Bengals Respond After Hamilton County Fires Key Attorney Involved in Stadium Talks
CINCINNATI — Hamilton County terminated Tom Gabelman on Thursday, the attorney who has overseen stadium negotiations since 1997.
Hamilton County prosecutor Connie Pillich explained the timing of the decision, saying, “Now is actually the ideal time for a change, with the deadline fast approaching in just over a month. If we don’t make this shift and bring in fresh perspectives quickly, I’m concerned we’ll just keep spinning our wheels, as we’ve been doing for a while now.”
The stadium lease expires in June, and while progress has been made toward a new agreement, no deal has been finalized yet.
Pillich has recommended two new law firms, Dinsmore and Vorys, both of which have offices in downtown Cincinnati as well as in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.
In response to the firing, the Bengals issued a statement regarding the new consultants suggested by the county.
“Recently, the Team was surprised to learn that Hamilton County had hired a stadium consultant who is also working with the Cleveland Browns. This information was not disclosed to us initially, and after some investigation, we confirmed this. We’ve expressed our concerns to the County, as we feel that a consultant working for the Browns might not prioritize Cincinnati’s best interests. The County can proceed as it sees fit, but we felt it was important to raise the question of whether everyone involved is truly focused on advancing local interests, or if other conflicts may be at play.”
The Bengals are required to notify the county about their stance on the lease by June 30.
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