Hamilton County proposes plan that would give the Bengals something they've always needed
It's 2024, and the Cincinnati Bengals still catch heat from where they practice. Whether it's the fact that their current indoor facility is a bubble, or that they have to cross a city street to get there, it's an area of the franchise that could stand to improve.Hamilton County, the home county of the Bengals, […]
It's 2024, and the Cincinnati Bengals still catch heat from where they practice. Whether it's the fact that their current indoor facility is a bubble, or that they have to cross a city street to get there, it's an area of the franchise that could stand to improve.
Hamilton County, the home county of the Bengals, has a plan to do so.
As a part of the $1.2 billion in proposed renovations to Paycor Stadium prior to the 2026 lease expiration, the county has included a permanent indoor practice facility along with a reimagined layout of the Bengals' current practice field layout.
The facility would be connected to two outdoor turf fields next to a 2,000-seat grandstand right next to the stadium.
Where the Bengals currently have two-and-a-half practice fields and a two-year old practice bubble across the street, the team could have a total of three fields with an actual indoor building with coaching and administration offices and training facilities included.
A standard for most of the NFL, but not yet for the Bengals. This plan would make that happen.
In order to enact these changes, the county would need to move Mehring Way slightly closer to the Ohio River and turn Central Ave into a pedestrian walkway. Hilltop Downtown Cincinnati Terminal, which is located directly south of the existing fields, would also be removed from its current location.
For reference, here is how the layout looks currently:
Here are the total proposed additions just in regards to the new practice and training facility layout:
- Two new turf fields with 2,000 seat stadium
- 2.5 acres converted to team practice fields, indoor practice, training facility
- 400,000 square foot team building
- 200,000 square foot player performance
- 120,000 square foot administrative offices
- 100,000 square foot indoor practice
- 200 on-site parking spaces
This is just the proposal from the county, not an agreed plan by both sides. Should the Bengals accept, they'd be on their way to modernizing their team more than they've already accomplished in recent years.
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