Hamilton County Reach Deal to Keep Bengals at Paycor Stadium

Acuerdan $185 millones para mejoras del Paycor Stadium — Source: La Mega Nota/Elvia Skeens / La Mega Nota/Elvia Skeens

The Cincinnati Bengals aren’t going anywhere, at least not for the next decade.

With the clock ticking down to the end-of-June lease deadline, the team and Hamilton County have come to terms on a new agreement to keep the Bengals at Paycor Stadium through the mid-2030s.

Per the Cincinnati Enquirer, the new lease is a 10-year deal starting in the 2025 season, with five optional two-year extensions after that. The first extension is automatic if the team ranks in the top 24 for total NFL revenue.

The total renovation package for the stadium has been trimmed from $830 million to $470 million, with the county chipping in $350 million and the Bengals committing $120 million. That changes the cost split from a previously proposed 88/12 to a more balanced 75/25.

And for the first time in decades, the Bengals will pay rent: $1 million per year for the first three years, then $2 million annually after that.

Renovations for the now nearly 30-year-old riverfront stadium are expected to take about two to three years once started. While the final lease documents are still being finalized, Thursday’s letter of intent extends the June 30th deadline and sets the framework in motion.

Commissioner Denise Driehaus called the deal “far from perfect,” but said it’s a step up from what’s been on the table in past years. Commissioner Alicia Reece expressed mixed feelings, calling the terms an “unfulfilled promise” but remained hopeful it’s at least better for taxpayers moving forward.

For fans worried about relocation whispers, the extensions in the previous lease would’ve still kept the team here even if talks had gone quiet. But now, with a formal agreement nearly in place, it looks like Who Dey Nation is staying planted right here in Cincinnati.