The stadium will be ready for football Aug. 19 but cost overruns at Paul Brown Stadium have inched up a little higher — about 1.2 million inches.

        Construction managers at the stadium reported Wednesday that their estimate of $45 million in overruns has grown to $46.2 million. Built into the cost overun estimate is a $1.5 million contingency fund that, it is hoped, will cover any other unforeseen expenses at the facility.

        Three months ago, the same construction managers said the overruns had grown by $1 million, but the contingency fund would offset the coverage.

        This time, instead of saving the day, the contingency fund is actually pushing the budget further into the red. It marks the first time since the overruns were made public in February that they have gone over $45 million.

        There was a bit of good news Wednesday: Stadium Project Manager Norm Getz assured commissioners that the stadium will be ready on Aug. 19 and that fans won't be inconvenienced by the areas still under construction.

        Mr. Getz said the city of Cincinnati's Building Department will grant a temporary certificate of occupancy next week, meaning the stadium will be allowed to open for the preseason game against the Chicago Bears.

        And construction managers have a plan for those areas that will not be ready — the Bengals' store, a few bars in the club lounge and permanent turnstyles at the gates — on game day.

        Temporary bars and turnstyles will be brought in for the game, while the merchandise sold at the Bengals' store will be available at concession stands.

        Although the stadium's Aug. 19 opening is just days away, work will continue for at least six months. That means taxpayers really won't know how much the new stadium ultimately will cost for some time.

        Shelby Reaves, the stadium project director, said

        there have been many unexpected cost increases related to fire safety. Those increases have pushed the budget further into the red.

        The overruns now drive up the stadium's total cost to $453.2 million, the sum of $46.2 million in overruns added to the original stadium budget of $407 million.

        Hamilton County Commission President Bob Bedinghaus was not ready to commit the additional $1.2 million on Wednesday. Mr. Bedinghaus said he still expects construction managers to bring the stadium in at $45 million over budget.

        “You did not see any action (by commissioners) that accepted a dollar amount over $45 million,” Mr. Bedinghaus said. “The final number will be whatever it is. But there is no acceptance at this point that it will be more.”

        Mr. Reaves said the contingency fund will be needed because contractors will make claims for more money at the end of the project.

        It is common for contractors to make claims as they finish their work, if they were asked to perform more work or work in a different way that drove up the cost.

        “We perceive $1.5 million as being enough to cover all of that,” Mr. Reaves said.

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