Cincinnati Bengals' Stadium Lease Negotiations: Inside the Talks

Music. And we are back for another episode of the Ruule the Jungle podcast.

I am your host, Anthony Anderson. And alongside me are both my co-hosts. Actually, well, one of my co-hosts tonight, because the other one is MIA. There's probably a reason why. One Mr. Tyler Bowles. Tyler, what's going on, man? Hey, doing good. We're back, right? We had a little bit of a leave of absence, but there's been some reasons behind that, but we're back. Yeah, well, we will kind of clue you guys in on a little bit on it at the end of the show.

So, it's been, recently it's been rather eventful. I wouldn't call it necessarily in the positive Because it seems like, We're getting in the Yeah, we're getting in the headlines for All the wrong reasons But with the topic of tonight's show We'll talk a little bit about the current situation with the Stadium lease, So Tyler Did you have an article you wanted to Queue up, I'll get on that right now. I think we'll send it to you, too. Yeah. So, I found this from...

Oh, actually, Anthony, are you... Are you okay? Are you subscribed to the Cincinnati Inquirer? Uh, no, I am not. All right, and unfortunately, I can't click on the article because it wants me to subscribe. All right, well, since we've had a slight little bit of technical difficulty, this can get worked out, but... Give me just a second because I am in the middle of parking my truck. And I will go ahead and see what I can do on my end. And now I am not a member of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Is that one second? See, a few of the bullet journals that I tried to click on theirs as well and could not get anything to pull up here.

However i am on the local 12.com website here and it says there the thing this is from five days ago so and on and for any of our listeners out there we've been gone for a little bit longer than five days so this is old news to some of you guys that we've apologized but some of this is news to us uh because we've been outside of the bingles world here for a little bit do some personal stuff but But the article goes on to say here is the Cincinnati Bengals have announced

their intention to pursue a new lease agreement for Pacor Stadium without relying on state funding for Ohio. Wayne Herring, the Bengals director of stadium and event operations, stated that while the team would welcome state aid, they are prepared to move forward with Hamilton County independently. On the phone of the April 12th, Herring said the following, The team appreciates the state openness to supporting local stadium projects as it has historically.

We continue working hard in Columbus on funding options. An agreement between the Bengals and Hamilton County can be achieved now without waiting on what the state ultimately decides. This stems from the Ohio State budget, which may not be finalized, before a critical deadline in the lease negotiations. Our current lease expires in June of next year, 2026.

The team has, until the end of next month, to decide whether to extend the current deal by two years, a decision they can make up to four more times for a total of 10 years, which I think we've talked about on the show before. The county spokeswoman has no comment. Todd Gableman, the lawyer leading the talks for the county since the late 90s, has expressed optimism about the negotiations before his removal at the request of Prosecutor Cotty Pillage. I hope I pronounced that right.

Quote, I was fully confident in that, unquote, said Gableman, who retired after being dismissed by the county commissioners. The vendors are committing $120 towards the $830 million renovation cost. The team and county are reportedly close to agreeing on a 10-year lease with potential extensions for another 10 years. This is about the, let's see, the High Senate is expected to vote on its proposed budget in the coming weeks, with the final version due to Governor DeWine by June 30th.

However, past budgets have extended beyond this deadline, including last year, when a final version wasn't passed until early July. Anthony, you got any thoughts on this? Do I have any thoughts on it? Yeah. I think if everything checks out as far as to what is being said, I think it's fantastic news myself. Because I do think, and there are studies that support this, that having professional sports, especially NFL, in cities brings a lot of money.

It has a tendency to bring jobs. so why not try to bring the at least come within reason to try to keep the Bengals in Ohio, so what are your overall thoughts I was interested in is the part where they said the Bengals are committing the money they've been committing, but. They're wanting to move forward with Hamilton County independently. You know that, I mean, because I don't know the ins and outs of how that's worked. And obviously, I know you live in Hamilton County.

Yeah. And we've talked about the tax situation before on the show. But I don't know. What's your thought process, I guess, on how the Bengals have handled the situation so far? Do you think Hamilton County is making it better, making it worse for them? What do you think? When you say that, are you talking about with the early on stuff with the kind of mudslinging that was going on? Yeah, but there seems to be what's the word I'm looking for.

Like, I've seen, you know, Bengal Jim and friends on the Facebook page post about it before. And, like, it's like I just keep seeing stuff brought up about it.

And, like, I see one side. I see the other. I just, you know, the Bengals obviously we know how we know somewhat of how they do their business but I don't know the Hamilton County side of it as an outsider because I live in Western Virginia but, that's what I'm saying, I didn't know if you had any insight when it comes to that or not, Not really and it's a shame to say I just know both sides. Because I think Hamilton County I think is really trying to push the hole.

They don't want to get stuck with the hole, Bill, like before. And I think now I kind of get the feeling I think the Bengals just, they have no intentions of wanting to leave. They pretty well made that clear. And in my opinion, it may have shown their hand a little early, but it is what it is. Hey, you love the city. If you genuinely love the city, hey, you try to figure out what it's going to take to make it work.

But I think with the fact that it sounds like now it's kind of going the other way, which is basically saying that, hey, they're close. Apparently, one of the sides or both the sides have said, you know what? Hey we want to either hey we want you here we know you want to be here hey let's not fucking argue and fight let's just make this shit make this shit click, or yeah so, But what are you thinking overall? Are you thinking that the deal gets closed relatively quick?

Or do you think it'll just be, oh, they're close on a deal, and just it'll get announced when it gets announced?

So, like I said, as an outsider to Hamilton County, and obviously as a Bengals fan who has been to the pay core the last like three years consistently and like i said this if i go based off judging how like how the trey hendrickson thing has gone so far and kind of how like jamar went last year it could go up to the last minute if we're being completely honest now as a hopeful fan i i would hope it gets done as soon as possible same thing as

phrase you know but that's something i don't know like That's one of the topics that I really don't know much about when it comes to that stuff because I'm not a property, like a real estate guy. I don't know much about that. I know, I'm pretty sure there's a, our, you know, expert NFL agent. He would know more about that, wouldn't he? Yeah, he would. Yeah, I know he's talked about it on the show before, but not since we've come across this. Yeah.

Yeah, that goes without saying. But yeah, honestly, I just hope that we get it done because I don't think they want to go nowhere. And I don't think the Bengals want to go nowhere. And Hamilton County, I think, would be kind of crazy to let the Bengals go. And obviously, you know, they're going anywhere else. We've got a lot of dedicated diehard Cincinnati Bengals fans in Cincinnati that would be really upset if the Bengals left town.

And obviously, I don't think it's going to happen, but we have heard talks. I don't know if I call those talks, but you know how it goes. But we're – what was that? Yeah. No, I feel you. That's one thing I would say. I feel you on that. And what are you, so, with the talks of how the group that they're representing, I mean, the group that's representing, that's doing the negotiations, the inter-sports, what is it called, inter-sports? It's called the ICS, the Inter-Circle Sports.

Inter-Circle Sports, okay. with the fact that they're involved with trying to get the Browns. Stadium proposal over the finish line because I know that was, brought up at one point talking about how it was a conflict of interest where do you stand on that I don't know that it is I don't because, but I guess the only in my opinion I guess the only way it becomes a conflict of interest of the exact same people that are doing that are doing ours.

Yeah. That's, I, that's something I, I'm not 100% about either. Cause it's the county commissioner, Denise dry house. I think I pronounced that right. Yeah. It's called for the Bengals to cover a third of all overall costs, which I think we've heard about in the past. While the County seeks more than 300 million from the state. I know Governor DeWine proposed doubling the state's sports wagering tax to fund Ohio's professional stadiums.

But Ohio's House budget already has or includes the $6 million bond for a new Browns stadium, which I believe is the first time hearing of that.

Are the Browns getting a new stadium? It's been talked about for a little while. But I didn't know if it was actually a for sure thing. That I couldn't tell you yeah.

So a six million dollar bond for a new Browns stadium which I mean I don't know, one statement noted that the governor's distinct concerns about using general fund money for stadiums the Republican Senate Finance Committee member Lee Blessing opposes using general funds for stadiums saying he would refuse to bend on the issue, So, I don't know I feel like, to me This is just like from a working man's perspective I feel like some of these Politicians and people who have The money,

or have the funds To use it, don't want to, And I feel like the Taxpayers, which is you in Hamilton County, Are going to have to Pay, which I know Will's talked about before I know you guys talked about Saying that you don't mind doing it as long as The things are in town But I mean I wonder what the cost Would look like if that happens You know, I think it's a reasonable Question that I ask I think, The thing that it boils Down to is.

To get this over the finish line, there's going to have to be a lot of give and take. A lot from each side. So I think there's going to have to be some concessions that the Bengals are okay with conceding on. There's going to have to be some concessions by Hamilton County that they're okay with saying, you know what, all right, I know we really wanted this, but hey, we're pretty close. and they'll get it over the finish line. Hey, let's let's act with us.

We'll give them what they want when it comes to this. It sounds like now that some give and take has been offered up. Now it's just a matter of figuring out the final logistics of of what would be, good news for the city of Cincinnati and good news for the fan base, especially the fan base that. Is based in Cincinnati. So, it's a, yeah, it's still probably going to be a long process because these type of things seem to always take take forever.

But what I'm hoping is, hey, once they get over the finish line, then yeah, we can rest assured that the Bengals aren't going anywhere anytime soon because I want to keep my season tickets. I don't want to be having to drive from Cincinnati to Columbus or Cincinnati to the middle of Kentucky or every day for a game.

I guess that could be the next question I ask is, do you think that, which obviously none of us want it, because anything, I love Cincinnati the area, the downtown area I love that space but if they were to move it, which obviously none of us want do you think they would go outside the Tri-State area?

Do you think they would go let's just say somewhere in freaking out of the pulpit in Mexico or you know Topeka or whatever, you think they would relocate somewhere strange kind of like how Cleveland and Baltimore, that's still a far distance you know you get what I'm saying though no I get that. They would either have to kind of stay in the general northern area of the state.

Otherwise, if they went out west or went south, the only thing they could do is turn around and move the Colts over to the AFC north. Depending on where they went, if they went within the AFC south, as a matter of fact, let's pull it up. Because the thing is, you look at it now, I think the last time they did a repositioning the NFL was if I'm not mistaken and again I could be wrong so don't hold me to this but, 2001-ish 2000-2001, I think yeah.

That's where they dropped the if I remember correctly that's where they dropped, dropped calling the ASC North the ASC Central and officially made it the ASC North. Yeah, so it was 2002. That was the year. I just looked it up. 2002 season, that was the year that the Raiders played the Buccaneers in the Super Bowl that year. Yeah, I got moved from the Central to the North, and that's when the Texans came into play.

No, that makes sense. The last expansion team Was the Texans Yeah And the thing is Are they ready to make that kind of an expansion again Yeah I mean, Overseas team right Yeah, Here's the problem with the overseas I don't know that logistically They can pull it off, One they would have to Extend the season And the thing is you're going to have to do a lot to try to get the players on board. Ultimately, I kind of get the feeling, because I've heard it for a long time, they want to go to 20 games.

If they went by the schedule, they went by now, that would be 21 weeks, which is just one bye week in that amount of time. It's kind of crazy. Well, I think they're gradually going to phase out the preseason, truthfully. Yeah. To make that happen, I think they'll gradually phase out the preseason. To me to me it would make the most sense, yeah but at the same time probably obviously you know training camp mini camps.

And ATAs all that stuff and maybe a joint practice here or there, how else are they going to like you know because that's when most of like the rookies and the you know the people on the roster fighting for their roster spots like how would they that's how would they Please clear that out. No, I, dude, I get it. Yeah, dude, I get it.

I think treating this for what it is, every year when it comes down to it, and it's not just, it's not just the Bengals, it's the fucking, it's the Jacksonville went through, if I'm not mistaken, the similar ordeal. And I think there's a couple of other teams that had similar ordeals. So it's a, when it comes down to it, the whole negotiating process is what, what can hold things up. I think going into it though, because let me pull this up real quick. So yeah, close on deal.

Yep that's just a question so. Looking as as we as it continues like I said there's at this point there everything is basically saying that they're close, because even channel 9's talking about it channel 9's talking about it the inquire's talking about it. Channel 12 talking about it. It is... At this point, from the sounds of it, it's not a matter of if. It's a matter of when. They're trying to finish closing in on the final details, if that makes sense.

Tyler? I don't know what you're doing. I said they're... They're close to finalizing everything. It's just dotting every i and crossing every t and yeah because anytime when it comes to this because this you gotta look at this like a like negotiating or yeah negotiating money because it's dealing everything is dealing with money so it's all dealing with money so, them trying to figure out who how everything's going to be allocated what's going to be the.

Part of the skin, how much skin the Bengals have to put up, how much skin does the county have to put up, and then trying to figure out, hey, get some state funding from the state of Ohio as well. Yeah, because I know when Mike DeWine announced that about doubling the, state tax for sports betting, yeah, it seemed like almost immediately it sounded like they were backtracking that a little bit, or would you disagree? No, I wouldn't disagree.

Yeah, because the Bengals mentioned about, hey, we're just wanting like $350 million. Hell, you guys, they're wanting damn near a billion, but also too, matter of fact, we need to do an episode on the Modell rule because I think everybody's making a big thing of, oh, the Bengals won't leave because. The Modell rule won't let them. I'm like, eh, you got enough money.

You got enough money you got enough cash hey you can make anything happen so going over, going over the look of everything because where do you stand overall do you see this getting like I said I think this will get this will go down to the literal wires, and you get the little passion right yeah that's typically the way it goes On the field and off the field. I agree. It'll probably get down to the wire.

It'll go down to the wire. It'll be like less than 24 hours, then suddenly the deal will get announced. Like I said, it mainly just boils down to the stuff that they're wanting to cross every I and dot every T. Hell, it took Joe Burrow's deal to get announced on the Thursday night football game when the Chiefs took on the Lions. Basically, what I found funny was nobody really gave a shit about it. The only one that really did the most complaining about it was John Middlecoff.

And fuck John Middlecoff. Yeah, to me, he's nothing but a Colin Cowherd wannabe. Basically, he works for Colin Cowherd. So Looking at it I'm hoping to see what I'm hoping to see it would be nice if they could get this, they go ahead and exercise one of the extensions and then like right before the season started, announce that they finalize the deal. Because instead of 10 years, it'd be 12. At least in my head, that's what I'm thinking. Could I be wrong? Oh, I could always be wrong.

It all just depends on how they choose to allow him. So looking at so looking at the grand scheme of everything.

What kind of improvements would you it sounds like the Bengals are wanting to make significant improvements I would imagine probably add more more luxury boxes add more luxury boxes stuff like that would make the, One make the experience Even brighter for fans And two Be able to, That could afford those luxury boxes But yes I agree Yeah but I'll say two sounds like they're wanting to do And that, Would add Improvedness for the fan experience As well So It is It's definitely

going to be a challenge going forward. Now, obviously, some things around the stadium, like the game day experience at Cincinnati is, in my opinion, unmatched. Especially for when we have home primetime games at home, although we only have one this year. It's almost like a college game day atmosphere at night.

Nobody in the last five years has been able to match pay core stadium in my opinion now have i been to any other stadium absolutely not, but even when i'm at home and i've had to miss some games and i watch it on tv there's nothing like the fans at pay core stadium you could hear it through the tv i can watch any other game and i can't hear uh anybody else uh like i can uh the bingos at home on the tv so that's that's that's.

81, they have made some improvements throughout the last few years, too. I would maybe introduce maybe a tier system, and maybe that's based just for season ticket members only, but maybe a tier system. You know how the fifth-third cardholder members get in early? I think an extra half hour, hour and a half, or whatever it is.

They kind of have that. They kind of have that set up, but for the most part, is set up through like like for instance the Fifth Third Bank is the, banking partner of the Bengals no no no I get that that's what I'm talking about maybe like just for the because I mean you could have a Fifth Third member and get in and not be a season ticket holder but like say you're a season ticket holder just say, say you're a season ticket holder for like 50 plus years and be on the drill or whatever.

You get like on game day maybe I'd be 90 if I can keep my mental faculties that'd be great, that's what I'm saying is like on game days you get like certain perks like at least you know throughout the season not just maybe one game but maybe just like certain things throughout the season like say you're a season ticket member for 50 plus years well on game days you get a maybe walk to the 50 yard line with like Joe Burrow and you know do the coin toss or whatever

I know they have like those little stands outside, you know, in the stadium that you get to do and sign up for that or go online and sign up for whatever. But like, just like stuff like that for season ticket members, you know, like that kind of experience as well. Maybe something like that is if that makes any sense at all, like perks like that, maybe going to the field for a little bit. Obviously, you know, fan of the year gets like the roar of the jungle. And I think that's pretty cool.

The last home game of the year, you know, stuff like that. Does that make any sense at all? Yeah, no, I get that. Maybe go into the field or, you know, you're going to stay behind and record a message and it goes on the Jumbotron or whatever. You know. I don't know. Something like that. Like, obviously like five years in, ten years in, twenty years in, stuff like that. Like, just to make it, like, a little bit more special. Because like I said, I've only been up for three.

I know you and Will have been there for, I think, three or four, maybe.

Yeah, this is going to be four for us. so I think we're like this, laddering tier stuff like that maybe it'll entice people to get tickets or something, and obviously reward the ones who have had them already for so long stuff like that because obviously I know you have fans that'll go to these events and stuff like that but like on the field and stuff that's a little different you know maybe you're gonna say hi to Jack Taylor coming out like run out with them on the field when they play

the you know welcome in the jungle or the player in terms of whatever. Stuff like that. Like, maybe... Well, yeah, I bet that's what I'm trying to say. It's like tier systems and rewards on game days for season ticket members. Yeah, you're not wrong. I'm trying to think. Is there any other things you'd want that you'd think of that maybe we need to touch on as far as particularly with that? Yeah. The stadium? I don't think so. I think we've touched on everything that we know so far.

That's happened since we've been gone for a little bit. I think at this point, what do you think? I think this is a good okay time to go ahead and end the show because I'll have to edit it tomorrow and when I edit it tomorrow, I'll get it published and set out.

But the title of it too don't forget that as well oh i'll get the i'll get the title in there so yeah but with that being said for the for those of you that have followed us from day one, i know you all recently saw that uh there were some things that were going on, a few of you that followed me have uh reached out and especially those of you that know me directly and have know me and have a relationship with me shout out Dale Altman.

I've been rather been busy recently my mom had a little bit of a health scare, with yeah yeah my mom had a little bit of a health scare she was a previous cancer survivor and we took her Memorial Day weekend to the hospital because she was experiencing some discomfort and she couldn't get into her primary care doctor because her primary care doctor was on vacation. But that's neither here nor there. But she was brought in and then the concerns of cancer were brought up.

I want to say thank you to those of you that have reached out with your kind words, thoughts, prayers. Of that sort because for this last week it's been a test. It's been a test of my will. It's been a test of just my, of everything because, it's never easy to turn around and you see a loved one go through something like cancer. So, with that being said, like I said, thank you for those people that have that have reached out and thank you for your kind words and just wanting to be there.

But with that being said, because I've missed doing this for the last week, but I had to check my priorities and to be able to make sure that I was there to be able to take care of my mother.

So with that being said, I'm going to go ahead and turn over the closing duties to Tyler because that's typically how we do things on this show. So, Tyler, the floor is all yours. Yeah. And, Anthony, before I get into that, I just want to say we're all praying for your mom to make sure she gets through with this battle. So we're praying for her. Also, too, thank you for everyone that responded to that tweet that we put out from the Rule of the Jungle Twitter account.

Unbeknownst to me as well through all that Anthony and Will and not unbeknownst to me about myself but we've all kind of been feeling under the weather a little bit as well so that's also another reason why the show has been delayed as well so we're hoping that you guys enjoyed this show little short one tonight but we do appreciate everyone who took the time to listen to us,

of the World Journal podcast. We're on every podcast platform except for YouTube, so make sure you like, give us a follow, and leave us a comment wherever you get your podcasts from. We do appreciate that very, very much so. Whether you're a new listener or a full-time listener that you've been with us for a while, thank you very much. Continue to leave us comments on how we either can improve, or what you like, or what you dislike, and maybe some podcast topics as well.

We can talk about when stuff is kind of dead silent and we don't have anything to talk about, you guys can have input as well. We are a Bengals podcast, and we just want to get to more Bengals listeners as we can. So feel free to let us know anything in the comments. Again, wherever you get your podcasts from. You can follow us on social media. We have a Facebook, it's Rule the Jungle, and we have a Twitter I still call it that.

It's at Rule of the Jungle 9 and also too we post every time the podcast drops it gets posted on there and on the Facebook page also too we still have a giveaway going on on the Twitter page it's the pinned tweet it's a celebrity softball classic sponsored and hosted by the Javante Woods Foundation I'm not sure that the Javante Woods Foundation hosts it per se but, I think, yeah, they're definitely involved with being there since Icky was there.

I'm just not sure that you. Yeah, that's my mistake. That's the first time I've said it like that, too. So I don't know why I've said it like that either. Yeah, no, that's the first time I've caught it. It may have been said before, but it's the first time that I caught it. So I'm not sure. Could it be? Yeah, possible. Yeah. Will be sponsored by them at least. And Icky Woods will be there. So if you guys... We were actually given tickets for them to give away to the event.

So if you guys would, go over to our Rule in the Jungle 9 Twitter page. It is in our Twitter. Just go to that tweet and definitely interact with that. We're going to try to make a new one soon. We've kind of been busy as a play, but we'll put out another tweet in regards to that as well. And just to give you guys their heads up with this softball game.

People, even if you see the list and you're like, ah, well, you know, I'm not sure that I'm going to go because, hey, there's nobody on there of relevance to me. They are being the guest list because if you look, if you've ever gone to conventions, meet and greets, things like that, they're adding and subtracting all the time.

So who's to say that hey you get there and that hey there's somebody hey you didn't expect to be there suddenly they're heck for those of you that who may listen to it hey good buddy of ours one Mr. Jeff Trennable aka Strawberry Ice he's gonna be there hey what was that yeah Bengals Captain too. You guys check out that tweet we have. Like I said, we'll have an updating one because it might have got lost in the shuffle a little bit as well.

But make sure you guys stay tuned for that. You can follow me on Twitter at TylerHoodA54. Anthony, go ahead. You can follow me on on X at AAnderson78 as well as you can follow me on Instagram at AnthonyAnderson535.

As far as our host, our other co-host Will, I can follow him on, Instagram at Appleton 756 and as he usually loves to be referred to as for his for his ex page you can follow him at God Emperor Doom 9 so with that being said on behalf of Tyler Will and myself this is the Rule of the Jungle podcast and we've.