operationalizing the Construct 24 (2010), 229.

2 of season tickets or club membership, can therefore be positively influenced by a good stadium atmosphere.”1 This loyalty or allegiance directly translates into “an emotional attachment to place and perceived safety and security.”2 Stadia are an incredible example of how users dramatically influence an environment to create an atmosphere. Sports venues sit stagnant until fans transform the building from a sports field or court into a game day experience. Athletes have a lot demanded of them. They are physically pushed to the edge and mentally stressed with the gravity of their performance. Sports fans are familiar with the concept of a “home-court advantage.” Playing at home is considered a major advantage in matchups. Athletes are not only familiar with the facilities but can also expect a less hostile fan atmosphere. “While sports fans typically don’t have any effect or influence on an athlete’s physical ability, fans have the power to make or break some professionals’ psyche and can enhance or undermine concentration.”3 Sports arenas create a unique environment where two very different users, fans and players, ultimately converge. The athletes’ performances influence the fans, and the fans’ behavior influences the athletes’ performances.

While a “home court advantages” is a mainstream concept in the sports world, it is not often coupled with environmental psychology within architecture. According to Sebastian

Uhrich and Martin Benkenstein of Human Kinetics, “environmental psychology is an interdisciplinary area of research that provides various theories to explain the interdependencies between environmental characteristics and human perceptions, cognitions, emotions, and behavioral reactions.” 1 Though individuals do not physically reside within stadia, “concepts of home are often tied to place meanings; both terms identify a state of mind and…what a place

1 Uhrich. "Journal of Sport Management." Sport Stadium Atmosphere, 212-229. 2 Kopec, David Alan. Environmental Psychology for Design. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Fairchild Books (2012), 175. 3 "The Psychology of Sports Fans: How Fans Affect Players." Psychology Educator. August 15, 2013.

3 means to someone.”2 A subject interviewed in the “Journal of Sports Management” study explained that “the feeling when you come into the stadium is just overwhelming. The crowd…is really…insane. You feel real emotion. It kind of gives me a high.”1 Kopec explains that this type of high, or: Intense emotion can be inextricably woven into a physical place, thereby forming meaning or an identity. This is why places are so important to people: They provide paths to self-identity by way of memories and emotional attachment.”2 Franchises leverage this type of attachment through season ticket renewals. Youngsters who have grown up with exposure to the energy and camaraderie present at major sporting events will follow their elders’ lead to secure tickets and continue the generational aspect of sport. This lineage of loyalty can ultimately be responsible for the financial success of sports franchises and is founded in the environment the stadium is capable of providing.

Viewer Experience

So often today designers allow for the dominance of vision over the other senses. Stadia are a unique construct in that regard as they are one of the few venues that allow other senses to transcend. Spectators’ favorite sports venues are not loved merely for the way they look, but instead for their complete atmosphere. What makes up a great atmosphere is a balance of sensory details. Hard and soft, loud and quiet, light and heavy, are all descriptions of spaces that trigger senses beyond that of vision. After all, loyal audiences fill up entire arenas from courtside all the way up to the “nose bleeds” where sightlines are oftentimes compromised.

These fans forgo the comfort of home and instant replay for the opportunity to experience the stadium atmosphere, something that is not capable of being translated through the TV.

2 Kopec. Environmental Psychology for Design., 176-178. 1 Uhrich. "Journal of Sport Management." Sport Stadium Atmosphere, 212-229

Despite all of this emotional connection to franchises and the adrenalin rushes of the game day environment, attendance has been steadily declining in recent years. Christopher Lee of Populous, a renowned stadia design firm, spoke to this ongoing problem. “As home entertainment systems become ever more elaborate, allowing fans to watch the action from every conceivable angle in ultra-high-definition, the conventional football stadium is having to up its game to lure people from the comfort of their homes.”4 With technology becoming an overwhelming aspect of life, we need not forget the importance of the user experience. The

Tottenham Hotspur, a London-based football club, is fighting this through the construction of a

$100,000,000 new stadium of the future. The stadium will stake claim to the United Kingdom’s longest bar, USB-integrated heated seats, and a glass entrance tunnel allowing ultimate transparency between fans and athletes. Suites allow members to store their personal wine and liquor, creating a very customizable user experience.4 Others think the careful integration of technology will create an exponentially better viewer experience. John Rodes of HOK, another stadia design giant, claims “it used to be about sheer size, but now everyone’s focused on the convergence of the physical and digital experience, increasing connectivity in the stadium to bring fans closer to the players.”4 The use of personal technology is being rethought in the sports context. Lee sees “opportunities for layering the viewing experience – from seeing different camera angles in your seat, to tracking the heart rate, speed and impact of players wearing smart clothing.”4 Drones could revolutionize concessions and eliminate the need for queues, and away matches could be holographically projected in stadia across the globe.

4 Wainwright, Oliver. "Stadiums of the Future: A Revolution for the Fan Experience in Sport." The Guardian. June 15, 2017.

Cultural Context

Another essential facet of environmental psychology is the study of developmental psychology in different cultural contexts. Herzog claims that for every project his practice reinvents the model; “My focus is always on capturing the local specificity of the place, designing a venue that somehow responds to the fan culture of the team in question.”4 He claims his Bordeaux stadium, developed off the regions elegant urban plan, was very refined when compared to the raw Roman Chelsea stadium. Peponis and Wineman agree with Herzog saying,

“It is commonplace that the design disciplines have inherent social dimension: They contribute to sustaining patterns of behavior, understanding, and social relationships.”5 At the inception of a design project architects go through rigorous mapping and diagramming studies to better understand the context of the space. These studies should highlight and “analyze design alternatives, to predict their likely effects, and to evaluate them; also to analyze context and to identify the constraints and possibilities that context imposes upon the design.”5 It is all too often that the steps are taken, but conclusions are not rolled into effective designs.

While stadia themselves make an exciting study of the future of sports viewing, the surrounding site context is a component of successful stadia design that must be further explored.

Stadia are famous for their game day atmosphere, but what build environment can help that atmosphere transcend past the stadia walls? How can investment in stadium infrastructure have a positive return? How does it become an integral component of the urban fabric? How do we encourage fans to spend their money on local businesses? It is no secret that today’s stadiums are underutilized and fail to deliver an immersive experience that infiltrates the surrounding

4 Wainwright, Oliver. "Stadiums of the Future: A Revolution for the Fan Experience in Sport." The Guardian. June 15, 2017. 5 Hall, Edward T. The Hidden Dimension. New York: Anchor, 1990, 142-146.

6 context. Deloitte, interested in the stadium as a platform for technology into the sports venue reflects:

Today a new dominant model is emerging. Geographically, new venues are moving back

to the city, anchoring larger mixed-use real estate developments and creating ‘arena

districts’ that reshape commercial activity in the neighborhood. Meanwhile, fans are

playing an increasingly important role in shaping and directing the experience—

interacting with teams and players in new ways on the field, in the concourses, and

outside the stadium.6

Developing a “stadium district” that meets the users’ needs, excites the community, and revitalized the neighborhood should be the end goal of all development.

Multipurpose Sports Venues

As previously mentioned, today’s stadiums are drastically underused. The cost of professional sports stadiums has remained in the hundreds of millions of dollars for several decades, but more recent stadia have surpassed the billion-dollar milestone. These same teams play a mere eight home games in the National Football League, seventeen home games in Major

League Soccer, or as many as eighty home games in Major League Baseball at one time. These numbers convert to a two percent, five percent, and twenty-two percent annual usage of stadium infrastructure. So why do professional sports teams not share stadia and the capital burden? It is not without precedent considering twenty-five different NFL franchises shared a stadium with another major-league sports team, primarily Major League Baseball. The Chicago Cubs

(baseball) and Chicago Bears (football) dually inhabited Wrigley Field starting in 1921. With

6 Giorgio, Pete. "The Stadium as a Platform." The Wall Street Journal. October 13, 2016, 32.

7 the Oakland Raiders’ recent move to Las Vegas, and the Oakland Coliseum vacant, the era of multi-purpose stadiums is seemingly extinct.

Multipurpose sports venues were favored because public money could be paired down to construct one multipurpose stadium on a single piece of real estate, seemingly cutting the price tag in half. With the movement paving the way in the 1960’s, the strong reliance on automobiles made city centers incapable of catering to the large stadium footprint and the masses of necessary parking. This often led to stadia following the fans out to the suburbs where highway access was key and land was plentiful. While facilities were designed with dual amenities catering to both teams, with the drastically different shapes of the baseball diamond and football field, sightlines were compromised. Seats were often angled away from home plate, the epicenter of baseball, and instead toward the middle of the outfield. “Jewel box” stadiums were the first attempts to build without columns that obstructed spectators’ views. This, however, resulted in upper decks being extremely far away from the field of play and ultimately unsellable for the majority of the regular season games.

Madison Square Garden

While the principles of sharing major stadium infrastructure in a region were, and still are, enticing, it was clearly not a winning formula. In a day and age where the ecological gravity of building is better understood, the idea of multi-purpose stadia must be revisited. Baseball and football may have been a failed marriage, but other sports venues have successfully created shared homes for a number of athletic events. Madison Square Garden, often referred to as MSG or the Garden, sits in the heart of Manhattan. It is home to three major league sports teams: the

New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association, the New York Liberty of the

Women’s National Basketball Association, and the New York Rangers of the National Hockey

League. While it is an indoor arena rather than a stadium, a lot can be learned from the venue’s utilization. Unlike baseball and football, hockey and basketball share a much closer game regulation size and shape. The National Hockey League, NHL, requires an ice rink specification of two hundred feet by eighty-five feet. The National Basketball Association, NBA, for both women and men require a court size of ninety-four feet by fifty feet. It is also important to note that scoring for both sports happens at either end line, or the short side of the rink or court. This allows for similar viewpoints, eliminating some of the sightline issues previously experienced through joint baseball and football stadia.

Although the Garden serves as the home of three major league sports teams, its world- renowned success does not lie solely on its tenants.

While those core tenants serve as a solid foundation, MSG hosts roughly 320 events annually.7

This converts to approximately an eighty-eighty percent annual usage rate, something much more reasonable for the cost of such major infrastructure. Madison Square Garden has diversified its offering to create the largest possible population of clientele. Because of its strong fan foundation in basketball, the venue hosts additional basketball games on the collegiate level.

Conference tournaments as well as the National Invitational Tournament, post-season college basketball, and the New York Police Academy graduation are annual bookings. MSG was considered the mecca of boxing until its recent move to Las Vegas. It also regularly hosts NHL and NBA All-Star Games. The arena is additionally the venue for large-scale political events like the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. Westminster Kennel Club Dog

Show and Disney on Ice draw large audiences that may not have any interest in the sports offerings at the Garden. Madison Square also hosts more concerts than any other venue in the

7 "Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall Named 'Venue of the Decade' in Their Respective Categories by Billboard Magazine." Business Wire. December 21, 2009.

9 city. Billy Joel, celebrated American singer-songwriter and pianist, is quoted, “Madison Square

Garden is the center of the universe as far as I’m concerned. It has the best acoustics, the best audiences, the best reputation, and the best history of great artists who have played there. It is the iconic, holy temple of rock and roll for most touring acts.”8 It is clear that Madison Square

Garden has created a loyal following. But how did they manage to create such a successful environment to foster these strong emotional connections? The siting of MSG in Midtown

Manhattan clearly plays to its favor. New York City is a dense urban area with a huge market.

The Garden finds itself in the heart of the city that never sleeps, within minutes of Time’s

Square, the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station and many other iconic New York City attractions. While the proximity of those staples may play to the city’s tourist rather than New

Yorker’s themselves, the streamlined accessibility is a major factor in the success of stadia.

Madison Square sits directly atop Pennsylvania Station. Penn Station offers the Long Island Rail

Road, New Jersey Transit, Amtrak, and the New York Subway System. The vast number of transportation options and methods allows for direct access to a large demographic of people and is capable of transporting masses of people in a more efficient manner than vehicular traffic.

Barclays Center

Inarguably iconic, Madison Square Garden, built in 1964, is ancient in terms of arenas.

The Garden is the oldest arena used in the National Hockey League and the second oldest in the

National Basketball Association behind the Golden State Warrior’s Oracle Arena.9 While it has survived the renaissance of single-use structures, just across the East River in Brooklyn, a new- age multipurpose venue has been erected. Barclays Center opened in 2012 and mimics MSG in

8 McShane, Larry. "Looking Back at 125 Years of Madison Square Garden." The Garden. 2005. 9 Li, David K. "Garden Wilting at No. 2 as Barclays Center Named Highest-grossing Venue in US." New York Post. July 24, 2013.

10 an alarming number of ways. The Barclay Center is home to NHL and NBA teams as well, the

New York Islanders and the Brooklyn Nets. The arena is also integrated into the mass transit system of Atlantic Avenue servicing the New York Subways System and LIRR’s Atlantic

Terminal. It hosts a variety of different entertainment events including conventions, concerts, and sporting events often competed for by Madison Square Garden.

Despite its new construction, Barclays Center favored basketball over hockey. While it can accommodate the required rink size by the NHL, the scoreboard hangs off-center over the ice. The seating bowl is asymmetrical and several hundred seats are unsellable due to obstructed views. It also serves as the second smallest capacity within the National Hockey League at

15,795 seats. Despite obstacles with hockey, Billboard Magazine reported that Barclays Center officially passed Madison Square Garden as the highest-grossing venue in the US for concerts and family shows, not counting sporting events.9

Intra-Sport Sharing

While Madison Square Garden is an exception, the historical failure of multi-sport venues, due in part to unresolvable sightline obstacles, makes it clear that coupling different sports in a single venue is not a successful formula. However, there are still working combinations that ultimately yield a higher utilization rate. Numerous cities around the world are lucky enough to have multiple European football (American soccer) teams that share a home.

Scheduling allows for one team to play at home while the other team plays an away match, alternating week to week. While some thought intra-sport sharing would stir up trouble between rivals, it has ultimately proven successful. Some of Europe’s most famous stadia are cohabitated, especially in Italy. Stadio Olimpico, built and owned by the Italian Olympic

9 Ibid.

Committee, is the largest sports facility in all of Rome. It is also considered Italy’s National

Athletics Stadium. After undergoing several renovations in order to transition from its use as an

Olympic stadium for the 1960 Summer Olympics, it became home to both the SS Lazio and AS

Roma.10 Vasishta explains the gravity of the clubs’ rivalry through their history; “AS Roma was formed by a union of all clubs in Rome to stop the domination of Italian football by norther sides. The only club that opposed the formation were SS Lazio.”11 Founded on disagreement,

Stadio Olimpico is a fantastic example of how shared facilities can prosper despite fan hatred for one another. The stadium is not only a great example of intra-sport sharing; it also is a great illustration of repurposing a stadium after the Olympic games. Unfortunately, early last year AC

Roma announced their pursuit of their own stadium. SS Lazio soon followed suit. According to

Football Stadiums, it is presumed “that the two sides will never share a [new] home regardless of the difference it might make to the city’s infrastructure and their own financial situation.”10

They claim that greed is responsible for the decision;

This once great tradition of ground shares seems to be dying out, perhaps because of the

amount of money available to clubs through the likes of television deals and ticket sales.

Sharing a stadium with another club also means having to share the profits you might

make on things like renting out your facilities for conferences…Greed is killing the

willingness of clubs to work together.10

It is imperative that clubs understand the gravity of their decisions on an urban scale. The very fans that support and fund their endeavors are being neglected through decisions that greatly impact and alter their communities.

10 "Football Ground Shares | Which Clubs Share Stadiums and Famous Examples." Football Stadiums. 2017. 11 Vasishta, Keerthi. "5 Stadiums That Are Shared by Football Clubs in Europe." Sportskeeda. October 10, 2017.

Professional-Collegiate Sharing

Few cities within the United States are lucky enough to have multiple professional sports teams to mimic this model. However major metropolitan areas are generally home to professional sports teams as well as local colleges and universities. Several colleges have paired up with their local professional sports teams to share facilities. Heinz Field serves as home to the

National Football League’s Pittsburgh Steelers and the University of Pittsburg Panthers. The proximity to the campus and the university-provided transit shuttle has increased the student turnout despite the off-campus location. While the stadium capacity is over 65,000 people, the

Panthers manage to average over 45,000 fans for their collegiate showdowns, which is a very respectable turnout for college athletics.12 Gillette Stadium, just outside of the Boston metropolitan area and home of the New England Patriots football team, shares facilities with the

University of Massachusetts at Amherst, commonly referred to as UMass. A whopping ninety- one miles and a two-hour commute stand between this college campus and stadium, the largest of any shared facility. With the extensive travel time, it is no surprise that UMass only averages a turnout of roughly 15,000 fans, representing a mere twenty percent of Gillette’s capacity of

69,000.12 Clearly, some situations of shared facilities are more successful than others. Event attendance data indicates that stadiums and arenas that fall within a ten-mile radius of universities allow for a solid student turnout. Shared stadia are attractive to collegiate athletes because it gives them first-hand access to professional sporting opportunities. It also ensures a state-of-the-art stadium that surpasses the standard expectations of collegiate sports venues.

Additionally, professional sports teams could leverage the proximity and ongoing exposure to young talent in their recruiting efforts and both parties could triumph in additional state funding.

12 McWhinnie, John. "A Case Study in NFL-NCAA Shared Stadiums." Bull Run. January 22, 2015.

Public Stadia

The University of Cincinnati took a different approach to creating a higher utilization rate for the historic Nippert Stadium. Nippert, built in its rudimentary form since 1901, has been home to the Cincinnati Bearcat’s football program for over 100 years and is the fifth oldest football field in collegiate football.13 The longevity of the stadium is a product of the stadium’s unique setting. The heart of the University’s campus, Nippert Stadium is open 24/7 to the public, with exception of when ticketed events are taking place. The 10,000 neighboring students and additional 30,000 enrolled students regularly use the facility for informal pick-up games, as well as organized amateur sporting events. Students have been running stairs as exercise for generations. Its proximity to dining halls also allow it to serve as a makeshift outdoor dining area. Students regularly complete coursework in the stands allowing it to serve as an amphitheater of sorts. Stanchions quickly transform the stadium access from public to private without any drastic alterations. Nippert Stadium has remained relevant with a series of renovation and expansion projects throughout the course of its history. Renovations have successfully increased capacity and updated facilities as ongoing technological advances have altered the sports world. It is important to consider transformability when siting such major infrastructure. Adaptations allowing change in capacity, updated technologies, and new tenants are vital to the long-term success of a stadium. Nippert has recently been retrofitted to serve as the home of the Futbol Club Cincinnati, a minor-league soccer team. Despite its location at an unaffiliated college campus, FCC’s turnout has soared.14 Their success is partly attributed to the

13 Grace, Kevin. Cincinnati on Field and Court: The Sports Legacy of the Queen City. Chicago, IL: Arcadia, 2002, 27. 14 Brennan, Patrick. "Another Record Crowd Turns out to Watch FC Cincy Win." Cincinnati.com. May 14, 2016.

14 spectacular stadium environment and ability to serve a wide demographic through the customizable experience offered in the surrounding urban context.

Experiential Programming

Regardless of method, it is vital that a stadium be multi-faceted. Successful stadia entice a large population of consumers through a variety of different programming. While the success of teams and quality of performance does play a factor, a stadium must play to the user’s heartstrings, ultimately creating an emotional attachment to the venue. It must transcend a mere event into an experience. Because of the diversity of the users, the experience must be customizable beyond that of just the stadium. It must also offer an opportunity for interaction between other spectators. Modern day stadia have been criticized for creating major voids within a neighborhood; Daniel Judt of The Nation claims, “Venues effectively blot out a part of the neighborhood when not in use, reducing foot traffic and fraying the fabric of the community.

Even when stadiums do draw big crowds, ticket holders spend little of their money at local businesses.”15 To combat this problem, stadium must integrate itself within the existing neighborhood, create constant foot traffic through high utilization, and integrate local businesses into the plan.

Tailgating

Tailgating has been an aspect of sports in the United States for many years. John Sherry, a cultural anthologist at the University of Notre Dame, claims tailgating harkens back to the ancient harvest celebrations of Rome and Greece. Because tailgating is seen as “participating in the team experience,” it should undoubtedly be accounted for in plans for stadia development.16

15 Judt, Daniel. "Stadiums Ruin Neighborhoods." The Nation. January 26, 2017. 16 Keen, Judy. "Tailgating Isn't Just a Party, Research Shows." USA Today. October 05, 2012.

Sherry goes as far as to claim tailgates that are “bustling microcosms of society where self- regulatory neighborhoods foster inter-generational community, nurture tradition and build a team’s brand.”17 Events attract a wide demographic of users. Tailgates create a hospitable environment where economic and political differences can be set aside and unlikely individuals can converse. Tailgating also serves as a great venue for interaction between local businesses and consumers. While it generally refers to a gathering in a parking lot of a sports stadium, it has recently adapted for more urban environments. Many streets shut down vehicular access to allow pedestrians to gather with friends and family with the ability to consume food and beverage from the surrounding businesses. This allows commercial spaces to become part of the game day atmosphere. Some are even inclined to skip the live game and stadium’s expensive drinks and continue the tailgate mingling at bars and restaurants that offer live broadcast of the event.

Food and Beverage

Because of the scheduled timing of massive events and their social nature, they oftentimes center around mealtimes and almost always incorporate food. A variety of different dining options need to be present to successfully provide a customizable experience. Some are looking for “fast casual” dining options with large groups that can ensure they will make tip-off or the opening act. Other featured events, like hosted graduations, will call for a higher end, more intimate atmosphere for the sophisticated users. Walk-up street food has also had great success within stadium districts. Regardless of their clientele, restaurants must offer a quality service, product, environment, and value to entice those to skip the ballpark hotdog. Mike

Mohammed, of Chronic Tacos, has embraced the partnership he fostered with the Los Angeles

17 Carter, Beth. "Tailgate Parties Are a 'Powerful Impulse' and a Microcosm of Society." Wired. June 03, 2017.

Angles baseball franchise. "Strengthening our brand presence with partnerships like ours with the Angels is integral in reaching our customer with the chance to embrace an opportunity to be a part of something greater than us," he explains. “Fans now associate tacos with their baseball experience.”18 This newfound loyalty in the Angles fan base has created success for the local restaurant and its multiple locations throughout the city.

Hotels

When considering the demographics of users, it is imperative to understand from where they are traveling. Metropolitan areas with sports teams and access to the arts often pull from a large geographical region. Accommodations need to be available to leverage and extend the traveling parties’ splurging mentality. Creating an ideal situation, in terms of comfort and accessibility, will entice fans to travel from further and more often. In sports, it is also important to remember that the traveling “away” team and staff require accommodations, as well as their traveling fan base. Stadium districts have taken the opportunity to create immersive experiences tied to their local stadium. Titletown District, the 34-acre home of the National Football

League’s Green Bay Packers and Lambeau Field, recently opened Lodge Kohler. The 144-room hotel works to attract fans on game days, but also create a unique destination with a medical sports clinic, sledding hill accompanied by an ice rink, and a microbrewery restaurant for off- days. Christine Loose, the director of lodging at Kohler, explains that she aimed to create “a party that extends far beyond the four walls of the stadium.”19 Such developments allow “fans to stay close to their favorite sports teams, encouraging tourism outside of game time.”19 The

Renaissance Toronto Hotel takes closeness to the next level. Seventy guest suites overlook the

18 Cansler, Cherryh. "Restaurants Hitting Home Runs in Baseball Stadiums." Www.fastcasual.com. May 12, 2015. 19 Glusac, Elaine. "Hotels That Bring Sports Fans Close to Their Teams." The New York Times. September 15, 2017.

Blue Jays baseball field, allowing fans to watch the game from the comfort of their room. The

Omni Hotel and Resorts Company has exploited some of the ongoing stadia expansions by interjecting their hotels into the developments. Omni Frisco Hotel joins the Dallas Cowboys headquarters and practice facilities allowing fans to get a closer look in to the day-to-day preparations of professional athletes. The Omni Hotel at the Battery Atlanta is next-door to

SunTrust Park, the home of the Atlanta Braves, and is part of a large-scale development project that includes restaurants, commercial office space, and residences.19

Commercial Offices

While stadiums invigorate the neighborhood on nights and weekends, it is important that they not lay stagnant during the working hours. Introducing commercial office spaces allow business to stay busy with daytime users. Downtown urban locations also allow for proximity to other companies, allowing for convenient collaboration. Firms with a young working demographic will be interested in the immersive location. Meetings can surpass the office walls and take on new lunch venues and coffee shops. Like local business, organizations can create partnerships with the surrounding stadia. Neighboring offices may be inclined to ante up a hefty check for stadium naming rights, branding themselves as an integral part of the urban stadium district. Company culture can embrace the fostered partnership and leverage the access to events.

Residences

Another way to allow for year-round stimulation of the area around a stadium is to offer residential spaces. Young working professionals are looking to rent spaces that cater to their active lifestyle. According to the National Restaurant Association, more than half of all adults

19 Ibid.

18 are more inclined to spend money on experiences.20 Residential spaces in this type of environment would please that large demographic of potential dwellers. With proximity to entertainment and restaurants, they will find themselves in the heart of the action, while still close to their jobs in the downtown core of the city.

It takes more than a winning franchise and fan loyalty to create a stadium that works within the existing urban fabric of a neighborhood. The game day atmosphere experience inside the walls of a stadium is incredible. To successfully revitalize the surrounding, local businesses must be incorporated into the tradition. Tailgating provides an opportunity for local business to engage with the consumers and turn them into a loyal customer base. Stadium infrastructure must capitalize its return on investment by scheduling a variety of different types of entertainment to draw from the largest possible customer base. To better please those customers, hospitality spaces including bars, restaurants, and hotels must be present. Ease of transportation to and from events is a pivotal aspect of successful districts. Ultimately, experiences hosted at a stadium needs to be versatile enough to excite a wide variety of users and offer them a customizable experience to cater to their tradition.

Cincinnati Sports History

Baseball

Cincinnati, Ohio has a strong foundation in professional sports. In fact, it is credited as

“the city in America that gave rise to organized sports.”13 The Cincinnati Red Stockings, known today as just the Cincinnati Reds, date back to 1869 as the first professional baseball franchise.

20 Tetreault, Allie, and AJ Beltis. "50 Restaurant Industry Statistics for Restaurant Owners in 2018." Toast, Inc. October 30, 2017. 13 Grace. Cincinnati on Field and Court, 1.

The team played a pivotal role in the early structure of the Major League Baseball as it exists today. After competing as a group of professionals for seven years, the National League was formed and the Red Stockings were honored as a charter member alongside seven additional teams. After a short stint, the team was expelled from the National League due to their “refusal to stop renting out their ballpark on Sundays and to cease selling beer during games.”21 The expulsion led to the formation of the American Association, where the Red Stockings would play the following eight seasons. The iconic Opening Day festivities, often regarded as a local holiday and still celebrated today, were conceived in 1889 after the team was granted re- admission into the National League. Three years later the franchise saw the addition of the

Opening Day parade to the traditional festivities.

During the early formation of the franchise, the Cincinnati Reds saw several different venues of play. Initially, the team’s home field was at Union Grounds, on the site where Union

Terminal sits today. After being bought out from under them only two seasons, the team moved to Avenue Grounds, or League Park, which allowed for an easier commute for fans since it as several miles closer. Many reconfigurations of the park happened between 1884 and 1911, but the site remained the same. Today, this field is often referred to as the Palace of the Fans. In

1912 a move was made to Crosley Field. The team played for long stretches at both Crosley

Field and Riverfront Stadium before moving into their current home at Great American Ballpark along the riverfront.21

Tennis

Behind the inception of professional baseball in Cincinnati lies the Master’s Tennis

Tournament. The Cincinnati Open, referred to as the Western & Southern Tennis Open today, is

21 "Reds Timeline." Cincinnati Reds.

20 the oldest tennis tournament still played in its original city in the United States. It is also the largest national event behind the local Grand Slam tournament, the U.S. Open. Started as the

Cincinnati Open, the 1899 tournament was held at the Avondale Athletic Club at the current site of Xavier University. Attendance was said to be spectacular, drawing more than 2,000 fans in the championship matches.22 The siting of the venue and its superior spectator facilities are credited with attracting the finest tennis players in the country as well as the large crowds.

Wright & Ditson’s Lawn Tennis Guide described, “The courts upon which the matches were held are perhaps the most beautifully situated in the country. Steep hills sloping upward on three sides form a natural amphitheater and offer a vantage ground for a perfect view of the play below.”22 Two years after the start of the event, the Ohio Lawn Tennis Association changed the name to the Tri-State Tennis Tournament. This differentiated the event from others held by the

OLTA and began to expose the unique location of the Cincinnati metropolitan area in relationship to state lines. Despite the name change, the tournament continued to grow in popularity. By 1904 the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune reported that the tournament was “the largest event of its kind in the United States.”22 The Cincinnati Enquirer continued the accolades stating that “The Tri-State Tournament ranks very high, being only surpassed in importance by the tennis tournament of the National Lawn Tennis Association at Newport,

Rhode Island,” a tournament later known as the U.S. Open.22

The ongoing success led the tournament to move to a series of bigger, better venues throughout history. After a solid run at the Avondale Athletic Club, the event moved to the

Cincinnati Tennis Club. Founded in 1880, the club is the oldest active tennis club in the country.

After a period at Coney Island Amusement Park, tournament organizers grew weary of the site

22 Smith, Phillip S. From Club Court to Center Court: The Evolution of Professional Tennis in Cincinnati. U.S.: Publisher Not Identified, 2001, 9-11.

21 after continual flooding. The tournament ultimately relocated to in Mason, Ohio in 1979 because sponsor-owned land allowed for an easy move. While away from the main urban core of

Cincinnati, the tournament thrived due to its renowned facilities. After annual million-dollar expansion projects, the tournament became the only venue outside of the Gram Slams to have three permanent stadium structures. 22 Recently the tournament site has undergone another major renovation. Today it is comprised of four permanent stadium structures with a capacity of over

20,000 permanent seats joined with fourteen additional courts, a corporate hostility center, a large food court, and a retail plaza. While the Western & Southern Tournament is an annual event, the Lindner Family Tennis Center often hosts high school regional athletic events as well as collegiate level tennis tournaments. The Association of Volleyball Professionals hold an annual tournament in addition to special events like concerts and fundraising events.23

Collegiate Sports

“Expanding leisure time” after the Civil War coupled with the American German Turners movement created an “effort to make responsible citizens through libraries, social activism, and physical health” throughout Cincinnati. 13 This movement called for the creation of shooting clubs, athletic grounds, and exercising halls. The competitive rush also brought athletics into the local universities. In 1884 the University of Cincinnati’s baseball squad became their first organized athletic team. Soon after, the University went as far as to hire W. Durant Berry, an understudy of James Naismith, to serve as the head of “physical culture.”13 Basketball and football quickly emerged as major a presence of local collegiate sports at the University of

Cincinnati, Xavier University, and nearby Miami University.

22 Ibid, 11-34. 23 "Western & Southern Open Cincinnati." Western & Southern Open. 13 Grace. Cincinnati on Field and Court, 36.

Football

With the “sports craze” caused by the success of collegiate football came a local professional presence. The Cincinnati Celts were founded in 1910 by a group of Miami graduates. After withdrawing from the league due to poor performance, the Cincinnati Reds made their debut into the National Football League in 1933. They too struggled with performance, yielding unsettled league fees, and ultimately the disbanding football in Cincinnati until the expansion of the American Football League in 1937. Again, the newly-formed Bengals failed to have a successful presence in the league. The Cincinnati Bengals we see today were not founded until 1966 by former Cleveland Browns head coach, Mike Brown. 13

The initial football team in the area, the Celts were purely a traveling team. The Reds competed at Crosley Field, Xavier’s Corcoran Stadium, and several other regional locations.

Much like the Reds, the original Bengals jumped from stadium to stadium throughout their tenure in league play. Finally, Mike Brown’s Bengals managed to secure a stable home at

Riverfront Stadium from 1970-1999 until the transition into their current home site Paul Brown

Stadium in 2000. Without the stabilization of a home field, it is unsure as to whether the

Cincinnati Bengals would still be around today.

Basketball

With the absence of professional football, plus a dominant collegiate basketball team with a strong fan base at the University of Cincinnati, the Rochester Royals, a member of the

National Basketball Association, moved to Cincinnati in hopes of a larger market and the opportunity to turn a profit. Despite having hometown heroes, University of Cincinnati alumni

Jack Twyman, Jerry Lucas, and Oscar Robertson, as well as a roster clearly strong enough for

13 Ibid, 36-42.

23 title contention, the team failed to ever convert. Due to a change in ownership, the team opted not to remain at Xavier University’s Schmidt Filed House, but it instead travelled to regional neutral sites. After losing Oscar Robertson to trade, the declining franchise finally relocated to

Kansas City, rebranding as the Kings.13

Hockey

Semi-professional hockey was a bigger success than the short-lived Royals basketball squad in the area. The Cincinnati Gardens is one of the most beloved arenas of all time due to its rich hockey history and plethora of landmark events. Several different hockey teams claimed it as home during its tenure as the seventh largest arena in the United States upon its opening in

1949. Throughout history the Mohawks, Swords, and Mighty Ducks all claimed the Gardens as home ice. The Cincinnati Cyclones, the current professional team, also played home games at the Gardens until moving to their current home at US Bank Arena on the riverfront.24

Soccer

Soccer in the Cincinnati region has been the most inconsistent sports presence. In the

1970’s soccer was working its way onto the radar of sports fans in America. Wanting to get in on the action, the Cincinnati Comets were founded. After winning their inaugural season championship in the American Soccer League, the team folded after just four seasons due to a lack of fans, not their lack of success in the league.25 Local baseball giant, Pete Rose, also gave his hand at soccer in Cincinnati when he took partial ownership in the Cincinnati Kids. The Kids only managed to play on the professional circuit for a single season.26 In more recent history,

13 Ibid, 42. 24 "Cincinnati Gardens History." Cincinnati Gardens. 2014. 25 Salerno, Ronny. "The Extraordinary Story of the Cincinnati Comets." Queen City Discovery. March 13, 2017. 26 Litterer, David, and Steve Holroyd. "Major Indoor Soccer League." The Year in American Soccer - 1979. May 30, 2010.

The Cincinnati Silverbacks formed a professional indoor team owned by Nederlander

Organization, also the owner of their home venue, US Bank Arena, and the Cincinnati Cyclones hockey team. Despite the team’s on field success, scheduling did not allow the franchise enough weekend games, resulting in a lack of revenue generation. The Silverbacks were dissolved in

1998.27 Much like the Silverbacks, the Kings of the U.S. Premier Development League folded.

Not too long after the demise of the Silverbacks and Kings, the Cincinnati Riverhawks emerged on the professional soccer scene. After only six seasons the franchise disbanded in 2003 after a poor on field performance and a relocation from the suburbs of Cincinnati to outside Northern

Kentucky.28 Cincinnati again tried for soccer franchise success when the Saints moved from an affiliated amateur league into the National Premier Professional Soccer League in 2013. With history repeating itself, it was determined that Cincinnati was “untenable” for the Saints in

2015.29

Through an analysis of the history of Cincinnati sports several findings can be made.

First, the venue of play drastically influences the success of the franchise, regardless of sport.

Teams that failed to secure a long-term home court or field were not capable of creating a fan base to remain profitable. Both the early professional football teams and the relocated Royals fell into that trap. In the case of the Red Stockings, the Western Avenue and Bank Street site in the West End laid a solid foundation. While the stadium itself was ever changing, both the teams and fans felt at “home” there. Grace explains the importance of the stadiums architecture:

The Palace of the Fans sat like a white jewel in the red brick of the West End…Modeled

in part after the architecture of the Chicago World’s Fair of 1892, the Palace feature

27 AC. "1995-1998 Cincinnati Silverbacks." Fun While It Lasted. April 17, 2016. 28 "Cincinnati Riverhawks." Ohio History Central. 29 Brennan, Patrick. "Cincy Saints: 'We Can't Continue' in New Soccer Landscape." Cincinnati.com. October 16, 2015.

scalloped box seats for the elite and bleachers and “Rooter’s Row” for the everyday

fan…What the architecture signified was that ballparks had become a major part of a

city’s physical identity and that they had a definite role in municipal boosterism.13

The importance of the physical identity of a stadium is just as relevant today. Stadia help to brand cities’ skylines. It is also significant to understand the multitude of different users and create unique environments within the space that cater to the needs and expectations of the different user groups just as the Palace of the Fans did over a hundred years ago.

An important lesson can also be learned about the mentality of Cincinnatians through the early development of professional sports. As a large population of German Americans, culture in Cincinnati viewed Sunday as a day of recreation rather than a day of rest. When the National

League outlawed boozy baseball on the Sabbath, the Red Stockings management knew that would be detrimental. After exiting the National League and starting the American Association,

John Hauck, a local brewer, bought the team and developed the concession system we still see today. The sale of Hauck beer at the ballpark ultimately yielded the knick-name the “Beer and

Whiskey League” for the AA. August “Garry” Herrmann, president of the Red Stockings, learned quickly that he needed to maximize the utilization of the Palace of the Fans after investing personal money in the team. Grace quotes, “Ballparks have always been more than the scene of athletic endeavors, and have often served as public venues for other events…Garry

Herrmann, always looking for a way to make the team profitable, frequently leased the ballpark for boxing matches, dances, concerts, traveling stage shows, and later, motion pictures.”13

13 Grace. Cincinnati on Field and Court, 27-30.

Herrmann saw the ballpark as a community asset that required multiple uses.30 It was meant to invigorate the neighborhood inhabitants and create a venue for interaction between one another.

It was greater than a single sport.

Cincinnati Sports Venues

In 1970 Riverfront Stadium was erected on the banks of the Ohio River after the Reds outgrew the neighborhood ballpark at Crosley Field. Riverfront was also home to the Cincinnati

Bengals of the National Football League.31 Despite Herrmann’s early discovery, it took until the

1960’s for the widespread onset of the era of multi-use stadiums. Communities worked to save money by coupling their professional football and baseball teams into a single, shared facility.

As the trend swept the nation, fans soon began to consider them “cold, impersonal and indistinguishable from each other” ultimately calling them “cookie cutter” ballparks.32 Paul

Sullivan went as far as to render them “the antithesis of the quirky and uniquely personal stadiums of old.”32 Despite the measures taken to provide an ideal fan view for both baseball and football spectators, both clubs yearned for their own personal stadium. A levy was passed increasing the local sales tax, ultimately securing a one billion dollar bond for the construction of the two stadia. In the early part of the millennium the franchises’ dreams became a reality when the Bengals moved into the new neighboring Paul Brown Stadium. The Reds managed to build a baseball specific stadium on the site of Riverfront Stadium and played their inaugural season in

Great American Ballpark in 2003. 31

30 Kelley, Matt. "Gary Herrmann - A King in Queen City." Baseball Hall. 31 "Reds Ballparks." Cincinnati Reds. 32 Sullivan, Paul Francis. "MLB Should Have Kept Just One Concrete Donut Stadium." Bleacher Report. May 12, 2012.

Cincinnati currently has four major sports facilities near the city-center. Three of the four are situated on the banks of the Ohio River and make up Cincinnati’s professional sports district.

Paul Brown Stadium, home of the football franchise the Bengals is used a staggering four percent of the year. The lack of auxiliary scheduled events and a very short football season contribute to the minimal use of this facility. Adjacent to Paul Brown Stadium, sits Great

American Ballpark, home of the Cincinnati Reds baseball team. This baseball stadium is used seventeen percent of the year. The substantial rise in utilization is mainly due to the extended

Major League Baseball schedule, requiring that teams play a series of games against their opponents. Neighboring the ballpark is US Bank Arena. The arena is home to the Cyclones

Hockey team. It is also the main venue within the region to host touring shows. Although it is utilized twenty-three percent of the year, it is very outdated. Artists have recently been failing to stop in Cincinnati for shows, instead opting for much nicer arena venues in Indianapolis and

Louisville. Because of all the money still owed on local stadia, the county has been unwilling to contribute any money into a major renovation to US Bank.

The oldest major sports venue in the area also happens to be the most successful. Nippert

Stadium is home to the Cincinnati Bearcats Football team and has been since 1901. Mentioned previously for its success as a multi-purpose venue, the stadium is unique due to its location in the heart of the campus. While closed off during ticketed events, the majority of the time the stadium has become part of the urban fabric of the University. It serves much more of a purpose than purely a sports venue. It is a main artery through campus; a venue for interaction between the diverse community members that make up the University. Amateur sports invigorate the field while students study, relax, and chat in the typical spectator seating. Ticketed events invite up to 40,000 fans to enjoy the competition. Nippert is a glaring success because of its ability to

28 act as a chameleon. There is not a day of the year when it fails to serve a single group of users, resulting in a remarkable one hundred percent utilization rate.

Football Club Cincinnati

In 2015 Football Club Cincinnati, or FCC, was announced as a member of the United

Soccer League for the upcoming 2016 season. Facing skepticism after the many previous failed attempts at inserting professional soccer into the Cincinnati sports market, General Manager of the new team, Jeff Berding, argued that this club was going to have a long-lasting impact. He claimed that the difference this time was the backing of local Cincinnatian billionaire, Carl

Linder III. Despite the deep pockets and Lindner’s previous sports team ownership, others remained doubtful: “The sport has an ignominious history in the city: 11 professional teams…from various leagues have bit the dust or left town in the last 40 years. None have lasted longer than 8 seasons.”33 In its first season the team managed to repeatedly break the USL record for fan attendance, ultimately yielding the highest average attendance in the league.14 The unprecedented fan turnout of a fresh franchise generated international media coverage that ultimately spurred a discussion of opportunities in the highest league of American soccer, the

MLS. In their second season, the club continued to smash existing attendance records. They also had an opportunity to play their first Major League Soccer opponent and escaped with a narrow victory.14

With clear proof that the Cincinnati soccer market was finally viable, Jeff Berding and

Carl Lindner III went out to compete for one of the remaining MLS expansion team spots. The

Major League Soccer application requires prospective entrants into the league to hand over a vast

33 Flango, Adam. "Squad Goals." Cincinnati Magazine. July 19, 2016. 14 Brennan. "Another Record Crowd.”

29 amount of data as well as physical plans for the future of the franchise. The study is aimed to assess whether the team has the foundation to compete at the highest level, yet remain profitable.

The $150 million dollar buy in fee is sure to deter those not financially stable enough to consider joining the league. Alongside owners’ financial information and entrance fee, the team is required to provide commitment letters for uniform kit sponsorships. The largest aspect of the business proposal involves plans for the necessary soccer infrastructure including training facilities and a soccer-specific stadium. This type of major infrastructure is projected to require more than $200 million dollars in investment.34

While the city has overwhelmingly welcomed the addition of soccer into the sports scene, the need for yet another stadium yielded unfavorable bias towards the expansion. Fans love the current venue of Nippert Stadium. The success of the franchise is credited to the atmosphere that the fans were able to create at Nippert. The diverse user group could easily access the stadium within the metropolitan area. The infrastructure already existed and the established urban context allowed for a customizable experience for each spectator. Cincinnatians are still financially underwater for the two riverfront stadia that host the Bengals and the Reds. US Bank

Arena, the neighboring indoor facility, has been vying for public money for a much-needed overhaul for quite some time now to no avail.35 With three existing underutilized facilities, how does one responsibly site and build an additional mega structure?

34 Rosenblatt, Ryan. "MLS Announces the Requirements, Rules and Timeline for Expansion to 28 Teams." FOX Sports. December 15, 2016. 35 Wartman, Scott. "Awkward. As Soccer Stadium Gets Vote, County Property Taxes May Rise to Pay for Older Riverfront Stadiums." Cincinnati.com. November 29, 2017.

GREATER CINCINNATI SPORTS COMPLEXES |

Stadium Siting A M A T E U R A T H L E T I C S C O L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S GREATER CINCINNATI SPORTS COMPLEXES | P R O F E S S I O N A L A T H L E T I C S

A M A T E U R A T H L E T I C S

C O L L E G I A T E A T H L E T I C S Illustration 1: Cincinnati Sports Facilities

P R O F E S S I O N A L A T H L E T I C S

In a study of existing sports facilities within the greater Cincinnati metropolitan area, it became clear that a hierarchy emerged within the siting of facilities. In Illustration 1, a gradient emerged outlining the concentration of professional sports at the city center, with collegiate institutions nearby, then ultimately fanning out into amateur and recreational athletics sites throughout the suburbs. It also became very apparent that facilities needed to be located along main routes of travel. Access to facilities is vital to their success. In a professional setting proximity to the regional airport and ease of travel for local fans is imperative to maintain a happy club and local fans.

31 FC CINCINNATI FAN LOCATIONS |

Illustration 2: Fútbol Club Cincinnati Top Ticket Sales by Zip-Code

When looking at the demographic of ticket sales in Illustration 2, a clearer understanding of the fan base emerges. The top grossing zip code of FC Cincinnati ticket sales is the core of downtown Cincinnati. Several areas directly across the river have a heavy presence of sales along with Hyde Park and Oakley, the southernmost suburban areas north of the city core. All of these areas represent a demographic of young professionals. The next distinct fan base is those of the outer suburban regions concentrated around the eastern Interstate 275 highway loop. This region denotes the largest population of emerging youth soccer players.36

Due to the wide draw of different fans, vehicular access is significant, especially in

Cincinnati were public transit is not readily available or widely used. The surrounding city infrastructure must be capable of handling 25,000 plus moving both in and out of the site at a concentrated time. Parking, unfortunately, becomes a large aspect of the project due to the necessary storage of the influx of cars. This is often a challenge in a dense, metropolitan setting.

In history, stadiums and their related substructure have previously ripped apart the urban fabric

36 Jeff Berding (General Manager of Fútbol Club Cincinnati) in discussion with the author, October 19, 2017.

32 creating a void in the established neighborhoods. In an analysis of possible sites for a soccer- specific stadium, it was imperative that an existing neighborhood not be altered, but instead the in-fill of vacant lots have an opportunity to revitalize their surround.

Illustration 3: Ideal Stadium Site Region

Based on the gradient of professional sports already established in the city coupled with a deeper analysis of the highway systems, while overlaid with the zip code demographics, the stadium location called for a much narrower field than the previous Interstate 275 outline.

Ideally, the stadium would fall between Interstate 75 to the west and Interstate 71 to the east, eliminating turf war aspect between the two sides of the city. The future stadium site would preferably creep no more north than the Norwood Lateral Expressway, a main thoroughfare between the two north-south highways. The southernmost border should remain at 11th Street just over the Ohio River. This region is outlined in Illustration 3.

After an inventory of appropriately sized land parcels, the field of prospects was drastically narrowed down to three viable options. The first, in the neighborhood of Oakley, lies at the northern most border of the determined region in an emerging commercial development

33 off Disney Street. The second, in the West End, falls much closer to the urban core of the city, just west of the revitalized Washington Park area within the Over-The-Rhine neighborhood. The final site is positioned furthest south, at the mouth of the Licking River in Newport, Kentucky.

Oakley

The Oakley site is a suitable choice for a number of reasons. As previously discussed, a large portion of the fan base already resides within the neighborhood, so the proximity of the stadium is very desirable to that user group. The far north suburbanites would have a quicker commute in comparison to the sites closer to the downtown core. While location on a large scale is a victory, the infrastructure to carry tens of thousands of people through is not currently in place. According to a traffic impact study conducted by local engineering firm Bayer Becker, the increase in traffic on match day would require four intersections to be updated with the expansion of additional lanes. It has also been speculated that the Edwards Connector, responsible for the connection of Edwards Road at Interstate-71 to the site, would be necessary.37

In addition to concerns surrounding the vehicular access, the site itself is landlocked. The street, railroad, and highway drastically limit overall flexibility of required access and any future expansion needs. While the neighborhood as a whole is very pedestrian friendly, the site is not readily accessible by foot. In turn, there is an additional need for parking. While the commercial district is ridden with parking, it remains all privatized by the surrounding business owners. The center also lacks the hospitality that fans have grown accustomed to while attending games at

Nippert Stadium. The lack of local eateries and bars may deter previous fans from continuing to come experience the game day atmosphere once the display of camaraderie is no longer prevalent and the matches are televised.

37 Watkins, Steve. "FC Cincinnati Traffic Study Shows Oakley Changes as Residents Sound off." Cincinnati Business Courier. March 6, 2018.

West End

The West End is an area neighboring the trendy Over-The-Rhine, OTR, community.

Because of the adjacency, the site is within walking distance to a plethora of dining experiences, bars, and the local arts scene. Compared to the Oakley site, the West End is much more urban and therefore, more walkable. Unfortunately, the revitalization of OTR has caused a lot of displacement due to the drastic rise in rents. West End community members fear that the stadium would lead to the gentrification of their neighborhood as well. The surrounding government-subsidized housing creates an uneasy feeling in the fan base, especially those raising young children in the suburbs. To further complicate matters, the existing Cincinnati Public

School stadium would have to be relocated catty-corner to allow for enough space for the desired

FCC stadium capacity. This relocation of the existing stadium is a capricious use of resources.

The hostility of current residents coupled with the irresponsible allocation of resources ultimately yields this site unattractive.

Newport

The Newport site, owned by the development group Corporex, has been slated for a major redevelopment for several years. Initial development plans ultimately fell through due to the Great Recession of the early 2000’s, rendering the land completely undeveloped still to this day. Kentucky has recently invested significantly in new public infrastructure to better serve the community and make the site more attractive to developers.

A major project…will have a huge impact is construction of a new, four-lane “entrance”

into Newport. The $26 million state-funded road project will connect KY-9, also known

as the AA Highway, to the Taylor Southgate Bridge, providing greater access to both

Cincinnati and neighboring Northern Kentucky cities and helping to relieve traffic

congestion on the area’s other bridges.38

The upgrades are said to spur the rehabilitation of the west side of Newport. The land itself offers stellar views of the Cincinnati skyline, including the two riverfront stadia, and a unique terrain opportunity with the existing floodwall. Though it is located in the state of Kentucky, the property remains a quick walk away from downtown Cincinnati and local bars and restaurants.

The site also has a unique opportunity to create an asset for the community of residents through the development of a stadium as a public space. Because of its history as a vacant lot, its development would render a drastic revitalization of the area without forcing anyone out.

Finally, the double tax increment financing offered by Kentucky pales in comparison to that of what is offered in Ohio.39 Both urbanistically and economically, it presents itself as the most viable option for a successful stadium for the FC Cincinnati professional soccer franchise.

Development Plans

Past development plans have called for a drastic rise in density. Initially, the project was very commercial-centric. Because of the proximity to the city center, offices became an integral component of the master plan. Towers were designed to maximize views for maximum return on investment. While offices dominated the skyline, townhomes and condominiums were tucked away. In an attempt to diversify the population within the west end of Newport, the plan also called for senior housing units for the growing number of retired Baby Boomers. A commerce hub was established to service the new residents. In the latest released master plan of the 35-acre site, considered a more diverse programmatic makeup. Corporex noted that, “for more than a

38 Wasson, Katheran. "NKyMR18: Northern Ky.’s Livability Attracts Newcomers and Economic Growth." The Lane Report. February 1, 2018. 39 Williams, Jason, and Scott Wartman. "Looking at Newport as FC Cincinnati's Potential Future Home." Cincinnati.com. June 13, 2017.

36 decade, the nation has experienced a renewed interest in bringing community back to the cities, where residents and businesses are seeking walkable, mixed-use and transit-served development, all of which help build healthy and sustainable communities.”40 The addition of lodging, parking, a theatre, and marina demonstrates a better understanding of the modern day urban landscape. The plan was sure to incorporate public park plazas and riverfront recreational improvements to “complement the structures and create a sense of community” that buyers yearn for.41

The most recent development program played an integral part in the formation of the urban stadium plan. Redevelopment of the riverfront again was a priority. The 21,000 capacity soccer-specific arena became the integral aspect of the riverfront and the heart of the plan. In order to preserve the yearned for density, urban blocks were built up, framing the unobstructed views of the Cincinnati skyline. Offices spaces and residential units make up the majority of the square footage. Parking is also integrated into several building cores. Additional hotel accommodations were accounted for due to the influx of visitors for the stadium-driven events.

Special importance was put on the retail aspect of the community. A main street was formed to house the new commerce hub, allowing both residents and guests to experience the walkability of the new neighborhood and enhanced sense of community while redirecting thru traffic above.

The existing floodwall creates a unique aspect of the siting of the stadium. Rather than render it an obstacle, there was clearly an opportunity to exploit the change in elevation.

Drawing inspiration from the Avondale Athletic Club, home of the Cincinnati Open, the floodwall created a natural amphitheater.22 Because of the height of the wall, an upper

40 "Mixed-Use Development." Corporex. Accessed March 13, 2018. 41 "Newport Riverfront - Ovation - City of Newport - Riverfront Development Plan." Newport Riverfront - Ovation - City of Newport - Riverfront Development Plan. 22 Smith. From Club Court to Center Court, 11.

37 concourse came to fruition. With informal land terraces created, the western section of the stadium were able to create an environment of informality and flexibility. Much like Nippert

Stadium, the terracing can serve a vast user group beyond that of just sports spectating.

Programed auxiliary events within the stadium can also take advantage of the unusual informal seating aspect of the stadium for sets, plays, or even the opportunity to sell general admission tickets. Integrated seating into the floodwall also managed to keep the height of the stadium from encroaching on the sightline to Cincinnati. That view serves as the direct visual connection to the stadium district across the river.

Because of the lack of public community space for the residents within Newport, it was vital to consider the stadium and surround as a public amenity. The existing running path circulating the peak of the flood wall will be repurposed as a more legitimate concourse level, but will continue to serve as a public path with views of the city during un-ticketed event times.

The ongoing Riverfront Commons project is an “11.5 mile walking and biking path that runs along the Ohio River.”38 The path is aimed at connecting all six Southbank cities with one another as well as the Purple People Bridge, ideal for pedestrian travel across the river. Intended to link attractions along the train, the stadium would form a major destination along the route of travel. The landscape surrounding the stadium and the adjoining path will feature green space targeted un-organized play, as well as a community gathering space, in addition to the amphitheater like land terracing within the stadium.

Meandering through the cityscape is the main street arcade. Carrying the bypassing AA highway traffic above, the inhabitable infrastructure will serve as the gateway between the stadium and the regularity of the city grid. Because of hospitality programs within, it forms the

38 Wasson. "NKyMR18.

38 main pedestrian path through the neighborhood of Newport. Residents will enjoy the local shops and eateries within walking distance. Game days will invigorate the typical neighborhood foot traffic with the beat of a drum through smoke clouds of blue and orange. Support groups will reroute their march to the stadium through the new main street, consequently pouring the stadium atmosphere into the streets of Newport. The program housed within will be sure to enrich life in Newport.

Interstitial Space

The joints within the new plan will be responsible for the success and longevity of the venue. In section, the development was established to be permeable from multiple points to allow for connection between all existing sectors of the community and the newly planned parking, office towers, and commercial center. The stadium and main street components of the plan become an urban artery and a public arcade responsible for “a continuous pedestrian trajectory.”42 The main street arcade, while providing an axis of connection into the urban street grid, is met with subtraction to counteract the infrastructural density through the introduction of a landscape on its northern edge. The new extended network links landscape with the stadium.

These interstitial spaces transform Newport into a system of networks, integral to the function of the revitalized urban center. They blur the boundaries of the intermediate and experienced, and the journey and the destination through the convergence and overlap of spaces.42 The programmed buildings function unto themselves, but the places between are fluid voids full of

42 Mau, Bruce, Rem Koolhaas, Jennifer Sigler, and Hans Werlemann. Small, Medium, Large, Extra-large. New- York: Monacelli Press, 1998, 1184.

39 mutual dependencies; Voids that are accountable for encompassing the heartbeat of the idealized new city.

Conclusion

FC Cincinnati’s need for a soccer specific stadium gives an opportunity for the responsible revitalization of an urban neighborhood within the tristate area of Cincinnati.

Integration of a stadium into a multi-faceted landscape creates a community asset rather than a void within the urban fabric. With consideration of the pedestrian trajectory, the stadium development becomes an urban artery. The interstitial spaces created between the artery and programmed city blocks breathes energy into the society, ultimately generating user driver character. Thorough investigations of urban sites yield the integration of stadia infrastructure responsible for propelling the identity of the neighborhood and transcending stadia from a venue into a component of everyday living.

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