Cincinnati pushes for new arena to host events

Cincinnati is once again missing out on hosting NCAA basketball tournament games during March Madness. This year, the First Four games will take place in Dayton, Ohio. Cincinnati has not hosted any NCAA games since 2019 when the NCAA moved events to Indianapolis due to concerns over the local arena's condition. The Hamilton County Growth Alliance is taking action. They plan to launch ads to gain support for a new arena in Cincinnati. Their goal is to persuade the Board of Commissioners to use sales tax dollars to fund this project. Local resident Ian White has been a frequent visitor to Dayton for the First Four games. He believes Cincinnati could benefit economically from hosting such events. A study showed that Dayton generates about $6 million a year from tourism related to the NCAA tournament. Without a modern arena, Cincinnati is missing similar opportunities. In 2017, Cincinnati was briefly set to host the 2022 NCAA tournament. However, the city failed to make necessary $200 million renovations, leading to the NCAA's decision to withdraw. Since then, various local leaders have pushed for building a new arena, highlighting the potential economic benefits. The recent study conducted by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber indicated that a new arena could bring in about $22 million annually. This includes money from events, concerts, and tournaments. Community leaders are now focusing efforts to make this dream a reality. They believe that adequate funding and support could finally lead to Cincinnati becoming a host city again for major sports events.