University of Cincinnati Athletics

The Indoor Practice and Performance Facility

Power Five programs have some of the best indoor facilities in college football. Your investments in the new indoor practice and performance facility will create a permanent, all-weather home for UC Football to train year-round and compete for top recruits. All of UC’s outdoor sports will have access to much-needed indoor practice space as well. A nutrition center will ensure our student-athletes are getting the fuel they need to compete.
 

This project is in the design phase; more details forthcoming.

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Men’s and Women’s Basketball Team Facilities

Away from the court, team facilities are where basketball players build their lifelong bonds and recruits get an all-important first look at a program’s culture. With your support, the men’s and women’s basketball team facilities will be transformed into athlete-centered spaces featuring amenities and resources that are characteristic of today’s top programs.

Naming opportunities available.

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Game Day Facility Enhancements

For Power Five programs across the country, facilities play a significant role in both the gameday experience fans enjoy, and the atmosphere programs use to attract recruits. Scoreboard upgrades are critically important for our baseball, soccer and tennis programs. For Nippert Stadium, the need to continue to evolve our gameday atmosphere is essential as we transition into the Big 12. Some of those needs include additional ribbon boards and a new sound system. For all our venues, there is a constant need to continue to elevate our wireless network capabilities.

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Football Team Room & Locker Room Renovations

The $4.5 million renovation project to upgrade and reconfigure the 5,000-square-foot locker room and related facilities involves reconfiguring the team’s 3,535-square-foot locker area at the Richard E. Lindner Center athletic building adjacent to Nippert Stadium as well as the 1,225-square-foot players lounge and a 440-square-foot fuel station. The project is expected to begin in early January 2022, after the football season is over, and is planned to be finished in time for the 2022 football season.

This project is fully funded

Varsity Club Renovation

Not only do student-athlete dining halls provide more convenient access to nutrient-focused meals—they create a communal atmosphere for teams to eat together. Thanks to support from donors, The Varsity Club dining hall in the Richard E. Lindner Athletics Center will be reimagined to better accommodate UC’s 450-plus student-athletes.

This project is fully funded

Student-Athlete Mental Health and Wellness

Every UC student-athlete should have permanent access to the resources and services they need to be mentally strong, confident and resilient. Your generosity will help provide funding for top licensed medical professionals, dedicated counseling services and stress management coaching.

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Student-Athlete Nutrition

Nutrition affects student-athletes’ physical and psychological health alike. In supporting this fund, you will enable UC Athletics to hire a full-time sports nutritionist to work directly with each varsity program. The fund will also provide increased meal options for all student-athletes at The Varsity Club on campus.

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Bearcats Career Development academy

The Bearcats Career Development Academy helps prepare every Bearcat for what’s next in their lives. IMPACT, a comprehensive development program powered by Opendorse Ready, allows our student-athletes to capitalize on their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), enhancing their personal brands while still in school.

Whether they choose to continue their education, enter the workforce or transition to pro sports, your investments will play a defining role in student-athletes’ present and future success and marketability.

Naming opportunities are available.

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Endowed Scholarships

To keep our Bearcats dreaming and achieving, UC Athletics annually dedicates a substantial portion of its budget toward scholarships and aid. Your legacy-defining investments in endowed scholarships can provide permanent financial support for student-athletes across all sports while also ensuring the long-term viability of UC’s varsity programs.

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The Bearcats Air Fund

Private air travel is an essential resource for UC’s coaches to more efficiently visit and recruit the nation’s best prospects. Your gift to this fund will not only support each Bearcats coach in recruiting—you will directly shape the competitive future of the programs they lead.

Contribute to Bearcats Air

The Next Level success Fund

The fund was created to provide the necessary resources for achieving next level success, this fund offered crucial support for UC’s student-athletes. As part of the Day One Ready Campaign, your gift to the Next Level Fund will amplify its renewed focus on helping the Bearcats reach new heights of competitive excellence in the Big 12.

Contribute to Next Level Success

WHAT IS THE DAY ONE READY CAMPAIGN?

The Day One Ready Campaign is a $100 million fundraising initiative of UC Athletics that will directly boost our abilities to enhance the student-athlete experience and compete for championships in the Big 12 Conference.

Day One Ready is also a significant part of Next, Now: The Campaign for Cincinnati, a comprehensive fundraising effort to raise at least $2 billion for UC and UC Health.

 

WHEN DID THE CAMPAIGN START AND WHEN DOES IT END?

The Day One Ready Campaign began its silent phase on Jan. 1, 2020, as we shaped the vision for Next Level Success in UC Athletics. The campaign was publicly launched in November 2021, and is slated to conclude on June 30, 2024. UC will join the Big 12 no later than July 1, 2024.

WHO IS INVOLVED?

In addition to our student-athletes and coaches, it took an incredible amount of people—alumni, students, faculty, staff, university leaders, community and corporate partners, and Bearcats fans everywhere—to make this upcoming move to the Big 12 possible.

The Day One Ready Campaign invites everyone across Bearcat Nation to come together once again and invest in the student-athletes and coaches who will represent Cincinnati on the biggest stages of elite college athletics.

WHY SHOULD I GIVE?

The Day One Ready Campaign reflects where UC is heading in competition and recruiting as a Power 5 university. But to get there, we need your support. No matter what you’re able to give during this campaign, you will play an essential role in shaping the student-athlete experience and UC’s competitive future in the Big 12.

HOW DOES MY CAMPAIGN GIFT AFFECT MY PRIORITY POINTS & FIFTH THIRD ARENA RESEAT STATUS?

All athletics contributions during the duration of the Day One Ready Campaign will be eligible for bonus Priority Points (5 points per $500).

Your contributions to the Day One Ready Campaign will also be given special consideration when allocating seat selection order during the 2023 Fifth Third Arena reseat. For more information on exactly how your giving can help your reseat status, please contact the UCATS Office at (513) 556-4884.

HOW DO I GIVE?

For details on how you can support the campaign’s fundraising projects, click on the “Learn More” button underneath each project’s description on the homepage. From there, you can fill out the form at the bottom to request more information. A member of the UCATS team will reach out to you directly to see how we can partner together.

You can also give online to projects like scholarships, Bearcats Air and the Next Level Fund. Gifts may be made by phone, mail, employer-match, corporate/foundation giving and estate planning as well. For more information on how to make your gift today, please call the UCATS Office at (513) 556-4884.

DOES A CAMPAIGN GIFT NEED TO BE MADE VIA CASH OR CAN I PAY IT OVER MULTIPLE YEARS?

A gift to the Day One Ready campaign can be paid by cash or through annual installments over a five-year period.

WILL WE BE READY FOR DAY ONE IN THE BIG 12?

With your support, absolutely.