CINCINNATI — From a menu inspired by Cincinnati's German heritage to extreme fan activities like inflatable axe-throwing, Paul Brown Stadium promises a new-and-improved experience this season.
And according to a new report, it’s the most affordable family gameday in the NFL.
With the home opener against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, here are the changes Bengals fans should look for as they head to the jungle.
'Jungle Zone' expansion, ‘Street Team’ addition
"Ninja Warrior" races, inflatable axe-throwing, football-throwing contests and “Fowling” (think bowling, but with a football).
The family-friendly “Jungle Zone” adds these extreme sports to its lineup of pregame activities. You can find them on the east plaza level of PBS along with face-painting, food, drinks and fan giveaways. The tailgate party gets underway three hours prior to kickoff.
This season, be on the lookout for the Bengals “Street Team,” a squad that carries flags on the field and interacts with fans throughout the day. You can likely spot them handing out prizes and giveaways in tailgate lots and in the Jungle Zone. “Who Dey” team members will assist PBS visitors with questions and directions.
Stadium-style twists on German, Mexican cuisine
You might have heard of the meatless “Beyond” burger, but as part of its "TriHealth Healthy Options” menu, PBS will soon offer a “Beyond Brat.”
This meat-free take on classic German bratwurst comes topped with peppers and onions. It will be released alongside other fresh eats, including turkey and brie sandwiches, black bean spring wraps, chipotle chicken salad and pear turkey bacon flatbread.
And at City StrEATs, fans can try a pork schnitzel slider served on a pretzel bun with gouda, German hot purple slaw and apple mustard sauce.
Besides the Bavarian, Bengals fans can also feast on fajita chicken tacos, short rib tacos, a California burger or a Mexican-inspired loaded hot dog topped with pineapple salsa, chipotle mayo, cotija and jalapenos.
Other gourmet burgers, barbeque, loaded tater tots and traditional stadium fare will be sold side by side with $3 popcorn, $4 hot dog and $5 draft beer.
Sound system upgrades
The second phase of a three-year upgrade to the stadium’s in-bowl sound system is complete, and this year added almost 120 new speakers on the lower level and 70 new speakers in the canopy level. Twenty-one-inch subwoofers were also installed on each side of the canopy level.
Redesigned app
If you’ve downloaded the official Bengals App, you may have noticed its redesigned gameday section. There, you’ll find information about tickets, traffic, the stadium’s clear bag policy and game stats. The app also offers directions to parking lots and garages near PBS.
An affordable gameday
For the first time since 1997, the Bengals fan experience is the most affordable in the NFL.
That’s based on Team Marketing Report’s 2019 Fan Cost Index, which calculates the average cost for a family of four to attend a game. For TMR's purposes, this includes four tickets, four soft drinks, four hot dogs, two beers, two souvenir hats and a parking spot.
The average cost for a family of four to attend a game at PBS is $403, the lowest out of 32 NFL teams. The league's average is around $540, but the most expensive NFL gameday is at Dignity Health Sports Park, home of the Los Angeles Chargers. A family outing there could set you back $820 on average.
“Providing great value to our fans who attend games at Paul Brown Stadium is a top priority,” said Duane Haring, Bengals Director of Ticket Sales and Service. “Having the lowest Fan Cost Index in the NFL is one of many items that really highlight the emphasis we as an organization have placed on our fans.”
