Bengals and Hamilton County agree on upgrades

[Be Weary of Query]

CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Bengals and Hamilton County (Ohio) officials reached an important deal Thursday that will provide the team with desperately-needed upgrades to Paul Brown Stadium, and help bring more jobs to the region.

The Cincinnati Enquirer first reported Thursday afternoon that the Bengals agreed to waive height restrictions at "The Banks," a riverfront development on which stands Paul Brown Stadium, Great American Ballpark, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and a host of shops, restaurants and an apartment complex. The lease for the Bengals' stadium had allowed the team to invoke height restrictions on any new development that came to the area.

As a trade-off for waiving the height restrictions, the Bengals will be receiving stadium upgrades that the county will help pay for. Atop the list of renovations are changes to Paul Brown Stadium's scoreboard. It hasn't been replaced since the venue opened in 2000, and is considered far behind the digital style boards that nearly every other NFL stadium currently has. According to the Enquirer, the Bengals will foot 25 percent of the cost for the $10 million scoreboard upgrade.

Other renovations include the sprucing of furniture and other items in the stadium's boxes, the installment of wifi, and the expansion of the Bengals' weight room in the event the city is able to attract a major league soccer team. In a news release, the Bengals said they will spend about $6 million on all stadium upgrades, including completely footing the $2 million bill for the locker room and weight room changes.

Cincinnati Bengals Blog - ESPN

 

[cincygrad]

So the Bengals are paying for shit that the county is actually obligated to pay?

I know everyone bitches about the Bengals here, but it's not their fault the county made as stupid deal.

 

[ckhokie]

Lifting the height restriction at The Banks was absolutely necessary, and good to see the Bengals at least flipping some of the bill after getting a gift of a contract.

I can't imagine Cincy is a realistic location for an MLS team, with Columbus having one, but if the Bengals can get the upgrades they need, The Banks can land GE, and the stadium experience isn't as shitty as normal, I'd call it a win for all.

 

[augustisback003]

And still no indoor training facility, the only Northern Team in the League without one. Who Dey!

 

[ckhokie]

I guess $40 mil a year in profit isn't enough for Mikey to invest in the team.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Cheaper to just bus 'em to UC...lol

 

[Midnightangel]

Sounds like a win-win for both sides.

 

[Midnightangel]

I read on NFL.com that the new deal also allows for the Bengals to play international 'home' games in London.

 

[DanBengalfan]

the London Bengals.

oh well, we can still go to Colts games.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Do the home teams still get paid?

I can't imagine this ever being ok with Brown if he even loses 1cent of his money for a "home" game.

 

[DanBengalfan]

oh, he'll get paid, don't worry.

 

[Midnightangel]

Do the home teams still get paid?

I can't imagine this ever being ok with Brown if he even loses 1cent of his money for a "home" game.

I think so, yeah.

I think the only people that lose out on this are the season ticket holders that paid for a home game they're not going to see in person.

 

[ckhokie]

I think so, yeah.

I think the only people that lose out on this are the season ticket holders that paid for a home game they're not going to see in person.

....And Hamilton County and the tax payers who own the stadium.

 

[Midnightangel]

....And Hamilton County and the tax payers who own the stadium.

The cut Mike Brown gets from the Bengals playing in London...doesn't any of that go to Hamiliton CO?

 

[cincygrad]

The cut Mike Brown gets from the Bengals playing in London...doesn't any of that go to Hamiliton CO?