Paycor Stadium never shut down after last season's finale as a multi-year facelift continues its plan to touch every area of the Cincinnati riverfront anchor.

John Pope, the stadium's director of capital projects, has shepherded as many as 300 workers through the building this offseason as the club expands and renovates both club lounges, as well as every suite, while modernizing each restroom and upgrading concessions throughout the building.

Also on tap for Opening Day 2026 are added escalators and staircases to and from the club lounges, as well as a reconfigured and modernized pro shop. Navigating Paycor Stadium is also enhanced with about 1,600 new larger and more accessible signs to help guide fans.

The renovations, which include the control room powering audio and visual mechanisms throughout the stadium, are scheduled to spill into next offseason and yield, among other things, new video boards in future seasons. Also among the coming attractions are new escalators and stairs that vastly improve access to all levels of the building.

The Bengals' sprawling $120 million project, along with Hamilton County's $350 million, touches up the superstructure that opened 26 years ago, and club officials believe the rehab is showing the adaptability of the original design.

For instance, both club seating areas are able to expand by roughly 1,000 seats on each side. And, the expanded area to the south allows the addition of a new bar in each club lounge.

"We are fortunate to have a great foundation to work from," says Duane Haring, the team's director of stadium and event operations. "Paycor Stadium is well positioned for this modernization effort where we will marry the timeless beauty of the stadium's architecture with a first-in-class fan experience now and into the future."

Before the end of the season, all 68 restrooms are set to have updated lighting, walls, flooring and ceilings. Each existing suite is undergoing renovation for more space that includes an increased lounge area, full-sized refrigerators, new countertops, furniture and seating. Every existing suite has always had a restroom, not a given in today's new stadiums, and they'll also be modernized. Plus, there has been enough space to add five more suites, upping the count to 137.

Both club lounges are getting the same treatment of expansion and updates. The staircase in the middle of each lounge is gone, freeing up more floor space. New and more furniture, increased food and beverage destinations, and recapturing the picturesque views along the massive club windows are among the major changes. Perhaps the most eye-catching alteration is floor-to-ceiling columns slashed by a Bengals' stripe of metallic metal set against a solid surface.

"These renovations would not be possible without our long-standing relationship with Hamilton County," Haring says, "and their commitment to ensuring Paycor Stadium remains a first-class NFL facility for years to come."

There are now four bars in each lounge instead of two, and they've been re-located to allow more access to the views of downtown and the river.

Speed of service, increasing points of sale and reducing time spent in line inspire renovations to the 50-yard-line concessions in each canopy. Fans now enjoy faster trips for food and drink at the new Go Route featuring grab-and-go items and self-checkout kiosks.

The emphasis on speed of service continues into the new-look pro shop with new and more self-checkout kiosks at the back of the store. A reconfigured floor plan paves the way for more variety and inventory, particularly for jerseys and headwear. That space is also getting overhauled with a new floor, new designs on the walls, and revamped women's and children's sections.