By Audrey Elwood, Arts and Entertainment Editor

Hamilton County has released its new plans for a $1.25 billion update to Paycor stadium, home to the Cincinnati Bengals. 

During this year’s season, Paycor had some minor updates totaling $39 million. This included redoing the turf on the field, and a new field design. New club seating was added alongside expanding the plaza around the D gate area. Currently they have pledged at least 100 million dollars in renovations in the upcoming years. 

Questions have been raised over the source of funding for the repairs. Governor Mike DeWine recently helped secure state funding for the new Cleveland Brown Stadium improvements. Many analysts however are doubtful that his administration will give the funding. 

Currently, the taxpayers of Hamilton county fund 95% of the stadium costs and improvements. But there has been backlash to having the taxpayers fund the new stadium. In Tuesday’s press conference on the stadium, county commissioner Alicia Reece commented on the funding: “The current funding model, we can’t go back to that,” Reece said. “You can’t give everything to Cleveland and leave us with the scraps.”

The new renovation plan is spurred by the Bengals lease on the stadium expiring in 2026. The current stadium is 24 years old, but an average stadium lasts 30 years. The Bengals administration has teamed up with Hamilton county for a major renovation of the stadium. Cincinnati based MSA Design came up with the plans. So far, the operation has already led to $100 million in updates to the stadium. 

The county and the Bengals also hired Los Angeles based firm Gensler sports to do an evaluation on needed repairs in April 2022. The firm came to the recommendation of 493.7 million in repairs to keep the stadium functional. This included fixing some of the seats and fixing the aging steel rails and ramps. 

The proposed plan also includes improvements for pedestrians in the area. By expanding the plaza around the stadium, and adding screens around the plaza. The plan states that they hope that these changes will generate even more profit on sold out games.

Within the stadium, there are proposed improvements to the north end zone sections, and the scoreboard. The plan include additional premium seating in the north end, and in sections such as club seating. Alongside an improved upper deck section. 

The proposal does not just cover the stadium itself, but also modifies the current training center. Removing the dome and making it more of an open air concept they believe would improve the general atmosphere of the stadium.