And also resisting the urge to point out that the Roebling is not the first bridge to cross the Ohio River.

It's not resisting if you do it guys.

2 hours ago, JaceTheAce41 said:

Resisting the urge to point out that a couple hundred years ago you'd see a similar scene of bison crossing the Ohio River at certain points

Man's idea of progress is a drive to the graveyard. 

 

Ozymandias, a poem by Percy Shelley. Explores the worldly fate of history and the ravages of time: even the greatest men and the empires they forge are impermanent, their legacies fated to decay into oblivion. "Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!" exemplifies the arrogance and hubris of a leader who believed his dominion would endure indefinitely.

 

I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed:
And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
No thing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

— Percy Shelley, "Ozymandias", 1819 edition

 

do I dare push "Submit Reply?" only a fool such as I.

 

 

10 hours ago, JaceTheAce41 said:

Resisting the urge to point out that a couple hundred years ago you'd see a similar scene of bison crossing the Ohio River at certain points.

 

Also, in the 1800s there were mass squirrel migrations. 

https://southeastohiohistory.org/tom-talks-history-blog/squirrel-invasion/

 

Edited April 10Apr 10 by ucnum1

Would seem the parameters of a lease agreement are within reach between Hamilton County and Bengals.$350 million ask from the state in a $1.0-1.25 billion dollar renovation seems reasonable.

 

https://www.fox19.com/2025/04/10/bengals-hamilton-county-seeking-350-million-ohio-stadium-renovations/

Edited April 10Apr 10 by ucnum1

1 hour ago, ucnum1 said:

Would seem the parameters of a lease agreement are within reach between Hamilton County and Bengals.$350 million ask from the state in a $1.0-1.25 billion dollar renovation seems reasonable.

 

https://www.fox19.com/2025/04/10/bengals-hamilton-county-seeking-350-million-ohio-stadium-renovations/

 

Huh that’s interesting. I thought Salt Lake City or San Antonio was coming in hot lol. But what do I know.

 

“Between now and July 1 there’s going to be an awful lot of changes to the budget,”

 

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2025/04/10/hamilton-county-asks-state-money-paycor-stadium/83027747007/

Edited April 10Apr 10 by 646empire

I have known the Brown family for a few decades.They are not moving and were never going to move.

 

Maybe a few decades ago when the franchises  financial situation was not secure.

 

The Brown family basically owns 100% of the team now and it prints money by itself at 75-100 million a year in profits.

47 minutes ago, ucnum1 said:

I have known the Brown family for a few decades.They are not moving and were never going to move.

well then, just say no to their wishes. we've got'em where we want them. who dey.

Bengals, Hamilton County ask state for $350M for stadium overhaul

 

Hamilton County and the Cincinnati Bengals have asked the state for $350 million for an overhaul of Paycor Stadium, part of an estimated $830 million renovation.

 

The county released the joint request Thursday, April 10.

 

That's significantly less than the $1.3 billion master plan unveiled to the county and the team in 2024. A document that lists the elements of the proposed renovation includes improvements to elevators and escalators, replacing the canopy and roofing systems, renovating club-level seating and suites and creating additional ones, improving the concourse and plaza and modernizing the stadium audio-visual equipment.

 

Notably, it does not include a new headquarters for the team and beefed up practice facility on the location of the current outdoor practice field west of the stadium.

 

"We’ve pared that to $830 million. There’s some flexibility in that number," said Commissioner Denise Driehaus at the Thursday, April 10, Hamilton County Commission meeting.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/04/10/bengals-hamilton-county-paycor-stadium-renovation.html

 

20 hours ago, 646empire said:

Huh that’s interesting. I thought Salt Lake City or San Antonio was coming in hot lol. But what do I know.

 

“Between now and July 1 there’s going to be an awful lot of changes to the budget,”

 

We're still in the early stages of any stadium fight. I'm still hoping the county tells the Brown family to kindly make love to themselves. The $350 million from the state will help pay for renovations but it's not the nearly billion dollar fleecing that they want and doesn't include giving them valuable riverfront property for a practice facility that they should have built themselves years ago. Salt Lake was just brought up because a local sportscaster there started the convo, but if you don't believe we won't hear about the Bengals possibly relocating as part of this stadium fight, then let me tell you about this great looking bridge I have for sale.

 

20 hours ago, ucnum1 said:

I have known the Brown family for a few decades.They are not moving and were never going to move.

 

Maybe a few decades ago when the franchises  financial situation was not secure.

 

The Brown family basically owns 100% of the team now and it prints money by itself at 75-100 million a year in profits.

 

Odd how the franchise's financial situation wasn't secure until they fleeced the taxpayers into the worst stadium deal in history. Real pillars of the community those Browns. Just don't be surprised if venture capital comes along or another city starts charming them with tales of increasing that $75 million a year in profits by building a brand new stadium in the tech hub of Austin or the much newer and more luxurious Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. I really wish I could be as naive as some of you. 

13 minutes ago, JaceTheAce41 said:

 

We're still in the early stages of any stadium fight. I'm still hoping the county tells the Brown family to kindly make love to themselves. The $350 million from the state will help pay for renovations but it's not the nearly billion dollar fleecing that they want and doesn't include giving them valuable riverfront property for a practice facility that they should have built themselves years ago. Salt Lake was just brought up because a local sportscaster there started the convo, but if you don't believe we won't hear about the Bengals possibly relocating as part of this stadium fight, then let me tell you about this great looking bridge I have for sale.

 

 

Odd how the franchise's financial situation wasn't secure until they fleeced the taxpayers into the worst stadium deal in history. Real pillars of the community those Browns. Just don't be surprised if venture capital comes along or another city starts charming them with tales of increasing that $75 million a year in profits by building a brand new stadium in the tech hub of Austin or the much newer and more luxurious Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. I really wish I could be as naive as some of you. 

That was the going rate for a stadium lease back in the mid 1990s.Baltimore was offering the Bengals more than Hamilton County with a $50 million upfront payment and relocation fees paid for to the NFL.

 

Cleveland Browns  took thier offer up about 6 months later.

The Brown family are a low key group quite happy to have a financially secure franchise worth a few billion dollars.They have no desire to move like at all.

4 minutes ago, ucnum1 said:

The Brown family are a low key group quite happy to have a financially secure franchise worth a few billion dollars.They have no desire to move like at all.

 

Cool. Then Hamilton County should let the lease run out, and the Brown family should foot the bill for all of the stadium improvements if they're so committed to the community and aren't just using their parasitic stadium lease agreement as an ATM. 

Both of the above arguments can be true, no?

1. That the Brown family has some loyalty to the community and would be will to stay in Cincinnati for less. 

2. That the Brown family will look to maximize the leverage that exists in the broader franchise market. 

Unless the Brown family is willing to give up a portion of their equity in the Bengals they will not be leaving the Cincinnati market. The relocation fee for the Rams (STL -> LA) was something like $700M. Moving forward it will be in the ballpark of $1B, which they simply cannot afford without additional investors. The Brown family does not seem like the type to welcome new owners from Wall Street telling them what to do with 'their' team. 

2 hours ago, JaceTheAce41 said:

 

Cool. Then Hamilton County should let the lease run out, and the Brown family should foot the bill for all of the stadium improvements if they're so committed to the community and aren't just using their parasitic stadium lease agreement as an ATM. 

That's not how any business in this country works.  They will get as much public money as they can just every other company.  If you think the anyone in the business world does things out of the kindness of their heart for their community I also have a great looking bridge for sale. 

Commissioner Denise Driehaus: Term sheet headed to the Bengals soon

By Chris Wetterich – Staff reporter and columnist, Cincinnati Business Courier

Apr 11, 2025

Updated Apr 11, 2025 2:33pm EDT

 

Hamilton County is getting closer to delivering its terms for a proposed new lease to the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus.

 

The Bengals have griped that they have proposed extensions of the current lease at county-owned Paycor Stadium, which expires after the 2025-2026 season, in exchange for investments by the team and the county but that the county has never countered with an offer.

 

MORE

3 hours ago, wjh said:

The Brown family does not seem like the type to welcome new owners from Wall Street telling them what to do with 'their' team. 

 

It is their team.  They own every share except one (If I remember correctly, something like 834 of 835 shares).  It required a singular focus over the span of 40 years to achieve this.  Nobody posting on this forum has worked for 40 years toward a single goal. 

 

 

 

I feel like the easiest solution is just let the Bengals move to a new stadium in Warren County or something. They can build their own private Banks of Lebanon that they have total control over and it doesn't have to be Cincinnati's direct problem anymore while keeping the team in the region. 

1 minute ago, RustyBFall said:

I feel like the easiest solution is just let the Bengals move to a new stadium in Warren County or something. They can build their own private Banks of Lebanon that they have total control over and it doesn't have to be Cincinnati's direct problem anymore while keeping the team in the region. 

The Brown family are nothing like the Haslams up in Cleveland and quite honestly they do not have the capital stack to offer up a billion to develop a new stadium and surrounding area.

 

Playing in a renovated PBS at under a billion dollars cost with a team contribution of a few hundred million is exactly where they want to be at.

1 hour ago, ucnum1 said:

The Brown family are nothing like the Haslams up in Cleveland and quite honestly they do not have the capital stack to offer up a billion to develop a new stadium and surrounding area.

 

I know people are going after you for your defense of the Brown family, but they literally could afford to do this themselves. They can sell shares of the team. They aren't entitled to maintain 100% ownership and get public funds (they might get exactly this, but they aren't entitled to it).

 

The team is valued between $3-6 Billion.

1 hour ago, ryanlammi said:

 

I know people are going after you for your defense of the Brown family, but they literally could afford to do this themselves. They can sell shares of the team. They aren't entitled to maintain 100% ownership and get public funds (they might get exactly this, but they aren't entitled to it).

 

The team is valued between $3-6 Billion.

The Brown family  could sell a private equity stake in the team maybe even recoup a billion dollars from it.Pigs are also never likely to fly.The chances are about the same here.

 

The entire family are pretty much all Ivy League educated lawyers.They know within 99.9% of every cent and dollar of  the funding formula NFL teams are getting on from state county and city governments.Are the Bengals entitled to any public subsidies? No but the market rate has been set and that family knows exactly what it is.

Case in point the county and team coming up with a capital stack of about $250 million each to round out PBS renovation financing of $800-850 million.

 

"We are in the process of putting the term sheet together,” Driehaus told me, adding it won’t be long until it is finished. “I like to tell people we’re negotiating with the Bengals all the time. And we are.”

The Bengals can unilaterally extend the lease for two years, but must notify the county by June 30 of the team's decision to do so.

Driehaus said her goal in building a capital stack for the project long has been to split the costs roughly into thirds – one-third paid for by the state, one-third from the county and one-third from the Bengals and the NFL."

 

The team needs to take on way more of the upkeep, maintenance, and gameday expenses in a new lease. 

Hamilton County strikes a deal with the Bengals on Paycor Stadium improvements; vote expected soon

By Chris Wetterich – Staff reporter and columnist, Cincinnati Business Courier

Apr 22, 2025

Updated Apr 22, 2025 10:28am EDT

 

Hamilton County has struck a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals to spend $185 million improving Paycor Stadium in 2026, a first phase of what could, in the long run, be an $830 million, larger package of upgrades to the facility.

 

The memorandum of understanding was added to the county commission agenda Tuesday, April 22, after the team signed off on it Monday night. Commissioners are expected to vote Tuesday morning on the deal.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/04/22/hamilton-county-deal-bengals-paycor-lease-terms.html

Edited April 22Apr 22 by Rabbit Hash

16 minutes ago, Rabbit Hash said:

Hamilton County strikes a deal with the Bengals on Paycor Stadium improvements; vote expected soon

By Chris Wetterich – Staff reporter and columnist, Cincinnati Business Courier

Apr 22, 2025

Updated Apr 22, 2025 10:28am EDT

 

Hamilton County has struck a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals to spend $185 million improving Paycor Stadium in 2026, a first phase of what could, in the long run, be an $830 million, larger package of upgrades to the facility.

 

The memorandum of understanding was added to the county commission agenda Tuesday, April 22, after the team signed off on it Monday night. Commissioners are expected to vote Tuesday morning on the deal.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/04/22/hamilton-county-deal-bengals-paycor-lease-terms.html

 

But But But Salt Lake City, BUT San Antonio, But Austin? Haha. As I said a deal was going to happen one way or the other. 

“Construction could begin as early as 2026. Both sides will start design, engineering and pre-construction work and lining up equipment starting this year.

This is the first phase of a $830 million renovation project that is tentatively planned for the stadium, with additional phases being rolled out through 2029.”

 

Without a deal or a lease extension, the county and the team "may, in their sole discretion, elect to reduce or terminate" their funding for these first renovation projects, according to the memorandum of understanding.

 

https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/i-team/new-stadium-suites-lounges-better-concessions-may-be-coming-to-paycor-stadium-in-2026-under-new-184-5m-plan

Edited April 22Apr 22 by 646empire

 The county will get state funding along with an additional Bengals piece and fill in the gap with the stadium tax for remaining phases.

Edited April 22Apr 22 by 646empire

7 minutes ago, 646empire said:

 The county will get state funding along with an additional Bengals piece and fill in the gap with the stadium tax for remaining phases.

 

Yeah the $650 million they requested adds up to the amount listed for the entire project so makes sense. 

1 hour ago, 646empire said:

 

But But But Salt Lake City, BUT San Antonio, But Austin? Haha. As I said a deal was going to happen one way or the other. 

 

Cool. We're getting more taxpayer money for the Brown family to leech off while consistently underperforming both on and off the field. It could be worse, it could be the Haslams I guess. I don't think for a minute that this is the end of the negotiations and we're going to be in the same boat again for the Reds in 2033ish and whatever BS the arena folks are going to try and pull.

22 minutes ago, JaceTheAce41 said:

I don't think for a minute that this is the end of the negotiations and we're going to be in the same boat again for the Reds in 2033ish

I’ve come to realize many people even those that have love for a city or place absolutely live for the drama and want it soooooo bad, it’s a sad human instinct. But Here ya go: Reds to Mexico City! 2033? Ok wake me up in 2030.

The Reds are less likely to leave than the Bengals. We've been over this before, though. They almost left in the 60's, and that's part of the reason the NY Mets exist. Nashville and Salt Lake already have about a billion in state funds earmarked for ballpark,s and Portland is working on getting some tax help as well. The Reds' lease ends in 203,3 and unless the minority owners step in, you can bet that Don Jr...I mean, Phil Castellini will be going to the county armed with that information. The county and state are handing the Bengals nearly a billion for their stadiu,m and the Reds would be stupid not to do the same. 

18 minutes ago, 646empire said:

 even those that have love for a city or place absolutely live for the drama and want it soooooo bad, it’s a sad human instinct. 

 

It's almost like the organization you're here apparently doing free PR for has a lengthy history of being poor partners with the citizens and taxpayers of Hamilton County. People have a right to be skeptical, and should be, of any pro sports franchise attempting to get public money.

 

Especially here.

 

Especially with these owners.

 

You can disagree, but you also don't have to continually be a jerk. Reddit might be more your speed, I think the Bengals sub would appreciate your lack of reading comprehension and apparent devotion to the Blackburns. 

Edited April 22Apr 22 by Gordon Bombay

29 minutes ago, Gordon Bombay said:

 

It's almost like the organization you're here apparently doing free PR for has a lengthy history of being poor partners with the citizens and taxpayers of Hamilton County. People have a right to be skeptical, and should be, of any pro sports franchise attempting to get public money.

 

Especially here.

 

Especially with these owners.

 

You can disagree, but you also don't have to continually be a jerk. Reddit might be more your speed, I think the Bengals sub would appreciate your lack of reading comprehension and apparent devotion to the Blackburns. 

I think you’re just mad because you hoped it would be a 5 alarm fire between the bengals and county. I tried to tell you a deal was in the works and many still pushed the alarmist button citing Utah stadium funds and other garbage. I tried to explain cincys situation is not anywhere near St Louis, San Diego etc but was shushed. Now I’m a Bengals Op lolll. Ok. I just want to see Cincinnati win, and break out of the old drama filled ways that’s held back the city tremendously. Hopefully we see more of it with Hyde Park today.

51 minutes ago, JaceTheAce41 said:

The Reds are less likely to leave than the Bengals. We've been over this before, though. They almost left in the 60's, and that's part of the reason the NY Mets exist. Nashville and Salt Lake already have about a billion in state funds earmarked for ballpark,s and Portland is working on getting some tax help as well. The Reds' lease ends in 203,3 and unless the minority owners step in, you can bet that Don Jr...I mean, Phil Castellini will be going to the county armed with that information. The county and state are handing the Bengals nearly a billion for their stadiu,m and the Reds would be stupid not to do the same. 

Ok see you in 5 years on that one. Let’s get the Bengals done first.

18 minutes ago, 646empire said:

I think you’re just mad because you hoped it would be a 5 alarm fire between the bengals and county.

 

I mean, I’ve stated countless times that I’m a fan and I’ve also covered these topics/stories multiple times from across teams and states. I’ve also worked with local teams including the Bengals, but again—you can’t even give the same respect others give you and bother reading before posting. I

 

I’m glad you’re happy for a Bengals deal, I am too and I hope it lasts long term with better benefits to the public than we’ve seen before. 

 

Now the real hope is: will they save the iconic escalator?

Edited April 22Apr 22 by Gordon Bombay

14 minutes ago, Gordon Bombay said:

 

I mean, I’ve stated countless times that I’m a fan and also have a proven track record of covering these topics/working with local teams including the Bengals, but again—you can’t even give the same respect others give you and bother reading before posting. I’m glad you’re happy for a Bengals deal, I am too and I hope it lasts long term with better benefits to the public than we’ve seen before. 

I know it is a grand time to crap on the Blackburn and Browns over the Paycor Stadium lease.When the lease was signed between Hamilton County and the Bengals was the going rate for municipalities in keeping thier NFL teams.More than a few teams relocated during that era that did not overpay to keep their teams.Hamilton County voted by over 60% to overpay and keep their franchise.Sour grapes 

 

But also actually knowing the details behind any deal and not regurgitating misinformation is also important to the subject matter.The Bengals contributed $44 million dollars to build Paul Brown Stadium out of $450 million cost.

 

In phase 1 of a 4 phased PBS renovation the Bengals and NFL are contributing $120 million for phase 1 alone out of $180 million.

 

From a percentage standpoint that is going from a 9.8 percent contribution to a 66.6 percent contribution of team money in project costs.

5 hours ago, 646empire said:

Without a deal or a lease extension, the county and the team "may, in their sole discretion, elect to reduce or terminate" their funding for these first renovation projects, according to the memorandum of understanding.

 

Is it right to conclude that, with the team investing this amount in the initial phase it shifts some leverage to the county in keeping them - given that the LT lease agreement still needs to be hammered out? Would the Bengals walk on that? Would the NFL frown on them waling on their investment?

5 hours ago, Rabbit Hash said:

 

Is it right to conclude that, with the team investing this amount in the initial phase it shifts some leverage to the county in keeping them - given that the LT lease agreement still needs to be hammered out? Would the Bengals walk on that? Would the NFL frown on them waling on their investment?

All of this is framework for some big deadlines in June. This is a plan for phase 1 construction but still tied to a lease being finalized by June. The bengals and the county are ready but they need to figure out what exactly the state is going to do number wise. Not a penny of construction is going to happen if the bengals/ nfl don’t intend to stay, so that is put to bed.

Edited April 23Apr 23 by 646empire

What will the full rollout end up being? Will the Bengals end up with the fancy practice facility and team offices? Or is this simply getting the stadium up to new standards?

6 minutes ago, IAGuy39 said:

Will the Bengals end up with the fancy practice facility and team offices?

Sounds like that's a no. From a Courier article two weeks ago:

 

Quote

The $830 million plan does not include a new headquarters for the team and beefed-up practice facility on the location of the current outdoor practice field west of the stadium. That idea, which was in a master plan contemplated for the site, would have contributed significantly to raising the cost to $1.3 billion.

 

Hamilton County commissioners approve deal with the Bengals

expand

Paycor Stadium

Corrie Schaffeld | CBC

By Chris Wetterich – Staff reporter and columnist, Cincinnati Business Courier

Apr 29, 2025

Updated Apr 29, 2025 12:36pm EDT

Hamilton County commissioners voted 2-1 on April 29 to approve a $185 million deal to start improving Paycor Stadium in 2026, with Commissioner Alicia Reece casting the dissenting vote.

All three are Democrats.

It would be the first phase of what could, in the long run, be a larger, four-phase, $830 million package of upgrades to the facility.

MORE

The Bengals can take out up to $300 million from the NFL the loan paid off over a 25 year period from league revenue sharing.I doubt Hamilton County will even break $250 million for PBS renovations when the new lease is signed in June.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2023/12/14/Football/nfl-g5-program/#:~:text=Owners%20created%20a%20successor%20to,the%20current%20program%20at%20capacity.

Edited April 29Apr 29 by ucnum1

In the long run, if the finances all work out and Ohio pays a big chunk of it as well, and it ends in a 25 year new lease, it will probably end up a good deal, of course over something like a 60 year period!

9 minutes ago, IAGuy39 said:

In the long run, if the finances all work out and Ohio pays a big chunk of it as well, and it ends in a 25 year new lease, it will probably end up a good deal, of course over something like a 60 year period!

Add on 15-20 years to the 2032 date when the Bonds are paid in full for building PBS is the most likely scenario.PBS will be paid off a lot sooner than Great American Ballpark will be.

The key number in a potential broader Bengals-county lease deal? One-third

By Chris Wetterich – Staff reporter and columnist, Cincinnati Business Courier

May 1, 2025

While Hamilton County and the Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to a deal to get a portion of an $830 million renovation of Paycor Stadium moving, the major question remains, what will the overall deal look like and how much will each side pay?

On Tuesday, a majority of the three-member commission indicated for the first time that it wants to see the total amount split, with the county picking up one-third, while the team, the NFL and the state of Ohio splitting the rest.

County commissioners long have said they expected the state, the team and the NFL to help fund capital improvements. Those funding sources were outlined in a framework for negotiations sent to the team and reported on by the Business Courier in January. But April 11, Commissioner Denise Driehaus put a specific percentage on the county's share – one third. On April 29, her colleague, Commissioner Stephanie Summerow Dumas, told reporters she was on board with that as well.

MORE

Hamilton County commissioner calls for Paycor Stadium hearings; group runs ads to back her

Hamilton County Commissioner Stephanie Summerow Dumas wants to have public hearings on Paycor Stadium and a new Bengals lease, which has prompted a group trying to persuade commissioners to use county stadium tax revenue on a new arena to run radio ads praising her.

At a May 1 hearing, Dumas said as lease negotiations ramp up, she wants the public to be able to weigh in.

“What I would like to request is an informational session for any community people to attend,” Dumas said, noting the commissioners recently approved a memorandum of understanding with the team to spend $185 million on a first phase of renovations. “Our next phase, I’d like to have public hearings.”

Dumas believes the next phase will be a broader term sheet transmitted by the county to the team. Her colleague, Commissioner Denise Driehaus, said in April that she expects the county to send the document to the Bengals soon.

“Our people in the community can take a look at that and make comments,” Dumas said. “I’d like us as we move forward to continue our transparency.”

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/05/12/paycor-stadium-bengals-public-hearings.html

Top Cuyahoga County official wants to team up with Hamilton County on state stadium money

Cuyahoga County’s top official wants to join with Hamilton County to pursue $350 million in state funding for each county to modify its existing National Football League stadium, telling the Business Courier that “the next 45 days are critical.”

The owner of the Cleveland Browns has spurned calls by Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb to rehabilitate the team’s existing stadium, Huntington Bank Field, along Cleveland’s lakefront. The Browns’ owners, Jimmy and Dee Haslam, want instead to build a $3.4 billion new domed stadium and mixed-use development in suburban Brook Park near the airport.

...

The divide between the Browns and their local government stands in stark contrast to the Cincinnati Bengals and Hamilton County, which want to embark on an $830 million rehabilitation of downtown's Paycor Stadium. The team and the county are negotiating on a new lease.

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/05/12/browns-bengals-ronayne-hamilton-state-stadium-fund.html

Hamilton County moves to oust longtime counsel on riverfront development

In a morning of high drama, Hamilton County commissioners moved to terminate their longtime counsel on riverfront development, Frost Brown Todd attorney Tom Gabelman.

Gabelman sat in the front row of the commissioners' chambers and detailed his accomplishments after signing up to speak during the commissioners' public comment. Then, without comment, commissioners Denise Driehaus, Stephanie Summerow Dumas and Alicia Reece unanimously voted to replace him with attorneys from Dinsmore & Shohl and Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease.

...

Pillich said she's been meeting with the commissioners who have expressed concern about communications and the way things are going on the lease negotiations with the Cincinnati Bengals, which is why she recommended the new lawyers. Those talks have been "treading water," Pillich said.

She said she wants the commissioners to have the tools they need to deliver a fair deal to the taxpayers and lawyers that will be "supportive" and "client focused."

"I've certainly heard your frustrations, your concerns about needing to improve communications, clarity and desired results related to a lot of things, but in particular at this point to the Bengals lease," Pillich said. "Sometimes when you have fresh eyes on a situation, you come up with a fresh idea."

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/05/15/hamilton-county-ousts-tom-gabelman-banks-attorney.html

Bengals allege conflict of interest with county’s stadium negotiator, Inner Circle Sports

Hours after Hamilton County moved to terminate its longtime riverfront counsel, the Cincinnati Bengals alleged a conflict of interest between another negotiator the county has hired, which the team said is also doing work for the Cleveland Browns.

The Bengals said they were surprised the county retained an outside stadium consultant, Inner Circle Sports, that also does work for the Cleveland Browns. David Abrams is the ICS employee retained by the county in 2023.

“This was not disclosed to the team initially, and the team undertook research to finally uncover this truth,” the Bengals said in a statement. “The team has expressed concern to the county that a stadium consultant performing services for the Cleveland Browns might not have Cincinnati’s best interests at heart. The county can decide how it wants to proceed, but the team felt it appropriate to share concerns over whether parties involved in discussions were working exclusively to advance local interests – or whether other conflicts might exist."

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/05/15/bengals-inter-circle-sports-hamilton-county.html