The indications are that the county will try to get a blend of private and public funding to get the stadium complex built. The estimated cost is about $250 million.
"In order to get any kind of public support, it will require a significant contribution from all the private partners before we can go to the public," said Hamilton County (Ohio) commissioner and Regional Task Force co-chairman Guy Guceknberger.
Before Brown decides on his future, he wants to see what kind of plan Cincinnati can put together.
"We're going to see what Cincinnati can get done in the next month," he said.
In an effort to explore all avenues, the Bengals have even hired Max Muhleman, who invented the idea of permanent seat licenses in Carolina, to study the possibility of selling them in Cincinnati. But Brown makes it obvious his bottom line is getting a new or rebuilt stadium.
"If we can't get a stadium in Cincinnati, we'll have to (go) to the league and ask for something (the right to move)," he said. "Our choice will be that or go under. And I don't know that that's a choice."
Brown, though, has left no doubt that moving is an option. Although he told the owners he's not interested in going to Los Angeles, he has had talks with Baltimore, which has the funding in place for a new, football-only stadium next to Camden Yards. Neither Brown nor John Moag, head of the Maryland Stadium Authority, will comment on the discussions.
But Brown clearly feels he's running out of time.
"A small-market team without a Grade A stadium is not going to work in the NFL for very much longer," he said.
