It is finally done.
The Cincinnati Bengals are now officially staying in Paycor Stadium until at least 2036.
After the new lease was agreed to in June, it still had to be approved by Hamilton County by August 1st.
On Thursday, the county finally approved the lease.
“We’ve been talking about it for not only months, but years. It’s time to get this done,” said Hamilton County President Denise Driehaus.
Jeff Aluotto, the Hamilton County Administrator, said that the negotiations were “spirited” and went late into the night on July 30th. After all of the back and forth, the lease was finally pushed through for final approval.
The 11-year lease includes the county contributing $350 million to stadium upgrades and renovations. The Bengals will contribute $120 million, which includes a $60 million loan from the NFL.
The plan will allow for $470 million in improvements to the county-owned stadium, with the potential for even more funding to come from the State of Ohio.
Driehaus and Commissioner Stephanie Summerow Dumas voted to approve new agreements. Commissioner Alicia Reece was the lone vote against it.
Now, all parties can move forward, and the fans who love to fill the stadium can now exhale.