The Cincinnati Bengals Stadium Discussions Have Turned Ugly
Courtesy of Cincinnati Bengals' Official Twitter
The Cincinnati Bengals have remained an organization whose business practices have long been criticized. It appears the team and city are undergoing yet another chapter of tense discussions regarding lease agreements for Paycor Stadium, and both the Bengals organization and Hamilton County are accusing each other of violating the terms of the lease.
In emails obtained by Cincinnati’s WCPO, a letter sent to Hamilton County administrator Jeff Aluotto from Bengals’ vice president Troy Blackburn said that the Bengals made their rent payment for Paycor Stadium “with real hesitance” because “the County has not performed its obligations under the Lease and because efforts to modernize Paycor Stadium have never seemed more remote.” Blackburn accused the county of trying to sabotage the team, saying they have not given the organization enough funding to make the needed repairs. Blackburn even noted that the Bengals have been able to compete at “the highest levels in the NFL”, even though they missed the playoffs in 2024 despite having an MVP-caliber quarterback, a triple crown receiver, the NFL’s sack leader, and the NFL’s most handsome fan.
Aluotto then responded with a detailed plan of the costs it would take to make the necessary repairs, but added that he was “a bit perplexed by (Blackburn’s) tone” given meetings between the two parties. Aluotto threw accusations back at the Bengals of selling naming rights to Paycor without advanced approval from Hamilton County. Despite this, Aluotto and the county have demonstrated a willingness to negotiate with Blackburn and the Bengals and come to an agreement on funding the repairs of the stadium.
With the stadium’s lease set to expire in 2026, it has raised concerns that the team could potentially move out of Cincinnati, but the fact that the stadium is taxpayer funded makes a departure extremely difficult and unlikely. According to the “Art Modell Law”, professional sports teams cannot stop playing a team’s games at a taxpayer-funded stadium (which Paycor Stadium is) unless they make an agreement with the county or unless they give the county six months notice. In that six month stretch, the county or the county’s residents have an opportunity to buy the team, which would be a lofty investment, as the Bengals are valued at approximately four billion dollars.
However, in the current moment, both Hamilton County and the Bengals are at odds with each other, and discussions have reached “an impasse” according to Blackburn. With each passing day, fans are worried that many details will fall through, and many in the city have entered panic mode regarding the immediate future of their team. Upgrades have been made to the stadium, such as easier exits, a new locker room, and an indoor practice balloo… I mean, facility. That said, the Bengals believe that further repairs are “desperately needed” and without a resolution currently in place, a sense of uncertainty is resulting in mild panic throughout the city of Cincinnati.
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