Blockbuster Entertainment's formal application to build a
sports and amusement park is being met with a "barrage of
criticism from regulators who must give their OK before
construction can begin."  Transportation officials say the
company used a "flawed method to calculate the park's potential
impact on traffic."  County planners say the company's proposal
to build on-site housing is "too sketchy to evaluate."
Environmentalists suggest the company is "more interested in
using wetlands as landscaping" than as habitat for wildlife and
filters for So. FL's drinking water.  Each agency with a say in
improving the project has until the close of business today to
comment on Blockbuster's application.  Dade and Broward counties
and more than a dozen state regulatory agencies are charged with
reviewing the application, which outlines the company's plans to
build a hockey arena, baseball stadium, water sports park, golf
courses, hotels, shops and restaurants on a 3,088-acre site
(Corbett & Zaneski, MIAMI HERALD, 11/2).

     Yesterday's SPORTS BUSINESS DAILY reported on discussions in
Cincinnati about a new stadium for the Bengals or the Reds.
Cincinnati City Manager John Shirey said last week that whichever
team which does not get a new facility would have to accept a
major renovation project to Riverfront.  Today, we continue our
look at NFL facilities with a profile of Riverfront Stadium.


  
 
    
STADIUM:
    
Riverfront 
      Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
  
  
 
    
AGE:
    
Completed 
      in 1970.
  
  
 
    
CAPACITY:
    
60,000 
      - 5th lowest in the league
  
  
 
    
LUXURY 
      BOXES:
    
20 -- owned 
      and operated by the city.
  
  
 
    
OWNERSHIP:
    
Owned by 
      Hamilton County.
  
  
 
    
MANAGEMENT:
    
Managed 
      by the city of Cincinnati.
  
  
 
    
COST:
    
$44 million, 
      paid for by County revenue bonds.
  
  
 
    
DEBT:
    
There is 
      approximately $25M in outstanding debt.
  
  
 
    
CONCESSIONS:
    
Cincinnati 
      Sports Service, Inc. - of the 100% net revenue,

      approximately 90% goes to teams, 10% goes to stadium.
  
  
 
    
PARKING:
    
3200 garage 
      spots at $5, 1800 spots at $3.50. All 

      revenue goes to the team.
  
  
 
    
LEASE:
    
Teams lease 
      expires in 2010.
  
  
 
    
ADVERTISING:
    
Reds handle 
      all advertising.
  
  
 
    
RENT:
    
$1.32 million 
      -- 12th highest in the league
  
  
 
    
PUBLIC 
      $:
    
Zero.
  


(Sources: Glenn Redmer/Stadium Manager, rent and public subsidy
figure from Florida Times-Union article, July 24, 1994.)