In the heart of Ohio, the battleground for the state’s NFL teams is heating up as they both strive to secure public funds for new or revitalized stadiums. Just in case you were living under a rock and did not realize, Ohio is home to not just one but two NFL teams.
According to Sean McDonnell of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Hamilton County Commissioner Alicia Reese has thrown down the gauntlet, asserting that if Cleveland were to receive state funding for a revamped Browns stadium, then the Bengals would be expecting the same treatment.
“You can’t give everything to Cleveland and leave us with the scraps,” Reese firmly stated during a recent public meeting of the Hamilton County Commission. This bold declaration comes hot on the heels of the announcement by the Harrison County Commission detailing plans for a whopping $1.25 billion renovation of Paycor Stadium, the home of the Bengals. However, the Bengals themselves have responded cautiously, opting not to fully endorse the proposal just yet.
“The team will review the materials in due course and believes an approach of responsible investing in this great public asset can serve the community for NFL games, major concerts and other events,” the team expressed in a formal statement.
But hold your horses because none of this grand scheme matters unless the Bengals and Hamilton County can come to terms on a fresh lease agreement; time is ticking as the current deal is set to expire in 2026. Recent reports from the Cincinnati Business Courier, as cited by Sports Business Journal, suggest that the two parties may not be seeing eye to eye.
The relentless pursuit of maximum cash from the taxpayer money tree by both the Browns and Bengals is just the latest spectacle in the complex game of stadium politics. Despite the skyrocketing values of NFL franchises, which continue to climb higher and higher, the teams are still clamoring for handouts for their playing venues.
In most other markets, voters would likely show the teams the door if such demands were put up for a vote. However, politicians seem to be swayed by the fear of bearing the blame for losing a beloved team and are thus inclined to navigate the murky waters of backchannel negotiations to come up with the necessary funds.
As the drama unfolds in the state of Ohio, it is clear that the focus should be on both teams, not just one. The battle for public money rages on, with each side vying for a piece of the lucrative pie in the name of advancing their respective stadiums. It’s a high-stakes game with no shortage of players, but in the end, who will emerge victorious in the quest for state funds? Only time will tell.
