Paul Brown Stadium

Paul Brown Stadium is an outdoor football stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is the home venue of the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League and opened on August 19, 2000. Named after the Bengals’ founder Paul Brown, the stadium is located on approximately 22 acres (8.9 ha) of land and has a listed seating capacity of 65,515. Paul Brown Stadium is nicknamed “The Jungle,” an allusion not only to the namesake Bengal tiger’s natural habitat, but also the Guns N’ Roses song “Welcome to the Jungle”.

General information

Arena capacity: 65,515 spectators

Address: 1 Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH 45202, USA

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 39.095°N 84.516°W

Year of construction: August 19, 2000

Construction cost: $662 million

Field: Shaw Sports Momentum Pro lawn

Seating plan of the Paul Brown Stadium

Features & Amenities

Club seats at Paul Brown Stadium are located just above lower level seating at an ideal elevation for getting the best views in the stadium.

Fans in club seats will enjoy access to a climate-controlled club lounge with upscale dining options, televisions and tables. Club seats are wider and roomier than regular seating.

Select seats in sections 203, 217, 233 and 247 are also a part of club seating.

Recommended Seats for Kids and Family

Section 347:

• Family zone that is strictly monitored for any signs of inappropriate behavior;
• Alcohol-free section.

Best Seats for Great Views of the Field at Paul Brown Stadium

Paul Brown Stadium is a fairly traditional football venue that features three distinct levels of seating. With suites separating each of the levels, fans will find wildly different views from the 100s, 200s and 300s.

100 Level Seating

The best views on the lower level of Paul Brown Stadium will come from sections 108-112 and 138-142. These sections are closest to midfield, with sections 110 and 140 providing the best views from the 50-yardline.

These sections – like all sideline seating on the lower level – have 32 rows of seats with row 1 closest to the field. Row 1 does have some elevation to help see over the players on the sideline, though we recommend sitting in a higher row for the best sitelines.

Our preferred rows in these sideline sections are 15 and above, with rows 16-22 providing the best overall experience. Seats in this area are just below the entry tunnel (row 23), and their elevated view makes it easy to see the field without too much effort.

If you’re trying to decide which side of the field to sit on, the Bengals players will occupy the sideline in front of sections 108-112. However, we recommend sitting on the opposite side of the field (sections 138-142) where you get a much better view of the corner videoboard.

Club Level

The most expensive seats for a Bengals game are located in club level sections 204-216 and 234-216. For most games, these seats are listed for about 2-3 times the price of lower level seats. Besides for the amenities afforded to club ticketholders, these seats come with the best views at Paul Brown Stadium.

What makes the views so special? It’s the elevation. There is a small ring of suites separating the 100 and 200 levels. As such, the second level is perched just above the 100s sections and hangs slightly over the lower bowl. This extra elevation makes it easy to see side-to-side with just a short gaze left or right.

Club sections have up to 20 rows of seats, which makes them fairly large for a premium seating location. In turn, there is a fairly significant different between being in the first row (roughly 35 rows from the field) and the last row (roughly 55 rows from the field). Higher rows will be closer to the entry tunnel, but lower rows will have a superior view.

Although not part of club seating, we are a fan of the lower rows in sections 222-230. These sections offer a head-on view to the videoboard, video-game-like views of the field, and even looks of the Roebling Bridge and Ohio River.

Upper Level

The upper level at Paul Brown Stadium includes sections with up to 35 rows of seating. When looking at tickets in this area, it is crucial to sit in the lowest row possible if you want a great view.

The biggest complaint with the upper rows (13 and above) is how high above the field they are located. Because there are two rings of suites between the 200 level and 300 level, fans often get the feeling of having to look straight down to see the field. This feeling is less exaggerated in the lower rows where you won’t be looking down as far.

As with our recommendation for lower level seating, you’ll do well to choose seats at the front of sections 340-342. These three sections offer a very good view of the field and a comfortable look at the videoboard.  

Where to buy tickets?

The Bengals Ticket Office is open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Saturdays before a home game, 9 a.m. until noon. The office is located in the Bengals administration building on the South side of the stadium, near Gate E.

On game days, our Ticket Office/Will Call location is on the North side of the stadium; we are located between Gate B and Gate C, next to the Bengals Pro Shop. Will call and sales windows are open four hours prior to kickoff until the end of the second quarter.

Attending a game at Paul Brown Stadium ranks 30th among the most affordable NFL venues according to a recent GoBankingRates website survey. The average cost of a ticket is $112 (well below the league average of $239). Fans can even enjoy $5 beers at the game in The Jungle Fun Zone, a hot dog is $5.50, and parking averages around $22 per car.

A cost of a ticket to a game will depend on who the club is playing. Games against Pittsburgh and Cleveland could fetch a price beginning at $70 on secondary market websites, but other opponents could cost as low as $29–you might be able to find cheaper prices on the day of the game. Winning and losing seasons will also dictate the prices for games and push the average cost up slightly.

The price to park your car can range from as low as $6 at 690 E. Pete Rose Way (about a mile from PBS) to $33 at 277 W. 5th St. (a third of a mile from the stadium). There are also options across in Covington and Newport, Kentucky, at various lots that include a $2 to $3 shuttle ride over the bridge, or you could simply walk if the weather is nice. The average price to park your car is between $20 to $22 for Bengals games, below many other NFL stadiums.

For more parking information check out Stadium Parking Guides website.

How to get there?

Parking & transportation

CRG East (blue): Garage opens 6 hours prior to kickoff. Entrances are located off of Mehring Way and E. Pete Rose Way. Garage spots can be purchased on day of game.

To pre-purchase parking spots, please visit https://cincinnati.clickandpark.com/

Season Parking Only:

• 1, A, B, D, E, & F: Lots open 4 hours priot to kick off;
• CRG West, CRG Mid, & UE: Garages open a 6 hours prior to kick off.

Additional Parking:

• Duke Energy Center Garage 1: 605 Plum Street, Cincinnati, OH;
• Duke Energy Center Garage 2: 609 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH;
• Fountain Square Garage: 520 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH;
• Enquirer Building Parking Garage: 312 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH;
• 3rd and Race Street Lot: Corner of 3rd Street and Race Street, Cincinnati, OH;
• Scripps Center Garage: 312 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH;
• 3rd and Main Lot: 120 E 3rd Street, Cincinnati, OH;
• Queen City Square Parking Garage: 319-331 E. 4th Street, Cincinnati, OH;
• Western and Southern Garage: 310 Broadway Street, Cincinnati, OH;
• Broadway Lot: 295 Broadway Street, Cincinnati, OH;
• East Garage: 443 E. Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati, OH;
• Longworth Hall Lot: 700 W. Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati, OH;
• South Lot: 131 Madison Street, Newport, KY;
• The Beer Sellar & Hooters: 301 Riverboat Row, Newport, KY**.

**Queen City Riverboats will pick up fans at The Beer Sellar and Hooters for $6 per person. Keep the ticket and the return is free. The riverboats start 2 hours prior to kickoff, continuing for every 30 minutes until kickoff. Return trips begin at halftime, end of the 3rd quarter, end of the game, and continuing for an additional 45 minutes.

Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky

TANK Service from Northern Kentucky will be as follows until the Riverfront Transit Center is no longer under construction.

Headed to the game? – Coming from Newport, you’ll be dropped off at the Freedom Center. Coming from Covington, you’ll be dropped off at 2nd street and Walnut.

Leaving the game? – Catch your bus back to both Newport and Covington on 2nd street in front of the Freedom Center.

For more information: www.tankbus.org.

Where to eat?

The Bengals have improved food and beverage options the last few years offering an array of one-of-a-kind menu items to coincide with local and Gameday varieties. If you are hungry and are looking to divulge in something sweet in highly calorific you should be able to find something of your choice add a Bengals game.

The past few seasons have seen fresh burgers topped with peanut butter and red pepper jelly, tater tots covered with Buffalo chicken or Asian beef, and Sonoran hot dogs that are wrapped in bacon top with pinto beans, fresh jalapenos, salsa verde, and queso fresco. There are also the choice of boneless wings, buffalo chicken nachos, and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Not to be outdone, the Cincy-style cheesesteak is shaved bratwurst and mettwurst (the city’s signature sausage) with fresh peppers and onions, and provolone cheese. Another Cincy-spin would be the Goetta Reuben Melt and of course popular Gold Star Chili coneys and 3-ways (spaghetti, chili, and a mound of cheddar cheese). There are also roasted pork, steak, and chicken tacos and healthier options that include veggie flatbreads, turkey hot dogs, and veggie wraps.

The Queen City Tap Room is located on the west side level and features 15 different craft beers, including local varieties from Rhinegeist, Braxton, Mad Tree, Blank State, Mount Carmel, and Rivertown. There is even a beer cycle, a tricycle with two kegs that travels to different areas during the game providing pints of beers to areas of the stadium where more drink-seeking fans are.

Cincinnati is one of nine teams it featured at their stadium.

Atmosphere

Paul Brown Stadium offers fantastic sightlines throughout the stadium, especially the lower level. The area is open and the bright orange and black striped endzones are visible along with the jungle pattern motif against the field backdrop. The upper deck seating is a bit steeper, but opens up the nearby skyscrapers of downtown and puts the fan a tad closer to the game.

Before the game, The Jungle Zone kicks off 3 hours before the game on the East Plaza level of the stadium and offers food, drinks, giveaways, and family-friendly activities. They’re also food trucks, $5 beers, and a photo frame where fans can take pictures in Bengals related seems. The area was revamped prior to the 2018 season and also features a stage with live music or a DJ to entertain the crowds arriving early. Similar to other pre-game sections in the league, the zone is a perfect place for fans of all ages.

However, the lots around the stadium can be used for old-fashion tailgating beginning at 8 a.m. the day of the game. Local restaurants are opened on both sides of the river, and The District is a great gathering spot if you are visiting from out of town and just want to purchase food and drink.

Games against division foes Pittsburgh or Cleveland sell-out quickly and provided the most energetic atmosphere that will include the team’s “Huy Dey” chant. As with most teams, winning helps out the atmosphere immensely and the team has seen a lot of it lately; unfortunately the season we visited PBS, the club was in the midsts of a 6-10 campaign after beginning with a 4-1 record.

Neighborhood

There is quite an eclectic mix of activities near the stadium that can be enjoyed before or after the game. The District, a mix of residential and commercial buildings sits between PBS and the baseball stadium and includes the Christian Moerlein Lager House, Holy Grail Tavern & Grille, BurgerFi, and the Jefferson Social.

Across the Ohio River on the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge is Newport on the Levee featuring the Hofbrauhaus Newport, Strong’s Brick Oven Pizza, and Newport Aquarium. A short ride on the local transit is Rhinegeist Brewing in the up-and-coming Over-the-Rhine section that offers a rooftop deck, cornhole, and scenic views in an 1890s building. The building is packed before games serving up some of the best beers in the city.

A few downtown options that might go unnoticed to out of towners is the Carew Tower where for only $6 you can experience spectacular views of the city and surrounding area. The Cincinnati Museum Center houses a collection of museums in the former Union Terminal building that is an Art-Deco lovers dream. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Museum is located near the stadium and offers several exhibits throughout the year.

Fans

It has been tough to be a Bengals fan the past few seasons as a team has improved quite mightily this decade but has not won a playoff game since 1991–almost 30-years-ago. However, you will not find another group of fans as faithful as the ones who don on the black and orange jerseys and shout out the rallying cry “Huy Dey”.

Features

Paul Brown Stadium houses the Bengals’ administrative offices and training and practice facilities. The game field in Paul Brown Stadium is Momentum Pro manufactured by Show Sports Turf. There are three smaller practice fields nearby. Two are sodded with natural grass while the third is equipped with AstroTurf.

Several local busing companies offer round trip transportation to Paul Brown Stadium from designated locations throughout the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area. One such example is the Cincinnati Metro’s Jungle-to-Jungle Express, which originates at Jungle Jim’s International Market in Fairfield, a suburb of Cincinnati

Premium seating options are available in 114 private suites and 7,600 club seats. Amenities include in-seat food and beverage service and access to the club lounges for fine dining options.

On-site retail merchandise sales are available in the Bengals pro shop, located on the plaza level on the north end of the stadium. There are 56 concession stands and eight stores.

Architecture

The stadium was designed by architectural firm NBBJ. The architect was Dan Meis. It was the first NFL facility to win an AIA design award, and one of only two sports venues to be honored. The open corners allow for views into the stadium, while stadium fans can view the downtown skyline and bridges crossing the Ohio River.

Paul Brown Stadium is the only football stadium to make a list of “America’s favorite 150 buildings and structures”, according to a Harris Interactive survey. Paul Brown Stadium ranked 101st on the list, whose range included all manner of major structures — skyscrapers, museums, churches, hotels, bridges, national memorials and more. No other football stadium was voted among the top 150, and among all sports venues, only Wrigley Field (31) and Yankee Stadium (84) ranked higher than Paul Brown Stadium.

History

Hamilton County voters passed a one-half percent sales tax increase to fund the building of two new home venues for both the Bengals and the Major League Baseball Cincinnati Reds. Previously the Bengals and the Reds shared tenancy of Riverfront Stadium (Cinergy Field), but both teams complained that the aging multipurpose facility lacked modern amenities and other things necessary for small-market teams to survive.

Paul Brown Stadium was built first to the west; after the Bengals moved, Cinergy Field installed natural grass and was partially demolished to allow construction of adjacent Great American Ball Park to the east. Following the baseball season, Cinergy was demolished. The Bengals have hosted four NFL playoff games at Paul Brown Stadium, with no victories.

For its first four years the field was natural Kentucky Bluegrass, but maintenance problems arose, and at one point it was rated as the third-worst field in the league. Hamilton County explored other options and chose the synthetic FieldTurf system. The infilled artificial turf looks and feels like real grass and, since the field markings are sewn into the fabric, repainting between games is unnecessary. The reduced maintenance saved the county approximately US$100,000 annually.

Additionally, it opens Paul Brown Stadium to other uses without worry of damage to the turf. The field is one of only two stadiums in the NFL to have “five miles of piping” running under the field to keep the rubber inlays heated. The stadium chose to update the playing surface with an installation of Act Global synthetic turf. It was equipped with a new top-of-the-line synthetic turf system. Manufactured by Shaw Sports Turf, the product includes Strenexe XD slit-film fibers that are supported by the strongest synthetic turf backing in the industry, UltraLoc.

Two LED video displays at either end zone were installed, providing a good view of the on-field action for every spectator. Over 200 feet of ribbon display were installed along the fascia of the stadium.