New fan experience, concession upgrades, beer hall coming to UC Bearcats games at Nippert

The Cincinnati Bearcats 2025 football season is fast approaching with the opener coming at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City vs. Nebraska. The Bearcats and Cornhuskers will kick off Aug. 28 at 9 p.m. (Eastern) on ESPN.

After that contest, there's a busy schedule ahead at Nippert Stadium as the Bearcats have seven home games. It all begins Sept. 6 at 3:30 p.m. against Bowling Green. UC is also at "The Nipp" Sept. 13 vs. Northwestern State, and for five Big 12 games: Oct. 4 vs. Iowa State, Oct. 11 vs. UCF, Oct. 25 vs. Baylor, Nov. 15 vs. Arizona and Nov. 22 vs. BYU.

On Aug. 7, UC athletics announced several enhancements to the Bearcats gameday experience.

UC fan communication technology

There's a new mobile app and website, powered by WMT. The brand new app features exclusive fan trivia and contests, powered by Fan Compass.

Fan exclusives, powered by LAVA, will live in the app and season ticket holders will receive a 10% discount on all items when using their app.

The app also features seamless digital ticketing through UC's new partner, Ticketmaster.

UC Concession upgrades include Nippert Market, Rhine Room, Loading Dock

New this season, the 513 Stand brings affordable concession options to Nippert Stadium, with menu items priced at just $5, $1, and $3, perfect for fans looking to enjoy game day without breaking the bank. Expect to find kid-friendly favorites like fountain drinks, popcorn, candy and more all at wallet-friendly prices.

Nippert Market is your new go-to destination on game day, bringing the vibrant energy and flavors of UC's own local market right into Nippert Stadium. Featuring local favorites like Donatos, Skyline Chili, Rhinegeist beer, Milton’s Donuts, Bibibop and more, Nippert Market includes convenient grab-and-go stations with gluten-free and vegan options.

The Rhine Room is a nostalgic nod to the beloved original spot on campus, bringing back the spirit of your college days with a modern twist. Located in the lower level of TUC (the former Catskellar space) and open throughout the entire game, it’s the perfect place to relive your glory days over an ice-cold beer and a classic steak sandwich.

The Loading Dock is your ultimate stop for all things loaded. From fully stacked nachos to creative loaded cocktails, this spot takes concession cravings to the next level. Located just outside of TUC’s loading dock, it’s the perfect place to fuel up before heading back to the action.

You asked, they listened: More Skyline Chili locations are coming to UC football games. This season, you’ll find even more Skyline carts throughout the stadium, making it easier than ever to get your chili fix. Plus, there's a dedicated Skyline location under the TUC bridge concession stand. More chili, less waiting!

Addition of Black Market Salon, a made-to-order fresh lemonade vendor that also offers spiked versions of their famous lemonades.

Sheakley Lawn Beer Hall

New this season, the ultimate beer destination right on Sheakley Lawn: a Beer Hall. Whether you're craving a refreshing Cincy Light, the crisp taste of Cincy Light Lime, a bold IPA, or your favorite domestic brew, you are covered.

Sheakley Lawn is getting a major refresh this season, transforming into a Beer Hall experience featuring tons of beer options and brand-new outdoor furniture — including picnic tables, comfortable seating and shaded tents — perfect for relaxing before kickoff.

Even better, Sheakley Lawn will now open three hours before kickoff (two hours for noon games), giving fans without a traditional tailgate a lively place to gather, enjoy a drinkand soak in the game day atmosphere.

Ingredient advisory

Please be advised that food prepared at Nippert Stadium may contain the following ingredients: milk, eggs, wheat, soybean, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and sesame seeds. There are gluten-free and vegan options located in the Grab and Go containers in the Nippert Market.

UC guest services

Need help on game day? Whether you're looking for a lost item, trying to find your favorite concession stand, picking up a UC Yearbook, or just have a question, the Guest Services team is there for you.

You can find Guest Services at:• Sheakley Lawn – Right in front of the Lindner Center (Open once Sheakley Lawn opens until the end of the game)• Northwest Concourse – Inside the stadium for quick assistance (Opens once gates open until the end of the game)

UC gate updates

To enhance pedestrian safety on game day, Gate C will no longer be in use. Fans who typically enter through Gate C are encouraged to use Gate B near Sheakley Lawn or Gate E on the opposite side of Dieterle.

UC parking garage updates

To help make your traffic and parking experience as seamless as possible, be sure to check out the updated parking garage maps for season ticket holder garages and single game ticket holder garages. Each map clearly outlines the recommended entrance and exit points, along with the best post-game exit routes based on your destination. A little planning now means a faster, easier trip home later.

Visual updates at Nippert

Visually, upgrades to Nippert Stadium include east concourse way-finding upgrades, as well as more defined seat markings.

West Pavilion gains a massive interior visual upgrade, especially on the fourth and fifth levels.

UC fan experience team

New for 2025 is a team, led by Director of Fan Experience and Special Projects Sydney Shelton, dedicated to improving and streamlining all aspects of the fan experience, from concessions to parking to survey analysis. If you experience issues with gameday, contact Shelton at [email protected].

UC updates from the last few season

• Expanded the perimeter of Nippert Stadium to include Fifth Third Arena and TUC, allowing fans the ability to find climate-controlled areas as needed and additional amenities like restrooms• The new perimeter allows fans to take advantage of Sheakley Lawn, an family-friendly zone complete with a big screen• New stadium signage, including a Ring of Honor and other murals highlighting our success through the Cotton Bowl• Introduced TagBoard as a fan experience initiative, allowing fans to share their social media to the videoboard.• Opened ‘The Commons’ for fans to purchase pre-game tailgates; hosted College Gameday and Big Noon kickoff in ‘The Commons’• Increased number of points of sale for concessions, including mobile carts and speed lines• Addition of FastPass, a pre-scan option for fans to skip the gate rush• Addition of field suites, giving fans one of the most unique experiences in all of college football• Creation of a dedicated student gate, streamlining entry for 5,000+ student guests• Enhanced stadium security controls, including Open Gate technology• Increased Accessibility resources • UC offers captioning at multiple live sporting events and venues including football, men's and women's basketball, and volleyball; open captions on all pre-recorded videos on the main video board; and the opportunity to access live captioning on smart phones (which can be accessed during games).• Additionally, any student, employee or visitor who is deaf or hard of hearing can request ASL Interpreters for any UC event, including athletics events, using an online request form: ASL/CART request. Visitors who need other access or disability-related accommodations can email our accessibility office at [email protected] and they will work together with campus partners to coordinate access. Whatever you need, we’re here to make your game day experience smooth and stress-free!• Additional staff will be placed at Eden Garage to coordinate all shuttle and fan activity

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Nippert Stadium adds concession upgrades, beer hall for UC football