Cincinnati’s efforts to host 2026 FIFA World Cup matches. Combined with the Cincinnati Bengals’ recent Super Bowl run. Presents an opportunity to boost Paul Brown Stadium’s long-term viability through upgrades.

FIFA will announce whether Cincinnati will be a 2026 World Cup host on June 16th. This week, Hamilton County commissioners agreed to back the campaign to bring World Cup matches to Cincinnati. Which could result in renovations costing county taxpayers $10 million. To make the county-owned stadium suitable for hosting soccer matches. $4 million would be used to install a new natural grass surface and drainage system.

$6 million would be used to remove 1,800 seats to accommodate a soccer field. Even though Paul Brown Stadium has hosted soccer matches before. The dimensions for a FIFA-ready soccer field have grown since Paul Brown Stadium’s construction. Upgrades to stadium lighting, scoreboards and concessions are already being planned. Those upgrades will happen with or without the World Cup.

Hamilton County Commissioner’s approval happened a day after TQL Stadium hosted the U.S. Men’s National Team. In a friendly match against Morocco which the USMNT won 3-0. How much this week’s friendly weighs on Cincinnati’s World Cup hopes are questionable. The match wasn’t a sellout, with just over 19,000 attending at the 26,000-seat venue. Prompting own goal style criticism of USMNT fans from star player Christian Pulisic.

Fans and sportswriters were quick to jump to Cincinnati’s defense. Through criticizing U.S. Soccer’s high-ticket prices as a key factor for the lower than hoped for attendance. Along with the match being held on a Wednesday evening two days after a federal holiday. Plus, the match being an exhibition ahead of this November’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar. With lower stakes compared to last year’s World Cup qualifier against Mexico at TQL Stadium. Plus, the impact of inflation and high gas prices on consumers. Filling a stadium to over 70 percent capacity under those circumstances is still impressive.

Even though the World Cup is an event worth pursuing in my view. Given their past corruption problems, FIFA is not an organization one should bend over backwards for. Boosting Paul Brown Stadium’s long-term sustainability should be the guiding goal. When considering making any changes to the stadium. Whether it’s improving the fan experience or the structure’s integrity.

One change not currently being considered would be wise to consider. Adding a retractable roof, an idea my brothers have talked about for decades. Doing so would make the stadium more attractive to various sports organizations. Making the stadium suitable to host the Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four or the CFP National Championship among other events. Weather-wise, PBS isn’t an ideal venue for the Super Bowl or CFP National Championship.

Those events organizers are interested in hosting those games in outdoor venues, in cities with warm weather in the winter. Or an indoor stadium regardless of the city’s weather. Given the high-profile College Basketball programs in and near Cincinnati. The Queen City would be an ideal spot to host the Final Four. Cincinnati previously attracted the men’s regional finals and Women’s Final Four.

The Heritage Bank Center doesn’t attract those events these days. Plus, the Men’s Final Four loves hosting the event in massive indoor football stadiums. Having a retractable roof could improve the fan experience too. Instead of having Bengals fans in some sections broil in the summer and freeze in the winter. Fans can enjoy games in more a comfortable environment with a retractable roof.

It’s also not unheard of for a stadium to have a retractable roof added later on. The Center Courts for the French Open and Wimbledon added retractable roofs. If Wimbledon’s 100-year-old Centre Court can handle a retractable roof. Surely the 22-year-old Paul Brown Stadium can handle one too. Vancouver’s BC Place shifted from an indoor only to a retractable roof stadium. Doing so between the time it hosted the Winter Olympics and FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Retractable roof aside, grand alterations aren’t needed to improve the fan experience at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals made some moves last year. Through adding their ring of honor and the ruler of the jungle stage. Finally taking a page from the Cincinnati Reds playbook. Both have been rigorous with penny-pinching through the years. Though the Reds have made the investments to improve concessions and other fan amenities through the years. While the Bengals lagged behind in doing so.

Meanwhile, it would be interesting to see efforts to make Paul Brown Stadium more environmentally friendly. Perhaps through using solar energy to power the stadium. Instead of going the route of the Texas Rangers. Which moved out of their beautiful under 30-year-old Ballpark in Arlington. To the new indoor Globe Life Field in an effort to beat the Texas heat.

Paul Brown Stadium already made a recent change to try to be more energy efficient. Last year, the stadium installed an LED lighting system that’s estimated to save Hamilton County taxpayers $60,000 annually. By taking these kinds of measures to save costs, be more sustainable or both. Along with making improvements to attract more marquee events. Paul Brown Stadium can be even more of an asset for the region. While hopefully making the cost to Hamilton County taxpayers easier to stomach.