The Cincinnati Bengals will continue hosting their games at Paycor Stadium for an extended period, potentially up to and including the 2045 season. According to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the team and Hamilton County have officially signed a new agreement, ensuring the team remains in the city with an 11-year extension lasting until June 2036. This understanding also incorporates an opportunity to extend the arrangement until June 2046.
The freshly signed agreement signifies the completion of a procedure that has been in development throughout the current offseason. In June, the Bengals reached an understanding with local authorities concerning a $470 million project to improve Paycor Stadium, coupled with the lease extension. However, the extension needed the formal approval of county commissioners.
Paycor Stadium, which has served as the Bengals’ home since its inauguration in 2000, is slated for enhancements as part of the initiative. The project’s financial requirement is less than the Bengals’ original proposal of $830 million. The county is set to provide a substantial part of the funding, committing $350 million. The team will contribute $120 million to the refurbishments, assisted by the NFL’s G-5 loan program. The stadium’s planned upgrades include enhancements to club lounges, suites, concession areas, and scoreboards.
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Hamilton County commissioners gave their approval to the lease during a meeting held on Thursday. However, at that time, the Bengals had not yet formally accepted the conditions outlined in the lease. The official finalization that occurred on Friday represents the concluding action, taking place after the county’s approval vote with a 2-1 majority.
“The county representatives indicated that our requests are generally consistent with agreements made by other NFL teams in similar-sized markets and comparable situations,” Bengals owner Mike Brown stated on July 21, according to the AP. “We believe that the stadium is appropriately sized for our needs and the community. It’s a well-designed stadium that requires continuous maintenance. We aim to ensure this continues moving forward, but we are seeking to proceed in a manner that is largely consistent with our past practices.”
Following the confirmation of the long-term home for one NFL team in Ohio, attention now turns to the Cleveland Browns. They are exploring alternatives to their current downtown location, with a vision of constructing an enclosed stadium in the suburban areas. The state intends to allocate $600 million from unclaimed funds to aid in the construction of the stadium. However, this proposal has encountered substantial opposition and is the subject of a legal challenge asserting its “unconstitutional and unlawful” nature.
The Browns’ existing agreement with Cleveland is set to expire at the conclusion of the 2028 season, and city officials have conveyed a clear desire to retain the team at its current location on the lakefront instead of facing a relocation to Brook Park.
