Cintas Center Review
By Tyler Smith 12/30/15
Cintas Center
Cintas Center home of the Xavier Musketeers
Games Attended: Auburn at Xavier 12/19/15, St. Johns at Xavier 2/14/15
Cintas Center Capacity: 10,250
Date Opened: November 18, 2000
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
School: Xavier University
Tickets: GoXavier.com/Tickets
Athletics Site: GoXavier.com
Cintas Center Seating Chart:
Cintas Center Capacity: 10,250
Date Opened: November 18, 2000
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
School: Xavier University
Tickets: GoXavier.com/Tickets
Athletics Site: GoXavier.com
Cintas Center Seating Chart:
Xavier Seating Chart via Cintas Center.com
Cintas Center Features
Xavier University was in need of a new basketball facility. In the fall of 2000 they got the Cintas Center. The 10,250 facility was the focal point of change for the university. The multi-purpose facility is home to the men’s and women's basketball team as well as the volleyball team. The facility is capable of hosting concerts and other events. Schiff Family Conference Center is also apart of the Cintas center.
The Cintas Center features upper and lower level seating. The lower level goes all the way around the court with sections 115-118 featuring the student section and band. Continuing around the lower half of the arena are the club and premium I seating. The seating is the same on the opposite side of the arena. On the other baseline they have premium II seating. The Joseph Club is located here and is open to club level season ticket holders. The seats throughout this section are blue chair backs. The arena features 22 suites which come equipped with a kitchen, bar top, theater style seating and a private bathroom.
The upper level makes a horseshoe, as it doesn't go all the way around like the lower level. The seats in the every section in the upper level are blue chair backs. The upper levels main features are Duff's which is inside the conference center and D'Artagnan's Deck which was added in 2014. The area found on the south side of the Cintas Center provides fans with several craft beer selections.
The Cintas center features a lower and upper level concourse. The upper level concourse connects you to separate stairwells and restrooms as well as D'Artagnan's Deck. The lower level is decked out with Xavier history and school colors, blue and white. The West Concourse features P. Douglas O'Keefe Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame features all sports not just basketball.
The scoreboards inside the Cintas Center are the center hung scoreboard, a board on the north wall and ribbon scoreboard in between the lower and upper level seating sections.
While walking around the outside of the Cintas Center a few things will stand out. The whole outside is primarily light grey. On one of the corners the have Xavier spelled out in large letters. The main entrance has more of modern feel with a slight overhang with Xavier University over top.
The Cintas Center features upper and lower level seating. The lower level goes all the way around the court with sections 115-118 featuring the student section and band. Continuing around the lower half of the arena are the club and premium I seating. The seating is the same on the opposite side of the arena. On the other baseline they have premium II seating. The Joseph Club is located here and is open to club level season ticket holders. The seats throughout this section are blue chair backs. The arena features 22 suites which come equipped with a kitchen, bar top, theater style seating and a private bathroom.
The upper level makes a horseshoe, as it doesn't go all the way around like the lower level. The seats in the every section in the upper level are blue chair backs. The upper levels main features are Duff's which is inside the conference center and D'Artagnan's Deck which was added in 2014. The area found on the south side of the Cintas Center provides fans with several craft beer selections.
The Cintas center features a lower and upper level concourse. The upper level concourse connects you to separate stairwells and restrooms as well as D'Artagnan's Deck. The lower level is decked out with Xavier history and school colors, blue and white. The West Concourse features P. Douglas O'Keefe Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame features all sports not just basketball.
The scoreboards inside the Cintas Center are the center hung scoreboard, a board on the north wall and ribbon scoreboard in between the lower and upper level seating sections.
While walking around the outside of the Cintas Center a few things will stand out. The whole outside is primarily light grey. On one of the corners the have Xavier spelled out in large letters. The main entrance has more of modern feel with a slight overhang with Xavier University over top.
Xavier's court design the Skyline of Cincinnati.
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View of the Xavier Student Section and Band
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Lower Concourse of the Cintas Center
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Inside the entrance of the Cintas Center
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Outside of the Cintas Ceter
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What To Do On Gamedays
The old home of the Xavier Musketeers, Schmidt Memorial Fieldhouse.
#1 Grab a drink at Dana Gardens which is a hot spot among Xavier fans.
#2 You gotta grab a burger from Gordo's Pub.
#3 A nice thing about Xavier is free parking! Here's a list of the free parking spots.
#4 Take a walk around Xavier's campus. Be sure to check out Schmidt Memorial Fieldhouse the old home of the Musketeers.
#5 Head to the Cintas Center!
#2 You gotta grab a burger from Gordo's Pub.
#3 A nice thing about Xavier is free parking! Here's a list of the free parking spots.
#4 Take a walk around Xavier's campus. Be sure to check out Schmidt Memorial Fieldhouse the old home of the Musketeers.
#5 Head to the Cintas Center!
Photos of Xavier University and Cintas Center
Cintas Center Overview
Cintas Center: The Cintas Center is known as one of the arenas that changed how we look at all other arenas in college basketball today. It was ahead of its time and provided a great view from anywhere in the arena. One thing I really like about the arena is that it doesn't feel huge but it sits over 10,000 fans. Having multiple seating levels, suites and two important concourses make this arena have all the key factors you need in an arena. The addition of the bar on the upper concourse was a great move. The lower level concourse plays well with the team colors and basketball history. The entrance to the arena is really nice with the big X and the TV in the middle. You really understand why everyone talks about the Cintas Center being one of the better arenas in the country to see a game.
Upgrades: Add some more detail to the upper level concourse. The fact that Xavier has a Hall of Fame on its concourse is nice, but the Hall of Fame could use some flair. The north side of the arena where they have the bridge is really where I would focus on the most and it looks like the university will do that. It currently feels like wasted space.
Xavier University Campus: Xavier is a Catholic University located in Cincinnati, OH. Xavier is the sixth oldest Catholic university in the country. The school was established in 1831, it moved to its current location in 1912. The schooled changed names a few times and finally landed on the name Xavier University in 1930.
The campus is 190 acres and features the east side which features more of the new buildings and west side which has more of the older, original buildings. Most of the sports facilities are found on the west side of the campus. Here you can find the old home of the Xavier basketball team, Schmidt Fieldhouse. The team posted a 71 percent winning percentage there. Hayden field (baseball) and XU Soccer complex is located on the west side as well. In front of the O'Connors Sports Center is the Xavier University Legion of Honor.
Moving east from the sports facilities you will find the academic Mall. Hinkle Hall is the must see building here. The Tudor-Gothic style building was built in 1919 and is the oldest building on campus. Heading north from Hinkle Hall you will find the bookstore/Gallagher Student Center. This common gathering space is nearly 80,000 square feet and has a clock tower that changes colors for certain events. If you continue just past the student center you will find the Quo Vadis sculpture. It is a large scale that lets you way values.
Making the turn through the Xavier Yards you will come upon Bellarmine Chapel. Just beyond the chapel up Musketeer Drive is one of the newest editions to the campus, Fenwick Place. It is the second largest building on campus and a total of 600,000 bricks were used for the facade.
There are several statues scattered throughout the campus. You will see the St. Francis Xavier, Father James E. Hoff, St. Francis Assisi, Mother Teresa, Shrine of Our Lady and St. Ignatius on Xavier's Campus. One other statue on campus is D'Artagnan Statue in front of the Cintas Center. One interesting note on the statue is that his hilt on his sword represents a basketball. The Cintas Center was what really kicked off how you currently see Xavier University. It was a monumental moment for the university and its campus when it officially opened.
Scoreboard: The center hung scoreboard is a great size and should be a suitable scoreboard for years to come. I was glad to see the ribbon scoreboards around the arena. Where I think they could make an upgrade is the small scoreboard against the wall above the student section. They could go with a long rectangle scoreboard here that provides fans another place to see player stats, replays and more.
Cincinnati: Located on the Ohio River, Cincinnati is home to the first professional baseball team the Cincinnati Reds, one of the largest OktoberFest in the world, and lots of local beer. There are plenty of things to do in Cincinnati from great food to the new casino.
If you're looking for food start with local favorites like Skyline Chili, LaRosa's Pizza, Montgomery Inn and Graeter's Ice Cream. I'm a huge fan of Cincinnati Chili. A few other places to grab the local chili are Gold Star, Chili Time and Camp Washington. The chili is famous for its use of chocolate and cinnamon. Grab a coney or a three-way (chili, cheese and spaghetti) and you will have a true Cincinnati experience. If you don't have time to go to Montgomery Inn at least grab some BBQ sauce at a grocery store. It is one of my favorite BBQ sauces that I have ever had. Top things off with ice cream from Graeter's. With over 145 years of expereince you know they have to have great ice cream.
As for things to do in the city. Fountain Square has several hotels, restaurants and shops around it. Also, grab a picture in front of the Tyler Davidson Fountain. One of the newest additions to the city, the Horseshoe Casino, will keep you entertained with an array of gambling options inside.
A cool section of the city is the OTR Brewery district. The district boasts plenty of beer from local breweries. One of my favorites to visit is Rhinegeist. They have a very large taproom that features cornhole and ping pong. The district also has the oldest farmers markets in the state called Findlay Market. Over the Rhine has really become one of the go to spots in downtown Cincinnati. Once a place where no one wanted to go now features some of themost popular restaurants and bars in the city. One of my favorite in OTR is the Eagle. If you love southern comfort food and beer this is your spot. I had the sloppy Joe on my visit and man, was it good! It also features several shops including one of my favorites Homage. If you haven't been to Homage check it out, they have a ton of cool, comfortable clothing.
There are plenty of things to do near Xavier University. Within in walking distance of the campus you have Dana Gardens, Gordo's Pub, Listermann Brewery and Betta's Italian Oven. Within a few miles you will find one of Cincinnati's best neighborhoods, Hyde Park. Hyde Park Square is your one stop shop for drinks, food and tons of shopping. A few other neighborhoods that are popular among the locals are Oakley, Obryonville and Mount Lookout.
Across the river is Newport, Kentucky. This is a hot spot for many tourists. The two most popular spots are the Newport Aquarium and Newport on the Levee. The aquarium cost 23 dollars for anyone 13 and older, 15 dollars for ages 2-12 and under 2 is free. One cool animal you can see at the aquarium is the shark ray, they have four of them. Right next to the aquarium is Newport on the Levee. The levee is packed with plenty of entertainment.
Upgrades: Add some more detail to the upper level concourse. The fact that Xavier has a Hall of Fame on its concourse is nice, but the Hall of Fame could use some flair. The north side of the arena where they have the bridge is really where I would focus on the most and it looks like the university will do that. It currently feels like wasted space.
Xavier University Campus: Xavier is a Catholic University located in Cincinnati, OH. Xavier is the sixth oldest Catholic university in the country. The school was established in 1831, it moved to its current location in 1912. The schooled changed names a few times and finally landed on the name Xavier University in 1930.
The campus is 190 acres and features the east side which features more of the new buildings and west side which has more of the older, original buildings. Most of the sports facilities are found on the west side of the campus. Here you can find the old home of the Xavier basketball team, Schmidt Fieldhouse. The team posted a 71 percent winning percentage there. Hayden field (baseball) and XU Soccer complex is located on the west side as well. In front of the O'Connors Sports Center is the Xavier University Legion of Honor.
Moving east from the sports facilities you will find the academic Mall. Hinkle Hall is the must see building here. The Tudor-Gothic style building was built in 1919 and is the oldest building on campus. Heading north from Hinkle Hall you will find the bookstore/Gallagher Student Center. This common gathering space is nearly 80,000 square feet and has a clock tower that changes colors for certain events. If you continue just past the student center you will find the Quo Vadis sculpture. It is a large scale that lets you way values.
Making the turn through the Xavier Yards you will come upon Bellarmine Chapel. Just beyond the chapel up Musketeer Drive is one of the newest editions to the campus, Fenwick Place. It is the second largest building on campus and a total of 600,000 bricks were used for the facade.
There are several statues scattered throughout the campus. You will see the St. Francis Xavier, Father James E. Hoff, St. Francis Assisi, Mother Teresa, Shrine of Our Lady and St. Ignatius on Xavier's Campus. One other statue on campus is D'Artagnan Statue in front of the Cintas Center. One interesting note on the statue is that his hilt on his sword represents a basketball. The Cintas Center was what really kicked off how you currently see Xavier University. It was a monumental moment for the university and its campus when it officially opened.
Scoreboard: The center hung scoreboard is a great size and should be a suitable scoreboard for years to come. I was glad to see the ribbon scoreboards around the arena. Where I think they could make an upgrade is the small scoreboard against the wall above the student section. They could go with a long rectangle scoreboard here that provides fans another place to see player stats, replays and more.
Cincinnati: Located on the Ohio River, Cincinnati is home to the first professional baseball team the Cincinnati Reds, one of the largest OktoberFest in the world, and lots of local beer. There are plenty of things to do in Cincinnati from great food to the new casino.
If you're looking for food start with local favorites like Skyline Chili, LaRosa's Pizza, Montgomery Inn and Graeter's Ice Cream. I'm a huge fan of Cincinnati Chili. A few other places to grab the local chili are Gold Star, Chili Time and Camp Washington. The chili is famous for its use of chocolate and cinnamon. Grab a coney or a three-way (chili, cheese and spaghetti) and you will have a true Cincinnati experience. If you don't have time to go to Montgomery Inn at least grab some BBQ sauce at a grocery store. It is one of my favorite BBQ sauces that I have ever had. Top things off with ice cream from Graeter's. With over 145 years of expereince you know they have to have great ice cream.
As for things to do in the city. Fountain Square has several hotels, restaurants and shops around it. Also, grab a picture in front of the Tyler Davidson Fountain. One of the newest additions to the city, the Horseshoe Casino, will keep you entertained with an array of gambling options inside.
A cool section of the city is the OTR Brewery district. The district boasts plenty of beer from local breweries. One of my favorites to visit is Rhinegeist. They have a very large taproom that features cornhole and ping pong. The district also has the oldest farmers markets in the state called Findlay Market. Over the Rhine has really become one of the go to spots in downtown Cincinnati. Once a place where no one wanted to go now features some of themost popular restaurants and bars in the city. One of my favorite in OTR is the Eagle. If you love southern comfort food and beer this is your spot. I had the sloppy Joe on my visit and man, was it good! It also features several shops including one of my favorites Homage. If you haven't been to Homage check it out, they have a ton of cool, comfortable clothing.
There are plenty of things to do near Xavier University. Within in walking distance of the campus you have Dana Gardens, Gordo's Pub, Listermann Brewery and Betta's Italian Oven. Within a few miles you will find one of Cincinnati's best neighborhoods, Hyde Park. Hyde Park Square is your one stop shop for drinks, food and tons of shopping. A few other neighborhoods that are popular among the locals are Oakley, Obryonville and Mount Lookout.
Across the river is Newport, Kentucky. This is a hot spot for many tourists. The two most popular spots are the Newport Aquarium and Newport on the Levee. The aquarium cost 23 dollars for anyone 13 and older, 15 dollars for ages 2-12 and under 2 is free. One cool animal you can see at the aquarium is the shark ray, they have four of them. Right next to the aquarium is Newport on the Levee. The levee is packed with plenty of entertainment.
The Xavier Musketeers statue in front of the Cintas Center.
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Cintas Center RatingsArena 8.25/10
Scoreboard 8.0/10 Atmosphere 7/10 Xavier (Campus) 6.8/10 X-Factor (History) +1 Total 31.05/40 Cincinnati 8.1/10 |
Scoreboard at the Cintas Center
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What Is Your Rating For The Cintas Center? |
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D'Artagnan's Deck at the Cintas Center
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