Improvements to the Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio (US) continue with major upgrades for the 2026 season.
Extensive Improvements
‘bengals.com’ stated that while recent years have seen ongoing upgrades to the public spaces including the concession stands and the video displays this year’s improvements will be the most extensive since the Paycor Stadium opened in the year 2000.
The 65,515-seat Paycor Stadium, previously known as the Paul Brown Stadium, is an outdoor football stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio (US). It is the home venue of the National Football League (NFL) team Cincinnati Bengals and opened on August 19th, 2000.
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati (US). The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a Member of the American Football Conference (AFC) North Division. The team plays its home games at the Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati.
‘Phase One’
‘bengals.com’ further stated that the new lease signed last year between the Hamilton County and the Cincinnati Bengals launched significant upgrades that will span several years and ‘Phase One’ of the multiyear renovation project will be substantially completed ahead of the Cincinnati Music Festival and the Cincinnati Bengals’ 2026 season.
Bengals Pro Shop
The Phase One renovations have exceeded expectations and the Paycor Stadium is positioned well for future improvements. The Phase One projects prioritized work that will have a wide impact benefiting the fans throughout the stadium. The key improvements include the renovated restrooms, the upgraded concessions, the transformed club lounges, the reimagined suites, a redesigned Bengals Pro Shop, the modernized scoreboard control room, improved wayfinding, and the core infrastructure improvements. Warm Construction, an Official Builder of the Cincinnati Bengals, executed many of the renovation projects including the concessions, the club lounges, the suites, and the Bengals Pro Shop.
Shared Commitment
The multiyear renovation project reflects the shared commitment of the Hamilton County, the Bengals and the stadium management team to responsibly invest in the Paycor Stadium ensuring it remains a premier National Football League (NFL) venue while supporting economic activity along Cincinnati’s riverfront. The investment also strengthens The Banks, which generates more than $2.5 billion in annual economic impact, including more than $1 billion annually driven by the Bengals. The capital expenditures for renovations provide incremental economic impact in the form of jobs and earnings along with the fiscal impact.
Renovated Restrooms
All the restrooms were renovated with updated lighting, flooring, walls, and ceilings to provide a brighter, more contemporary experience. The nursing rooms were renovated to accommodate the mothers and the young children.
Upgraded Concessions
The concession areas on the canopy level were upgraded with a focus on speed of service and expanded food and beverage (F&B) offerings. The grab-and-go ‘Go Route’ locations and the self-checkout kiosks provide a new layout with increased concourse space for the fans.
Transformed Club Lounges
The club lounges were renovated and expanded to feature the additional interior and exterior seating, the new bars, the enhanced food and beverage (F&B) offerings, and more points of sale (POS) to increase the speed of service. The spaces were redesigned to offer a more open layout for the fans to enjoy the natural light and views. The lounge aesthetic is a modern take on the jungle featuring floor-to-ceiling copper tiger stripe columns and a jungle leaf flooring. The new and the additional escalators and stairs were added to both the club and the suite entrances to help the fans enter and exit the stadium.
Reimagined Suites
Every existing suite was redesigned with the expanded lounge areas, the updated restrooms, the new furniture, the countertops, and an enhanced food and beverage(F&B) experience including the full-size refrigerators.
Redesigned Bengals Pro Shop
Now open Monday-Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm the Bengals Pro Shop was reconfigured to improve the traffic flow and increase the merchandise selection. The renovation includes the new flooring, the updated interior finishes, the expanded women’s and children’s sections, and the additional self-checkout kiosks.
Modernized Scoreboard Control Room
The control room powering video and audio throughout the stadium was expanded to handle new technology and future growth. An Internet Protocol (IP)-based 4K system was installed with additional cameras and replay feeds to increase the fan experience on gameday.
Improved Wayfinding
Over 1,000 new, larger and more accessible signs were installed throughout the Paycor Stadium to make it easier for the fans to find the seating sections, the amenities and the other key locations.
Core Infrastructure Improvements
The essential infrastructure work is ongoing including concrete repairs, waterproofing and passenger elevator modernization to help ensure the stadium remains in top condition.
What Fans can Expect in 2027
The renovations will continue in 2027 with the large-scale projects that include adding the escalators, replacing the stadium seats and a new, larger videoboard featuring enhanced technology.
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