Real estate in Greater Cincinnati is booming. Here at The Enquirer, we aim to bring you in-depth real estate coverage about the developments and neighborhood issues you care about the most. Going Up is a series that introduces you to need-to-know projects around the region.
Submit suggestions to sfranklin@enquirer.com or tag @Enquirer on social media. Please include the address or cross streets of the project you want us to look into.
The basics of Princeton’s new stadium
What to know about Princeton stadium: $22M upgrade will address safety, security concerns
New construction and upgrades are underway at Princeton City Schools’ football stadium off Interstate 75 in Sharonville.
The public school district serves over 5,000 students in Hamilton, Butler and Warren counties. This fall, it will unveil a $22 million stadium upgrade project that district officials say will enhance student safety.
Some of those details include:
“Safety is always a top priority,” athletic director Joe Roberts said in an emailed statement. “The athletic stadium project is designed to create a more secure, inclusive, and healthier field and facility for our students and community. We’re making upgrades to ensure the well-being of our students and visitors. We’re installing separate entrances for visitors, improving outdoor lighting, and enhancing WiFi access across all facilities.”
The project also replaces the stadium’s 20-year-old turf. Industry guidance typically recommends replacing synthetic turf every 8 to 10 years, said Tricia Roddy, the district’s director of communications.
The Princeton Vikings football team finished first in the Greater Miami Conference last year, one of Ohio’s premier football leagues. The high school’s football program has produced multiple Cincinnati Bengals and other NFL players. The most recent alum is Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr., who graduated in 2020 and was a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Who’s paying? Project was announced after failed levy
An initial plan for this project would have cost $65 million, Roddy said in an email. But the district scaled back the development to focus on safety and accessibility upgrades, landing on the current plan that cost $22 million.
To pay for the project, the district borrowed $22 million. That debt will be paid using the district’s general operating fund over 30 years.
The project launched in November 2024. That same month, a Princeton levy failed, and the district said it needed to cut $10.6 million from its budget. Those cuts came in the form of a hiring freeze, reduced bus transportation and an end to non-grant-funded field trips.
However, Hamilton County voters approved a district levy in May 2025. The levy helped fend off potential school closures and staff cuts, the district said. Warren and Butler County residents in the district voted down the levy.
When will the stadium reopen?
Construction is slated to end in August. The facilities are expected to be open for use this fall, but an opening date has not been set.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Princeton revamps football stadium in $22M upgrade | Going Up
Reporting by Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
