Katie Blackburn Explains as Bengals Deliver Shocking Update on Potential Move from Cincinnati

The Cincinnati Bengals’ current lease with Hamilton County is set to expire on June 30, 2026. While the team has two five-year extension options, the first must be exercised by the end of this June—and there’s no guarantee that will happen.

At the NFL’s annual league meetings, Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn addressed the uncertainty surrounding their stadium situation. She emphasized that while the team would prefer to remain in Cincinnati and continue playing at Paycor Stadium, any decisions will be made when the time is right.

“We love where we are,” Blackburn said. “I’m a strong advocate for staying downtown—I think it’s great for the city, and the stadium’s current location is ideal.”

She added that while the team values its relationship with the county, certain upgrades are needed to ensure the facility remains competitive.

“Our stadium obviously needs ongoing maintenance to stay at a competitive level, and that’s important,” said Bengals executive VP Katie Blackburn. “But at the end of the day, we’re taking things one day at a time—we’ll just have to see how it all unfolds.”

While Blackburn stopped short of suggesting the Bengals might relocate, she acknowledged the team ultimately has the freedom to make the decision it feels is best.

“We could, technically, go wherever we wanted after this year if we don’t pick up the extension option,” Blackburn said. “So, we’ll see. Like I said, everything will be handled in due course. We’re having ongoing discussions, and we’re hopeful the county is also thinking about how to resolve things in a way that works for both sides.”

Paycor Stadium, which opened in 2000, could require more than $1.25 billion in upgrades and renovations. Blackburn confirmed that the organization is actively working on a possible lease extension that would include those improvements.

“We’ve all been working hard on a potential lease extension and what renovations would be involved,” she said. “It’s about finding a way to bring it all together, making sure everyone is aligned. But we still have a lot of work to do to make it happen.”