Paycor Stadium upgrades: 'It's time to reverse worst sports stadium deal in the country'

Upgrades to Paycor Stadium? That is no problem as long as the lease to the primary occupant of the stadium − the Cincinnati Bengals − covers the costs with some profit for the people who have paid for the stadium − Hamilton County taxpayers. County commissioners, we are watching. It's time to reverse the worst sports stadium deal in the country as it comes up for renewal.

Jason Williams' take: Paycor Stadium upgrades loom. Would Cincinnati Bengals ever move?

Everyone seems to make money with our stadium − the Brown Family/Bengals sports franchise, the NFL and its partners, TV networks, radio, streaming services and other media. The only ones who don't profit are the taxpayers who own it. It's time for that to change.

The value of the Bengals franchise in 2002 was $507 million. The value of the team as of August 2024 is $4.71 billion − with a "B" − according to Forbes and Sportico , a sports business publication. Let those numbers sink in and ask yourself why the citizens of Hamilton County should not share in this success in the form of a positive cash flow lease.

We should, and we can.

Steve Deiters, Oakley

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Paycor Stadium upgrades: 'It's time to reverse worst sports stadium deal in the country'