Renovation or New Stadium 2026?

[CrashDavisSports]

Hamilton County not ruling out new Bengals stadium

The county wants the master plan ahead of lease negotiations to include options for a new stadium too.

bengalswire.usatoday.com

Potential Dome being discussed? New stadiums start at 2 Billion dollars now. Where would they locate this. The current stadium is an ideal location.

 

[DanBengalfan]

Next to the tennis complex in Mason?

or tear the stadium down, play at UC or Ohio State for several games while the new one is being built, then move into the new one.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Next to the tennis complex in Mason?

or tear the stadium down, play at UC or Ohio State for several games while the new one is being built, then move into the new one.

That would be several seasons not games worth if it is a tear down.

 

[DanBengalfan]

That would be several seasons not games worth if it is a tear down.

good time for a Bengals European tour.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Not sure what the contractuals are for a rebuild/new stadium vs Upgrades as much as possible for the current....I know the county/city is on the hook for specific upgrades at certain junctions...

I mention this because a new stadium likely would go, again, before the City/county to vote on for a tax - which I just don't know if I see passing with how things went last time. Yes, they are winning, and could be still winning - but short of getting back and winning a Super Bowl, I think it would be a really hard sell to pass off, again, money to the people...and the Browns are not going to self-fund....

Going to be interesting...

 

[jbuck]

is the old one even finished yet? Burrow goes down and all these pipe dreams turn into a nightmare.

 

[cincygrad]

My first reaction was that this was insane.... But, then I realized that Riverfront was only about 25 years old when it was deemed obsolete.... So, we're right on schedule.

Several years ago, I posted on this site the idea that the Bengals would likely leave town after 2026..... This was before Burrow came to town and before we started winning. If you look at where we were between 2017-2019 and if you look at how low the fan interest was during that time, I'm not sure how you could imagine the city paying for upgrades or paying for a new stadium. Burrow has really made this all possible. If the Bengals go on another deep playoff run this season and are generally the likable bunch they have been the last two seasons, I can see voters ponying up for a new place. That is insane to think about given the history of public financing of stadiums in Cincy and given where we were just four years ago.

I'm against a dome - The reason is that having a dome doesn't guarantee final fours and other major events..... We don't have the hotel space in Cincinnati for any major events. A dome would basically be an expensive waste.

Just build a new, modern outdoor stadium with a gigantic casino in it that will pay for the lease.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

My first reaction was that this was insane.... But, then I realized that Riverfront was only about 25 years old when it was deemed obsolete.... So, we're right on schedule.

Several years ago, I posted on this site the idea that the Bengals would likely leave town after 2026..... This was before Burrow came to town and before we started winning. If you look at where we were between 2017-2019 and if you look at how low the fan interest was during that time, I'm not sure how you could imagine the city paying for upgrades or paying for a new stadium. Burrow has really made this all possible. If the Bengals go on another deep playoff run this season and are generally the likable bunch they have been the last two seasons, I can see voters ponying up for a new place. That is insane to think about given the history of public financing of stadiums in Cincy and given where we were just four years ago.

I'm against a dome - The reason is that having a dome doesn't guarantee final fours and other major events..... We don't have the hotel space in Cincinnati for any major events. A dome would basically be an expensive waste.

Just build a new, modern outdoor stadium with a gigantic casino in it that will pay for the lease.

I like the casino idea as part of it for sure! However, a new project like that stadium with indoor seating for comfort of fans and players makes it a destination for more concerts because you don't have to worry about weather. I think it would actually spur growth along the banks as far as entertainment is concerned including more shopping and more hotels going up around it. Joe Burrow could be the one that spurs and entire revitalization downtown and makes Cincinnati a potential destination for entertainment and fun.

That casino idea is just awesome though. That would indeed change the financial trajectory of this franchise.

 

[jbuck]

drinking and losing money is overrated

 

[Cincyfan78]

I like the casino idea as part of it for sure! However, a new project like that stadium with indoor seating for comfort of fans and players makes it a destination for more concerts because you don't have to worry about weather. I think it would actually spur growth along the banks as far as entertainment is concerned including more shopping and more hotels going up around it. Joe Burrow could be the one that spurs and entire revitalization downtown and makes Cincinnati a potential destination for entertainment and fun.

That casino idea is just awesome though. That would indeed change the financial trajectory of this franchise.

Unfortunately, I don't really see that as an option...while I do agree a roof/dome would help create more demand for outside venues to use - I don't see an "explosion" of hotels or other items with a new stadium.

Fact is - the local Hotels and The Banks area already struggles with Reds, Bengals, Cyclones and while some seem to have found a niche (Holy Grail) the list of places that have come and gone is pretty long...

Then there is also the issue of room for building a new stadium...or how to properly schedule if the Bengals were to have to spend the 20XX season on the road as they replace PBS (using the same site).

I also think this gets ahead because I'm not so sure I see Hamilton County voters passing another Levy tax to support a stadium fund...the last one did not set well with voters once it passed...and with how the economy has been, and seems to be going, it's hard to see many families agreeing to pay more.

 

[cincygrad]

Unfortunately, I don't really see that as an option...while I do agree a roof/dome would help create more demand for outside venues to use - I don't see an "explosion" of hotels or other items with a new stadium.

Fact is - the local Hotels and The Banks area already struggles with Reds, Bengals, Cyclones and while some seem to have found a niche (Holy Grail) the list of places that have come and gone is pretty long...

Then there is also the issue of room for building a new stadium...or how to properly schedule if the Bengals were to have to spend the 20XX season on the road as they replace PBS (using the same site).

I also think this gets ahead because I'm not so sure I see Hamilton County voters passing another Levy tax to support a stadium fund...the last one did not set well with voters once it passed...and with how the economy has been, and seems to be going, it's hard to see many families agreeing to pay more.

They could just implode Great American Park and get rid of the Reds. That would recover some space along the Banks..... The Reds have not interest in really competing ever again, so I think we'll be okay without them.

 

[Cincyfan78]

They could just implode Great American Park and get rid of the Reds. That would recover some space along the Banks..... The Reds have not interest in really competing ever again, so I think we'll be okay without them.

It wasn't too long ago we would have said that about the Bengals....LOL

 

[cincygrad]

It wasn't too long ago we would have said that about the Bengals....LOL

Yeah.... But honestly, since the beginning of the two stadiums, the Bengals have clearly outclassed the Reds on and off the field. Even if you factor in the bad stretch to begin PBS (2000-2003) and the bad stretch before Burrow (16-19), the Bengals have been successful overall. 99-82 is nothing to sneeze at given the issues this franchise has had historically.

The Reds on the other hand..... They've been living off the goodwill of the 70s for 50 years. Something needs to change.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Yeah.... But honestly, since the beginning of the two stadiums, the Bengals have clearly outclassed the Reds on and off the field. Even if you factor in the bad stretch to begin PBS (2000-2003) and the bad stretch before Burrow (16-19), the Bengals have been successful overall. 99-82 is nothing to sneeze at given the issues this franchise has had historically.

The Reds on the other hand..... They've been living off the goodwill of the 70s for 50 years. Something needs to change.

They had good runs in the 90's. 90 WS, and that 94 and 95 team was really good...They had a legit shot the year MLB had their strike. Then of course '99.

Then a big gap until about 2010 (I think) and then made the playoffs from 2010-2013? But never winning.

Issue right now is - ownership is not spending and in MLB, unlike NFL, you have to spend money. You can take this year for example - maybe no one thought the Reds would be that good, but they've got 6 or 7 of their 9 losses because they ignored the bullpen (again after last seasons debacle). If they even get half-way decent guys for 3-6M more...they likely are sitting at 9-7, or maybe even 10-6 or 11-5...Ownership has absolutely sunk this once proud team and the bottom line comes down to money. Much of the same issue Brown went through in the 90's before a longer list of rules started to force teams to spend. MLB has no such cap/floor - so until the Ownership either steps up, or sells....Reds have some really good young players and some interesting pieces....will they supplement with the players needed to actually win?

 

[cincygrad]

They had good runs in the 90's. 90 WS, and that 94 and 95 team was really good...They had a legit shot the year MLB had their strike. Then of course '99.

Then a big gap until about 2010 (I think) and then made the playoffs from 2010-2013? But never winning.

Issue right now is - ownership is not spending and in MLB, unlike NFL, you have to spend money. You can take this year for example - maybe no one thought the Reds would be that good, but they've got 6 or 7 of their 9 losses because they ignored the bullpen (again after last seasons debacle). If they even get half-way decent guys for 3-6M more...they likely are sitting at 9-7, or maybe even 10-6 or 11-5...Ownership has absolutely sunk this once proud team and the bottom line comes down to money. Much of the same issue Brown went through in the 90's before a longer list of rules started to force teams to spend. MLB has no such cap/floor - so until the Ownership either steps up, or sells....Reds have some really good young players and some interesting pieces....will they supplement with the players needed to actually win?

Baseball is trending towards record revenues. Ultimately, they are happy with the financial structure of their game. I agree that the one thing that changed for the Brown family was the revenue sharing and associated rules of the CBA. Essentially, they're given the money needed to compete and the extra money needed to achieve high-end results is financially accessible. I don't see a path forward for the Reds - One could imagine a really savvy ownership group understanding the small market and finding a way to maintain a competitive major league roster. But, the odds of that sort of arrangement are slim. I just don't see much of a path for sustained success for the Reds - And I don't think the younger generations have as much reverence for the sport as the generations above us.... They won't continue to go just because attending a ballgame is "fun."

 

[cincygrad]

 

[CrashDavisSports]

What do you expect when they team is a AAAA team, and the forth highest paid player this year is Ken Griffey Jr.?

 

[Cincyfan78]

Baseball is trending towards record revenues. Ultimately, they are happy with the financial structure of their game. I agree that the one thing that changed for the Brown family was the revenue sharing and associated rules of the CBA. Essentially, they're given the money needed to compete and the extra money needed to achieve high-end results is financially accessible. I don't see a path forward for the Reds - One could imagine a really savvy ownership group understanding the small market and finding a way to maintain a competitive major league roster. But, the odds of that sort of arrangement are slim. I just don't see much of a path for sustained success for the Reds - And I don't think the younger generations have as much reverence for the sport as the generations above us.... They won't continue to go just because attending a ballgame is "fun."

Small market thing is a bit of a myth, though. Cleveland, San Diego, STL, Okaland - all in the same TV market. SD has one of the largest payrolls in MLB...they went all-in and signed everyone in hopes of winning and using that to generate record revenue to pay for the team...and it has worked tremendously.

When you win, and win a lot - you can make money. Too many owners want to make money and then maybe spend on the team. You have to spend money (wisely, of course and still work the minors and such) and then make money by taking advantage of winning with higher prices, more TV revenue, better sales at the gate, in shops, etc....

 

[Cincyfan78]

What do you expect when they team is a AAAA team, and the forth highest paid player this year is Ken Griffey Jr.?

Want to hear something sad...

Reds opening day Roster, just the active players, was $20M.

When Votto returns, the active payroll roster will be about $45M, since he is $25M.

This ownership group has absolutely screwed the fans of Cincinnati over.

 

[cincygrad]

Small market thing is a bit of a myth, though. Cleveland, San Diego, STL, Okaland - all in the same TV market. SD has one of the largest payrolls in MLB...they went all-in and signed everyone in hopes of winning and using that to generate record revenue to pay for the team...and it has worked tremendously.

When you win, and win a lot - you can make money. Too many owners want to make money and then maybe spend on the team. You have to spend money (wisely, of course and still work the minors and such) and then make money by taking advantage of winning with higher prices, more TV revenue, better sales at the gate, in shops, etc....

Yeah, but all of those cities you mention do not have NFL teams. LOL.