Cincinnati Bengals Officially Approve New Paycor Stadium Lease With Hamilton County

 The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners officially approved the new lease agreement with the Bengals for Paycor Stadium on Thursday. The commissioners landed on a 2-1 vote in favor of the new lease, which now expires in 2036.

The Bengals are close to officially staying in Cincinnati for at least the next decade after months of negotiations between the two sides. Commissioner Alicia Reece was the only no vote, stating she thinks county residents should be able to vote on the lease at the ballot box. The Bengals just need to vote yes on their

"We've been talking about it for not only months, but years. It's time to get this done," Hamilton County President Denise Driehaus said in the board meeting that approved the County's portion of things.

The original Paul Brown (now Paycor Stadium) lease started in 1997 and the stadium will now get major upgrades as part of the new agreement. Hamilton County taxpayers are footing a $350 million chunk of the renovation bill on their end, and the Bengals are contributing $120 million for improvements. Of that $120 million, $60 million will come from an NFL loan.

The lease terms lay out $470 million worth of stadium improvements, with maybe more on the way from possible state of Ohio funding. The improvements hone in on upgrading stadium elevators, escalators, club lounges, and suites in the coming years.