An agreement has been reached for a new music venue to be built next to Paul Brown Stadium, home of the Cincinnati Bengals NFL American football team.
Under the agreement, major renovation work at Paul Brown Stadium has been put on hold until 2026, when the Bengals’ lease to play at the venue expires.
Plans for the new music venue have been able to proceed through a partnership between Hamilton County and Hilltop to develop additional greenspace on the central riverfront near Paul Brown Stadium.
The Bengals said in a statement: “Since the very first images were drawn 25 years ago showing what the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County hoped to accomplish by embarking upon a joint plan to rebuild this community’s riverfront, a key part of the plan has been acquiring the western edge of the riverfront to be held in public trust.
“The Bengals believed in that vision then and we believe in that vision now, and that is the reason we are investing $30m (£24.4m/€27.2m) to make that vision a reality.”
The Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners approved the contract to purchase Hilltop Basic Resources in a move that allows Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra/Music & Event Management Inc. (CSO/MEMI) to proceed with the development of the music venue, which would open in the autumn of 2020.
Hilltop has also agreed to sell its riverfront property to Hamilton County, paving the way for 17 acres of central riverfront land to be transformed into greenspace that can accommodate parking.
CSO/MEMI expects over 200 events a year to be held at the 4,500-capacity music venue.
MEMI president Mike Smith said: “This unique music venue will play a vibrant and essential role at The Banks, and we are eager to work with the neighbourhood’s restaurants, bars, hotels, sports teams and retailers to offer extraordinary experiences for music fans from throughout our region, as well as visitors to Cincinnati.”
Paul Brown Stadium has a capacity of 65,500 and opened in August 2000.
Image: Cincinnati Bengals
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