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Ohio’s unique legal framework complicates the situation further. In response to the Cleveland Browns’ departure in 1995, Ohio enacted the Modell Law, which prohibits professional sports teams benefiting from public facilities from relocating without prior notice to local governments. This law necessitates at least a six-month notice period before any potential relocation, allowing local authorities time to find new ownership if a move were to be proposed.
While it remains uncertain whether the Bengals face such an eventuality, the escalating tensions and the looming lease expiration collectively create an uneasy atmosphere.