History
When it opened in February 1949 the Gardens was among the largest arenas in the country, with more than 11,000 seats. Carved athletic figures decorated its entrance.
The NBA's Royals played there from 1957 until 1972, and the Gardens also hosted the 1966 NBA All-Star Game. Xavier basketball called it home from 1983 to 2000, and a long line of minor-league hockey teams followed.
After the Robinson family put it up for sale, the Port of Greater Cincinnati bought the property in 2016 for manufacturing redevelopment. The building closed that July and was demolished in March 2018.
Why it matters: It was the home of Cincinnati's only NBA franchise, the Royals.
Timeline
- February 22, 1949
An exhibition hockey game between the Dallas Texans and Montreal Canadiens opened the building.
- 1966NBA All-Star Game[1]
The Gardens hosted the 1966 All-Star Game.
- 1972Royals' tenancy ends[1]
The Royals' final season at the Gardens was 1971-72.
- June 16, 2016
The Port authority approved a $1.75 million purchase.
- July 21, 2016Closed[1]
The arena closed after the sale.
- March 7, 2018
Crews began knocking down the arena.
The site today
| Physical status | Demolished[1,2] |
|---|---|
| Current use | Owned by the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority for light manufacturing redevelopment[2] |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| Cincinnati Royals | NBA · 1957–1972 |
|---|---|
| Xavier Musketeers men's basketball | NCAA · 1983–2000 |
| Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball | NCAA · 1949–1954 · tenant |
| Cincinnati Mighty Ducks | AHL · 1997–2005 · tenant |
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Location | 2250 Seymour Avenue, Bond Hill, Cincinnati, OH 45212, Cincinnati, Ohio[1,2] |
|---|---|
| Venue type | Arena |
| Sports | Basketball, Hockey, Boxing & wrestling |
| Level | NBA, NCAA |
| Opened | February 22, 1949[1,2] |
| Last used for sports | July 21, 2016[1] |
| Demolished | March 2018[1,2] |
| Physical status | Demolished |
| Original capacity | 11,000[1] |
| Final capacity | 10,208[1] |
| Capacity notes | More than 11,000 at opening; 10,208 in the infobox (Wikipedia). |
| Construction cost | $3 million (1949) |
| Owner / operator | Kenko Corporation (Robinson family) from 1979 |
| Closure | Its owners no longer considered it a core asset and sold the property for industrial redevelopment. |
Documented details
- The Beatles played the Gardens on August 27, 1964.[1]
Sources
- Cincinnati Gardens, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, capacity, closed, coordinates, demolished, events, opened, teams
- Watch live: Crews demolish Cincinnati Gardens, WCPO Cincinnati. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, current land use, demolished, opened
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.