Bengals Question County Consultant Over Browns Ties
The Cincinnati Bengals have publicly expressed their concerns about a key consultant involved in the team’s negotiations with Hamilton County. The controversy arises due to the consultant, David Abrams, connection with the Cleveland Browns.
In an official statement, the Bengals noted that Abrams, hired by the county to advise on the stadium lease agreement negotiations, also serves the Browns. Without direct accusations, the Cincinnati team questioned Abrams’ impartiality in the negotiations.
The team has expressed its concern to the county that a stadium consultant serving the Cleveland Browns may not have Cincinnati’s best interests at heart.
Bengals statement
Abrams works for Inner Circle Sports. Hamilton County issued its own statement denying the Bengals’ claims, but acknowledged the relationship between Inner Circle Sports and the Browns.
The county assured that Abrams is not involved with the Browns, their stadium project, or related matters. Furthermore, it was explained that another person works for the Browns as a contractor for Inner Circle Sports, and that this external group has not received or shared confidential information about the Bengals or the county.
The Bengals have until June 30 to exercise the first of five two-year options that extend their agreement with Hamilton County at Paycor Stadium. If the option is not exercised, Cincinnati’s current stadium lease will end after the 2025 season.
Both the Bengals and the Browns seek to secure investments from the state of Ohio for their respective stadiums.
The Browns are considering a mixed-use complex in Brook Park, with an estimated cost of around $3 billion, of which at least $1.2 billion would come from private funds. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell met with lawmakers in Columbus to discuss the Browns’ proposal.
The Bengals and Hamilton County have been working on an $830 million stadium renovation under a framework approved by the county commissioners at the end of April. The framework allocated $210 million, with $120 million from the team, for the first phase of a three-phase process. However, this could dissolve if the two parties do not reach a long-term lease extension before June 30.
Hamilton County and the Bengals appeared to be moving toward an agreement. However, the county dismissed the law firm Frost Brown Todd and attorney Tom Gabelman, who had worked with the county since 1997 on project negotiations.
The county hired Abrams in October 2023 to assist with its negotiations with the Bengals. According to his Inner Circle Sports biography, Abrams has advised on stadium financing projects in Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Jacksonville, and Nashville.
In addition to Hamilton County’s denial that Abrams is involved with the Browns, a source familiar with Cleveland’s negotiations corroborated this.
The Bengals claim Abrams might have a conflict of interest.
The county can decide how it wants to proceed, but the team considered it appropriate to share concerns about whether the parties involved in the discussions were working exclusively to promote local interests, or whether other conflicts might exist.
Bengals Statement
