Some comments from the Cincinnati Bengals on the topic of the upcoming expiring stadium lease at NFL league meetings went viral this week.
Now, in response to those comments, those involved in the process have responded publicly.
Hamilton County Commissioner Alicia Reece, for example, said at a meeting on Thursday that her side of the table is ready to sign a deal.
"I’m ready to get out the blank piece of paper, get out an ink pen and let’s get down to the lease," Reece said, according to Scott Wartman of the Cincinnati Enquirer. "Can we get a deal or can we not get a deal? And I think the taxpayers deserve to know."
Hamilton County board Vice President Stephanie Summerow Dumas added comments this week, too, according to WCPO's Todd Dykes: "I know they had mentioned the possibility of going other places, if they had to. But we're not looking at that right now. We're looking at trying to work with them with a market rate contract that would be better for our residents and better for them. I want a win-win. And so that's where we are. That's where the board is right now."
Generally speaking, the Bengals' comments this week were aimed at asking for more "urgency" in negotiations, hence the public response here.
What was blown out of proportion was the Bengals answering what happens if they don't exercise a two-year extension option by the end of June. Technically, that would mean an ability to move out of downtown, if necessary in 2026.
But the Bengals have the ability to use five such extensions, so all public back-and-forth right now seems designed to just speed things along.
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This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals get county response after stadium lease saga intensifies
