17-03-2025
No arena, no March Madness, no more excuses. Stop letting Cincinnati lose.
This weekend, as March Madness tips off, millions will tune in to watch college basketball players seek their "One Shining Moment." The buzzer beaters. The Cinderella runs. The drama.
Even casual fans will fill out brackets, only to feel the heartbreak of a surefire Final Four pick losing to a double-digit seed. Living rooms and bars will be packed with alumni reliving their college years. Offices will buzz with friendly banter as coworkers enter the annual bracket pool and sneak glances at games throughout the day.
And fans across the country will travel to host cities − cities that embrace this madness − hoping that their team will make history. Those fans will be booking hotel rooms. Dining out before the games. Buying rounds to celebrate − or to drown their sorrows. Exploring the host city that will be their home for the weekend.
But once again, none of those host cities will be Cincinnati. And that should make us upset.
More: 'The opportunity Cincinnati is missing': New group launches to push for Downtown arena
This isn't just about seeing "Cincinnati, OH" on the bottom of the screen during broadcasts, though that exposure would be fantastic for our region. This is about the massive economic impact we leave on the table every single year because we lack the facilities to host March Madness − and so many other events that could bring national attention, tourism, and revenue to Cincinnati.
It's time for our region to step up, as we have so many times before, and build an arena. Other cities have figured this out.
When Cleveland hosted the Women's Final Four just last year, the city saw a direct economic impact of $32 million − even higher than projections. Columbus, our natural rival, hosted the Women's Final Four in 2018 and is set to do so once again in 2027. Indianapolis, our neighbors to the West, will host the following year in 2028.
Meanwhile, Cincinnati sits on the sidelines, watching our regional peers − Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Lexington…even the annual First Four in Dayton! − capitalize on their investment in modern infrastructure to host the men's and women's tournament.
How long will we continue a debate where the answer is clear?
A study led by the Cincinnati Chamber found that a new arena would not only be profitable (generating $5-6 million annually) but would also bring an average economic impact of $22.6 million per year and create 231 new full-time jobs.
While there are still questions about where an arena should go and how to fund it, three things are clear. It's time for March Madness to come to Cincinnati. It's time to stop debating a settled issue. It's time to build an arena.
Councilman Seth Walsh is in his third year on Cincinnati City Council. Before his time on City Council, Walsh worked in community economic development in the neighborhoods of Sedamsville and College Hill, leading the effort to revitalize the College Hill Business District as the executive director of the College Hill CURC.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati keeps losing big. It's time to build a new arena | Opinion
