Hamilton County, Cincinnati Bengals Hire Firm to Examine Paul Brown Stadium

Hamilton County, Cincinnati Bengals hire firm to examine Paul Brown Stadium, potential upgrades bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/09/14/county-bengals-tap-firm-to-examine-stadium.html

By Chris Wetterich – Staff reporter and columnist, Cincinnati Business Courier Sep 14, 2020, 12:13pm EDT Hamilton County and the Cincinnati Bengals have hired a Los Angeles-based international architecture, design and planning firm to assess the condition of Paul Brown Stadium and make recommendations on maintenance and upgrades along with a new master plan for the site.

Gensler will work with Queensgate-based Elevar Design Group Inc.. The companies will receive $374,500, split between the county and the team, for its work.

The firm’s hiring is a part of the 2018 memorandum of understanding between the county and team that requires a review of the stadium and its needs.

“We’ve hired an architectural and engineering firm to look at the condition of the facility, document the issues and provide recommendations on repair and replacement schedules for the next 10, 15 and 20 years to help guide our annual capital maintenance plan,” Administrator Jeff Aluotto told commissioners last week.

The scope of work is broad. Gensler will examine the structure of the facility, lighting, concrete, the mechanical/electrical plumbing system, HVAC systems, security, life-safety and accessibility components.

Beyond those nuts and bolts, Gensler will examine what Aluotto described as “opportunities for facility upgrades, improving things like the fan experience, operational efficiencies, making sure that the stadium is relevant as it relates to other stadia in the league so we are maintaining a product fans want to come to and enjoy.”

When it comes to the master plan, Gensler should consider the following areas, according to the contract between it and the county: Adding flexible social areas within the seating bowl Changing the seating bowl to optimize views and bring fans closer to the action Creating additional premium seating areas within the seating bowl Evaluate the ideal number of luxury suites, premium and group areas Review the layout of existing suites Review retail experience on each level fo the stadium 1/2

Consider opportunities to lengthen the game-day experience and enhance pre-game and post-game activities around the stadium Identify locations for the team’s history and other ideas on activating and enhancing those spaces.

Gensler has deep experience with this type of working, leading similar processes for Petco Park in San Diego, Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and other sports facilities.

“The county and the team both get value out of this,” Aluotto said.

The 2018 memorandum of understanding made major amendments to the county’s lease with the team, which runs through 2026, with the Bengals having five two-year extension options. The agreement forgave the county from making nearly $30 million in game day payments to the team and capped capital repairs at $42.3 million through 2026.

The original lease required the county to upgrade the stadium to contain features that most other NFL teams have, regardless of cost, in what’s sometimes called the “hologram” provision. The 2018 agreement effectively put off discussions of major stadium upgrades until 2024, when they would coincide with negotiations over a lease extension. Fully upgrading the stadium could cost $250 million.

Most of the game day payments are instead going to purchase and move Hilltop Cos. from the riverfront so the county can build a green parking lot, which will be used by the Bengals for tailgating on game days. The agreement allowed the county to build the music venue above height restrictions near the stadium.

Notably, Elevar opposed the county’s plan to move Hilltop from the riverfront to Queensgate.

The study is expected to be complete in the next four to six months.

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