STAYING OUT OF THE REDS: TEAM HIRES FIRM TO WATCH COSTS

          The Reds have hired IL-based project management firm
     Int'l Facilities Group (IFG) "to look out for the team's
     interests" during the construction of Great American Ball
     Park, according to Dan Klepal of the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. 
     IFG "has been working for weeks" with the project manager
     chosen by Hamilton County (OH), Parsons Brinckerhoff.  Reds
     officials say the move "is not in response to any missteps"
     by Parsons, but that "it has more to with the Reds being
     forced to cover any costs over" $280M during construction. 
     Reds COO John Allen, on the hiring of IFG: "It's a tight
     budget, and we felt the savings we'd get having additional
     expertise would more than offset the cost. We're finding
     that to be the case already."  Klepal adds that Allen "would
     not be specific about how much money he thinks the team has
     saved" since hiring IFG.  Parsons "is scheduled to report"
     to county officials on Monday how much the ballpark will
     cost (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 7/12).