After Reds CEO Marge Schott said the team might play in
a renovated Cinergy Field instead of holding out for a new
ballpark, representatives from Hamilton County and the team
"were talking about a deal," according to Lucy May of the
CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. Reds Managing Exec John Allen met with
County Administrator David Krings Tuesday. Allen "confirmed
that renovating Cinergy was discussed, but he offered no
specifics." Allen had broke off negotiations with the
county "only" last month because the two sides couldn't
reach a financial agreement (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 11/12).
May also reports that estimates compiled for Hamilton County
earlier this year show that transforming Cinergy Field into
a baseball-only park "could be" $18M cheaper than building a
new stadium. The April estimates show that before land
costs are included, a new stadium at the Wedge could cost as
much as $306M; a new stadium at Broadway Commons could cost
as much as $267M; and a renovated Cinergy could cost as much
as $249M (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 11/13).
SCHOTT HEARD 'ROUND THE...: In Cincinnati, Tim Sullivan
writes that Schott "must be credited with a clean hit if she
is seriously considering making baseball work at Cinergy
Field. Potentially, it is a home run" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER,
11/13)....NL President Len Coleman has given Schott a
"substantial fine" for talking to the media about the club's
stadium crisis, according Geoff Hobson of the CINCINNATI
ENQUIRER. A source close to the situation said Wednesday
that Schott violated the terms of her suspension from MLB
when she participated in interviews earlier this week.
Schott must get permission from Coleman to do interviews,
and she must conduct them in the presence of a Reds
official. One source said the fine is "five figures," but
less than $50,000. Neither Coleman nor the Reds' Allen
could be reached for comment (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 11/13).
