Former University of Cincinnati Bearcats, podcasters, football phenoms and brothers Travis and Jason Kelce paid a visit to their alma mater on Thursday, April 11 for a live version of their popular podcast, New Heights. Thousands of UC students and fans poured into Fifth Third Arena to not only watch the Kelce brothers’ funny antics in real life, but they also enjoyed a roster of famous guests, including Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, former UC quarterback Desmond Ridder and Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. After the Great Lombaby Games and appearances from those special guests, the Kelce brothers were treated to a surprise graduation ceremony, since they were unable to attend their original UC graduation ceremonies. Though Taylor Swift wasn’t in attendance, Travis was seen sporting the friendship bracelets that the “Cruel Summer” singer allegedly gave her beau.

Keep scrolling for everything that we saw during the New Heights live show at Fifth Third Arena.

Photos by Ron Valle

Travis and Jason Kelce at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Jason Kelce receiving his University of Cincinnati degree in a surprise graduation ceremony | New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Travis Kelce receiving his University of Cincinnati degree in a surprise graduation ceremony | New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Travis Kelce receiving his University of Cincinnati degree in a surprise graduation ceremony | New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Travis Kelce receiving his University of Cincinnati degree in a surprise graduation ceremony | New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Travis Kelce receiving his University of Cincinnati degree in a surprise graduation ceremony | New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Joe Burrow at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Joe Burrow at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Joe Burrow “Fortunately, there’s not a ton to do in Cincinnati.” In 2021, Cincinnati Bengals’ quarterback Joe Burrow said the team was able to avoid contracting COVID-19 because Cincinnati doesn’t have “a ton to do.” The remark was met with some agreement and some reproach, but it seems Burrow was just mostly kidding. While, yes, Cincinnati doesn’t have the glitz and glamor of bigger cities that might draw young athletes, Burrow isn’t known for hitting the town. He’s said in the past that he’s in bed by 8 p.m., and his father has said that Burrow was never really one to go out. But Burrow does think the Cincinnati Museum Center’s fossil collection is pretty kick-ass. Photo: Ron Valle
Joe Burrow at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Joe Burrow at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Joe Burrow and Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Joe Burrow at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Joe Burrow at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Travis Kelce and Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Travis Kelce and Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Former UC quarterback Desmond Ridder at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Jason Kelce at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Jason Kelce at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Travis and Jason Kelce at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Travis and Jason Kelce at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Travis and Jason Kelce at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The Great Lombaby Games during the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Travis Kelce at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Travis Kelce at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The Great Lombaby Games during the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The Great Lombaby Games during the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The Great Lombaby Games during the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Travis and Jason Kelce at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Jason Kelce and Joe Burrow at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The Kelce brothers’ surprise graduation ceremony during the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The Kelce brothers’ surprise graduation ceremony during the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The Kelce brothers’ surprise graduation ceremony during the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Travis Kelce chugging beer during his surprise graduation ceremony at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The Kelce brothers’ surprise graduation ceremony during the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The Kelce brothers’ surprise graduation ceremony during the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The Kelce brothers’ surprise graduation ceremony during the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
From left to right: Jason Kelce, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and Travis Kelce at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
From left to right: Jason Kelce, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and Travis Kelce at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Joe Burrow and Travis Kelce at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Joe Burrow and Jason Kelce at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Jason Kelce, Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and Travis Kelce at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Jason Kelce, former UC quarterback Desmond Ridder and Travis Kelce at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Jason Kelce, former UC quarterback Desmond Ridder and Travis Kelce at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
UC Walk-on Scholarship winner Ben Blevins at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Travis and Jason Kelce at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The crowd at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The crowd at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Travis Kelce with the crowd at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The crowd at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Jason Kelce at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Jason and Travis Kelce at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Jason and Travis Kelce entering Fifth Third Arena for the New Heights podcast live show | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Jason and Travis Kelce entering Fifth Third Arena for the New Heights podcast live show | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
UC cheerleaders at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The crowd at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The crowd at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The crowd at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The Great Lombaby Games during the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The Great Lombaby Games during the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The Great Lombaby Games during the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Jason and Travis Kelce at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
UC students at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The Great Lombaby Games during the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The Great Lombaby Games during the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
The Great Lombaby Games during the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
UC students at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Fans at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle
Fans at the New Heights podcast live show at Fifth Third Arena | April 11, 2024 Photo: Ron Valle