“You can’t control the outcome, but you can control your effort,” Joe Burrow once mused, his words dripping with the zen-like calm of a quarterback who’s stared down blitzes and lived to tell the tale. But effort alone won’t solve the Cincinnati Bengals’ latest headache: a $1.05B stadium standoff that’s got everyone from Cincy to Chi-Town screaming into their Skyline Chili bowls.
The jungle vs. the windy city circus: Let’s cut through the noise like Ja’Marr Chase slicing past a cornerback. The Bengals’ lease at Paycor Stadium—a.k.a. “The Jungle”—expires in 2026, and Hamilton County’s sweating harder than a rookie at training camp. Renovation plans? A dome? A cool billion? Meanwhile, 300 miles north, the Chicago Bears are stuck in a Groundhog Day loop between Arlington Heights and a downtown lakefront Taj Mahal. Enter NBC’s Mike Florio, who lobbed a Hail Mary idea: Why not shack up together? Cue the chaos.
While Burrow is busy rewriting record books (43 TDs, Triple Crown maestro Chase), the Bengals’ front office is playing 4D chess. His contract? Structured smoother than a play-action fake to free up cash for Chase and Tee Higgins. The window’s my whole career, he smirked last year. Translation: Cincy’s all-in, but not on real estate gimmicks.
The Bears have a stadium problem. The Bengals have a stadium problem. In theory, they could come together for a Chicagoland venue that would host 20 NFL games per year and pay for itself. https://t.co/z1vvY6M1T9
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 5, 2025
Meanwhile, the Bears’ QB carousel spins faster than a Caleb Williams scramble (4,030 combined yards as a rookie, 3,541 passing yards, and 489 rushing yards – sheesh!). Soldier Field’s 61.5K seats feel emptier than a post-Lovie Smith trophy case, and Arlington Heights’ tax tango drags on like a Bears third-down conversion attempt. So, why not consider Mike Florio’s idea to share a stadium?
When Joe Burrow’s midwest pride collides with pocketbooks
Florio’s proposal? Have the Bengals ditch Cincy for Soldier Field, sharing digs with the Bears to save costs. Fans reacted like they’d been told to replace Skyline with ketchup. “This is the most asinine thing ever, Florio”, tweeted Jimmy Dinsmore, while Clem Fandango roasted, “Here’s the actual point: Cincinnati is nowhere near “Chicagoland” whatever the f— that is and you’re a r—— if you think the Bengals are going to play in Chicago. Look at a freakin map. They’re closer to Nashville than Chicago.” Even Joe Burrow‘s silence spoke volumes—dude’s too busy dropping dimes (4,918 yards in 2024, thankyouverymuch) to entertain this gridiron fanfic.
Let’s get poetic: Paycor Stadium isn’t just concrete and luxury suites. It’s where Bengaldom’s heartbeat syncs with the Ohio River’s flow. Renamed in 2022, it’s a shrine to the Why Not Us? Ethos that dragged Cincy from NFL punchline to AFC royalty. Meanwhile, Soldier Field’s a monument to history—and deferred maintenance. The Bears’ $3.2B lakefront pipe dream? Let’s just say it’s got more plot twists than Succession.
You do realize that the Bears are in Chicago and the Bengals are in Cincinnati? This page is becoming a bigger and bigger joke by the day. Completely unserious “reporting”.
— Malay B. Shah (@TxpDoc) April 5, 2025
But here’s the rub: stadiums are political landmines. Hamilton County’s dangling a dome over Paycor like a $1.05B carrot, while Chicago pols bicker over taxes louder than Ditka chewing out a ref. Florio’s Chicagoland mashup ignores geography, fandom, and basic math. “Who’s going to drive from Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky to Chicago 10 times a year?” asked doubleyousee66.
And fans weren’t done: Malay B Shah delivered the geography lesson nobody asked for but everyone needed: “You do realize that the Bears are in Chicago and the Bengals are in Cincinnati? This page is becoming a bigger and bigger joke by the day. Completely unserious “reporting.” Teej didn’t even bother reading: “I won’t even click this. Dumbest thing I’ve ever seen and that’s saying something for this outlet.” Exactly. This ain’t Madden franchise mode. This is real life, with real fans, real legacies—and real distances on I-74.
A tale of two cities: In the end, this isn’t about stadiums but soul. The Jungle’s roar can’t be replicated in a shared space, just as Soldier Field’s columns can’t house two identities. As Burrow would say, This isn’t peewee. Teams don’t split homes like divorced parents splitting holidays.
So here’s to Cincy’s chili-fueled grit and Chicago’s deep-dish defiance. Let ‘em build their cathedrals. Because in the NFL, as in life, you don’t share your kingdom—you defend it. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be over here praying to the spirit of Paul Brown that sanity prevails.
The post Joe Burrow’s Bengals Told to Ditch $1.05B Stadium for Soldier Field as Calls Mount Against NBC Analyst For Pitching ‘Asinine’ Idea appeared first on EssentiallySports.
