Seven Cincinnati Bengals fans spoke in favor of a new lease deal with the NFL franchise during a Hamilton County commissioners meeting on Thursday.They encouraged the county’s three commissioners to finalize a new lease agreement that would keep the Bengals playing at Paycor Stadium through at least 2036.Negotiators for the county and the team are racing against an end-of-July deadline to replace the current lease deal that was reached in 1997. Many people call the current agreement a one-sided deal that favors the Bengals at the expense of taxpayers.The seven dedicated fans spoke directly to the commissioners, emphasizing the importance of the team to the city’s identity and their personal lives.Jim Foster, known as “Bengal Jim,” expressed his anticipation for the deal, saying, “I can’t imagine the stuff that you guys (commissioners) have gone through fighting through this deal. I know there’s been concessions on both sides.”Georgianna Isles, another Bengals fan, highlighted the team’s significance, stating, “The Bengals aren’t just a football team. They’re a part of the city’s identity. And for families like ours, they’ve been life-changing.”Momentum for a new lease gained traction in late June when commissioners approved a framework for a new lease.The framework calls for the county to spend $350 million on stadium renovations without raising taxes. The Bengals would contribute $120 million and pay millions in rent.Kent Evans voiced opposition to the framework, arguing, “This is a bad, bad deal,” and questioned the absence of Bengals representatives to discuss their financial position, saying, “Notice we don’t have anyone from the Bengals here answering questions on what their revenue is.”Hamilton County Commissioner Alicia Reece has expressed caution, stating, “We’ve got to pay attention because the last group did not pay attention to the fine print and the taxpayers got ticked. They felt they got duped.”Reece was referring to the current lease. It requires taxpayers to cover nearly 95% of the costs for maintaining Paycor Stadium. The new framework aims to reduce that rate to 75%, with the Bengals picking up the rest of the tab.

Seven Cincinnati Bengals fans spoke in favor of a new lease deal with the NFL franchise during a Hamilton County commissioners meeting on Thursday.

They encouraged the county’s three commissioners to finalize a new lease agreement that would keep the Bengals playing at Paycor Stadium through at least 2036.

Negotiators for the county and the team are racing against an end-of-July deadline to replace the current lease deal that was reached in 1997. Many people call the current agreement a one-sided deal that favors the Bengals at the expense of taxpayers.

The seven dedicated fans spoke directly to the commissioners, emphasizing the importance of the team to the city’s identity and their personal lives.

Jim Foster, known as “Bengal Jim,” expressed his anticipation for the deal, saying, “I can’t imagine the stuff that you guys (commissioners) have gone through fighting through this deal. I know there’s been concessions on both sides.”

Georgianna Isles, another Bengals fan, highlighted the team’s significance, stating, “The Bengals aren’t just a football team. They’re a part of the city’s identity. And for families like ours, they’ve been life-changing.”

Momentum for a new lease gained traction in late June when commissioners approved a framework for a new lease.

The framework calls for the county to spend $350 million on stadium renovations without raising taxes. The Bengals would contribute $120 million and pay millions in rent.

Kent Evans voiced opposition to the framework, arguing, “This is a bad, bad deal,” and questioned the absence of Bengals representatives to discuss their financial position, saying, “Notice we don’t have anyone from the Bengals here answering questions on what their revenue is.”

Hamilton County Commissioner Alicia Reece has expressed caution, stating, “We’ve got to pay attention because the last group did not pay attention to the fine print and the taxpayers got ticked. They felt they got duped.”

Reece was referring to the current lease. It requires taxpayers to cover nearly 95% of the costs for maintaining Paycor Stadium. The new framework aims to reduce that rate to 75%, with the Bengals picking up the rest of the tab.