Under the proposed agreement, Hamilton County taxpayers "would make" $39M worth of improvements in 2024 to Paycor StadiumGetty Images
The Bengals and Hamilton County "will begin negotiations" on a new lease for Paycor Stadium that Hamilton County Administrator Jeff Aluotto said that “will involve major stadium upgrades in the years to come" in 2024, according to Scott Wartman of the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. Ahead of the negotiations, commissioners tomorrow “will vote on an agreement with the Bengals for some initial upgrades to the stadium.” Under the proposed agreement between the county and the Bengals, Hamilton County taxpayers “would make” $39M worth of improvements in 2024 to Paycor Stadium. This would include “an expanded walkway outside the stadium to alleviate pre-and-post-game congestion, updated audio/visual equipment and new seats for the club suites.” Hamilton County Board of Commissioner President Alicia Reece said that under the current lease, which expires in 2026, the county taxpayers “have paid 96% of the costs.” Reece said that she “wants the county to more evenly split the costs of future stadium upgrades with the team, the NFL and other entities.” Commissioners said that the Bengals have “already started shouldering more of the burden for stadium upgrades.” The agreement commissioners will vote on tomorrow includes $32M already made by the Bengals and the $39M the county would make next year. That is a total of $71M in stadium upgrades, with the county “putting in 55% and the team 45%.” The draft agreement “doesn't obligate the Bengals to put in more money beyond what they already have” (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 12/12).
