Roughly a week ago, the Cincinnati Bengals teamed up with Hamilton County to make a surprise $350 million request of Ohio lawmakers after seeing the Cleveland Browns get $600 million put in the budget for a new stadium.
It was a new, unexpected request from the team and county. Matt Hufffman, the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, recently appeared on 700WLW and shot down the idea.
“I did meet with the Bengals and Commissioner (Denise) Driehaus a few months ago or weeks ago, and basically they’re talking about a $350 million cash upfront … which is similar to what the Browns were trying to do a couple of years ago,” Huffman said, accoring to WCPO’s Taylor Weiter. “And I don’t support that. I don’t think the public supports it.”
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In the request, the Bengals were asking lawmakers for roughly 42 percent of the $830 million renovation project (down from the initial outlined $1 billion plan), attempting to sell it as a request that would help boost the surrounding economy.
Per WCPO, lawmakers would like the Bengals to ask for less risk put on taxpayers, but there is concern that a bond deal the Browns received wouldn’t necessarily benefit Hamilton County in the same way.
As always, the Bengals can exercise the first of five two-year extensions on the Paycor Staidum lease by June 30. If for some reason they don’t, the lease would expire in June of 2026 and could the team explore a move.
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