Bengals, County Finalize Paycor Stadium Lease Extension

The Cincinnati Bengals have finalized a new lease agreement with Hamilton County, ensuring their stay at Paycor Stadium through at least 2036, with options to extend to 2046. The agreement was passed by a 2-1 county commissioner vote and required a special session for final ratification after initial procedural issues. It provides for $470 million in renovations—$350 million from the county and $120 million from the Bengals, supported by the NFL's G-5 loan program—to upgrade lounges, suites, concessions, and scoreboards. The lease reduces the county's future financial obligations for major stadium projects compared to the previous agreement. Bengals executives praised the deal for keeping the stadium competitive and reinforcing the team's commitment to Cincinnati. The agreement comes as NFL stadium funding remains a contentious issue, with other teams like the Cleveland Browns seeking state support for new venues.