Since completing our recent assignment in the Cincinnati market, several major public- and private-sector initiatives have advanced, reflecting continued investment in the city’s convention, sports, residential, and entertainment infrastructure. Together, these projects underscore downtown Cincinnati’s ongoing evolution as a more competitive and vibrant urban destination.
Cincinnati is making a major reinvestment in its convention and hospitality core. The Duke Energy Convention Center is undergoing a $264 million renovation scheduled for completion in early 2026. Planned improvements include modernized meeting rooms, upgraded ballrooms, a reconfigured exhibit hall and pre-function space, and a new rooftop terrace offering skyline views. Directly south of the Convention Center, a new Marriott-branded headquarters hotel is planned to open in 2028, representing an additional $536 million investment and significantly strengthening the city’s convention hotel inventory.
Long-term commitment to professional sports is driving substantial infrastructure upgrades. Paycor Stadium is slated for an $830 million renovation focused on infrastructure modernization, vertical transportation, concourses, and enhanced club and suite areas. These improvements are tied to a lease extension that will keep the Cincinnati Bengals in the city through at least 2036. While $350 million in state funding has been requested, funding had not yet been secured as of year-end 2025.
Downtown riverfront development continues to intensify. The next phase of The Banks calls for the construction of two 24-story residential towers near the Ohio River. With an estimated $800 million investment, these towers will become the tallest structures within The Banks district to date and represent a significant milestone as the mixed-use development progresses toward full build-out over the next 15 years.
A new premier outdoor music venue is taking shape along the Ohio River. The Farmer Music Center, a 20,000-capacity amphitheater, is currently under construction on the former Coney Island amusement park site east of downtown. Slated to open in 2027, the $160 million venue will replace Riverbend Music Center as the region’s primary amphitheater and expand Cincinnati’s ability to attract large-scale live entertainment.
FC Cincinnati is leveraging its on-field success into mixed-use development. The club has announced plans for a $332 million mixed-use project just north of TQL Stadium. Known as the West End development, the project would include two 13-story buildings featuring apartments, condominiums, a hotel, office space, and a central event plaza. If delivered as planned, the development could be completed by the end of 2027, further anchoring investment in the West End neighborhood.