The Cincinnati Bengals find themselves at a crossroads, both on and off the field.
With their lease at Paycor Stadium set to expire on June 30, 2026, the organization must decide whether to exercise an option to extend their agreement by two years before the deadline of June 30, 2025. If no extension is signed, the team could be left without a home stadium beyond the 2026 NFL season, raising the possibility of relocation.
Bengals running out of time to find new home
Despite the approaching deadline, the Bengals organization has not displayed a sense of urgency in finalizing an agreement.
Team executive vice president Katie Blackburn addressed the situation during the recent NFL league meetings, offering a measured response to concerns about the lease.
“We play it day by day, and like everything else, we just continue to have discussions, see where things are, and then have to make decisions at the appropriate time,” she stated via The Cincinnati Enquirer.
The Bengals have the option to remain in Paycor Stadium for up to a decade if they choose to utilize all five available two-year extensions.
However, failing to take action before next summer’s deadline would leave the franchise without a contractual obligation to remain in Cincinnati, making them, in essence, free agents in the NFL’s geographic landscape.
Blackburn acknowledged this possibility, saying, “We could, I guess, go wherever we wanted after this year if we didn’t pick the option up.”
While relocation remains a hypothetical scenario, it is not an unheard-of situation in the league.
The Cleveland Browns recently announced a move to Brook Park, and the Kansas City Chiefs are evaluating their future after a failed stadium renovation vote in Jackson County, Missouri.
If the Bengals do not come to terms with Hamilton County on an extension, Cincinnati could find itself facing a similar dilemma.
Despite the uncertainty, Blackburn emphasized that the organization remains committed to its current home, stating, “We love where we are.”
However, she also stressed the importance of continued investment in the stadium’s upkeep.
“Our stadium obviously needs to continue to be maintained appropriately, and you want to keep it at a certain level that’s important, just so that we’re competitive with others,” she explained.
The Bengals’ discussions with county officials will likely intensify in the coming months as both sides weigh the financial and logistical aspects of a long-term agreement.
With star quarterback Joe Burrow leading the franchise, Cincinnati will want to ensure that the team remains in a stable and competitive environment. Whether that future includes Paycor Stadium or another city, depends on how negotiations unfold before next summer’s critical deadline.
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