Cincinnati's riverfront arena, formerly U.S. Bank Arena
The Heritage Bank Center is the indoor arena at 100 Broadway on the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, next to Great American Ball Park and The Banks. It is home to the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL (minor league hockey) and is the city's largest indoor stop for concerts, wrestling, the Harlem Globetrotters and family shows. It holds 17,556 for concerts and 14,453 for hockey.
For a concert, the best seats are the center floor sections straight back from the stage (Floor 2 and Floor 5 on the usual layout) and the lower-level side sections 106–115. For value, the 200 level's sections 211, 212, 230 and 231 keep a good angle without the lower-level demand.
The building has had five names. It opened in 1975 as Riverfront Coliseum, became The Crown in 1997, the Firstar Center in 1999 and U.S. Bank Arena in 2002, and took the Heritage Bank Center name on November 4, 2019. Section numbers did not change with the name, and plenty of Cincinnatians still call it U.S. Bank Arena or the Coliseum.
How the seating bowl is laid out
The section numbers below come from the RateYourSeats section directory; the arena's own chart at heritagebankcenter.com/seating uses the same numbers.
100 level: sections 101–140
The lower bowl wraps the floor with 40 sections and sits below the main walkway. Guest Relations is on the main concourse by section 102, and accessible seating is reached from the concourse level.
200 level: sections 201–240
The upper level sits above the walkway, so row A is reached by climbing a flight of stairs. Most sections run from row A to row R. These are the farthest seats from the floor and usually the least expensive.
Floor
For concerts the floor is divided into numbered sections, typically Floor 1 through Floor 6, either reserved seats or general admission standing depending on the show.
Suites and the All Access Bar and Grill
Suites and the All Access Bar and Grill are on the fifth floor. The box office and main plaza entrance are on the fourth-floor plaza level, facing the ballpark.
When you face the stage, lower-numbered seats in a section are usually on the left.
Best seats for concerts and Cyclones hockey
Concerts
The center floor sections, Floor 2 and Floor 5 on the usual end-stage layout, look straight down the middle at the stage. If you would rather sit up off the floor, sections 106–115 on the lower level put you close to the stage at an angle and above the floor crowd. Upstairs, 211, 212, 230 and 231 are the picks for a full view at a lower price.
Cyclones hockey
The rink fills the floor, and hockey capacity drops to 14,453. Sit along the sideline near the red line, in the middle rows of the 100 level, where you can see over the glass and follow play at both ends. Hockey crowds are usually smaller than concert crowds, so good lower-level seats are often available closer to game day.
Seats to avoid
- Sections beside or behind an end stage: partial views; check whether your section sits around the stage end before you buy.
- Top rows of the 200-level corners: the longest distance to the floor in the building.
- Front rows of the 200 level for anyone with mobility limits: row A requires a stair climb from the walkway.
Heritage Bank Center capacity
The Heritage Bank Center holds 17,556 for concerts, 17,000 for basketball and 14,453 for hockey. The opening concert on September 9, 1975, with the Allman Brothers Band and Muddy Waters, drew 16,721. The arena has hosted the 1987 World Figure Skating Championships, the 1996 NCAA Frozen Four and the 1997 NCAA women's Final Four.
Parking, the streetcar and walking in
As of 2026, the venue points drivers to two garages: the Central Riverfront Garage at 149 Broadway, west of the arena, and the East Garage at 443 East Pete Rose Way, east of it, where prepaid pass holders go. The Public Landing off Mehring Way and nearby surface lots fill the gap. The arena recommends reserving a space in advance through SpotHero, and overnight RV parking is not allowed. When a Reds game or a Bengals game overlaps, riverfront parking gets scarce, so book early.
The Cincinnati Connector streetcar has a stop a short walk away at The Banks. Across the river, you can park in Newport or Covington and walk over the Purple People Bridge, a pedestrian bridge that lands near the arena; TANK's Southbank Shuttle also links the Kentucky riverfront hotels to downtown. See the arena's venue information page for current details.
Bag policy and entry rules
As of 2026, the Heritage Bank Center allows clear bags no larger than 12 by 12 by 6 inches and clutches no larger than about 6 by 4 by 1 inches. Backpacks and other bags are prohibited. Diaper bags with a child and medical bags are allowed after a full search, and every bag, coat and guest is searched at entry.
- Re-entry: not allowed, except for medical reasons or to return a prohibited item to your car.
- Payments: the arena is cashless; cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted.
- Doors: typically 60 minutes before sports and family shows, 90 minutes before concerts and two hours before shows with general admission floors.
- Smoking: only in designated outdoor areas, usually the north side of the outer concourse.
Check the arena's current policy before you go, since rules vary by event.
From Riverfront Coliseum to today
Riverfront Coliseum opened on September 9, 1975, at a cost of about 20 million dollars. On December 3, 1979, eleven people died in a crowd crush outside a sold-out concert by The Who, when fans with general admission tickets pressed against too few open doors. Cincinnati banned festival seating afterward and did not lift the ban until 2004. A 1997 renovation of about 14 million dollars added new seats, concourses, restrooms and a center-hung video board, and the building took a string of sponsor names before Heritage Bank's arrived in 2019. In November 2024, a Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber study called for a new 18,000-seat downtown arena; the current operators disputed its findings, and no replacement had been approved when this guide was written.
Frequently asked questions
Is Heritage Bank Center the same as U.S. Bank Arena?
Yes. U.S. Bank Arena was renamed Heritage Bank Center on November 4, 2019. It opened in 1975 as Riverfront Coliseum, and the building and section numbers are unchanged.
What is the Heritage Bank Center capacity?
It holds 17,556 for concerts, 17,000 for basketball and 14,453 for hockey.
What is the Heritage Bank Center bag policy?
As of 2026, clear bags up to 12 by 12 by 6 inches and small clutches are allowed. Backpacks are prohibited; diaper and medical bags are searched. Check the current policy before you go.
Where should I park for the Heritage Bank Center?
The Central Riverfront Garage at 149 Broadway and the East Garage on East Pete Rose Way are closest. The arena recommends reserving through SpotHero.
Can you leave Heritage Bank Center and come back in?
No. Re-entry is not allowed except for medical reasons or to return a prohibited item to your vehicle.
What are the best seats at a Heritage Bank Center concert?
Center floor sections straight back from the stage and lower-level sides 106–115. Sections 211, 212, 230 and 231 are good value upstairs.