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Hamilton County seeks state participation for stadium renovation; county requests $350 million in budget talks
Summary
County leaders described a $350 million state funding request to be part of a broader financing stack to renovate the stadium, saying preliminary renovation estimates were reduced to $830 million from earlier $1.2 billion figures and emphasizing negotiation with the legislature.
Hamilton County commissioners used part of their April 10 meeting to outline ongoing negotiations with state leaders seeking state participation in a proposed renovation of the county‑owned stadium.
President Junghouse told the board the county and the Bengals have produced a “stadium comprehensive renovation plan” and that the county is seeking $350,000,000 from the state as part of a multi‑party financing stack that would include the team, the NFL, the county and the state. “The request of the state for this document is $350,000,000,” Junghouse said.
Junghouse said the county has reduced architect estimates for the project from roughly $1.2 billion to about $830,000,000 in the current plan and described ongoing talks with the governor’s office, the Ohio House and the Senate. “The idea here…has been the creating a long term lease with the Bengals to keep the team here, to provide for more events in the facility…and to create ongoing economic activity on the banks,” Junghouse said.
County officials said the House did not include the county request in its initial budget language after debating a proposed gaming fee increase in the governor’s budget. The commissioners said they have continued discussions with House leadership and are shifting effort to Senate leaders, noting that budget language moves through both chambers and can change during the process.
Jeff Alito, county administrator, and other staff underscored the economic rationale the county is using with state legislators. Alito said the stadium area delivers a substantial economic impact: “The banks delivers a $2,300,000,000 annual economic impact, which includes 1,000,000,000 in private investments,” he said, citing figures in a county briefing.
Commissioners also discussed fairness comparisons to Cleveland, where the legislature has been considering a financing mechanism tied to new stadium development. One commissioner said the county should receive comparable consideration if Cleveland receives state support.
No formal vote was taken on funding at the meeting. Commissioners said they will continue negotiating with both the House and Senate and continue discussions with the Bengals and the regional delegation.
