Reds Owner Marge Schott and the Cincinnati Business
Community (CBC) announced plans yesterday to build a new ballpark
on Riverfront West (Geoff Hobson, CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 5/31).
Although there is no chosen design and no formal land purchase,
COX NEWS states the proposed stadium would seat 45,000 and cost
about $200M to build. Schott: "Business leaders and I have
agreed to work together to locate a new world-class stadium at
Riverfront West that will benefit not only the Reds and their
fans but the city of Cincinnati as well." Financing remains an
issue with Gov. George Voinovich saying he would "support a state
commitment" similar to what was done for Cleveland's Gateway
Project. In Cleveland, state support amounted to 12% of the
total cost of Jacobs Field and Gund Arena. Voinovich's Press
Secretary Mike Dawson: "We have not yet received the details of
the Cincinnati press conference, but the Governor would support
state funding in the range of 15 percent" (Simms & Vinella, COX
NEWS/DAYTON DAILY NEWS, 5/31).
WHAT ABOUT THE BENGALS? According to Procter & Gamble Chair
& CEO Ed Artzt, a member of the CBC, the Reds deal is good news
for the Bengals. Artzt added the CBC is committed to keeping the
Bengals in Cincinnati. Artzt: "I can't give you specific
details, but discussions have been held with the ownership of the
Bengals and with Mike Brown. We're all feeling pretty positive
about that" (DAYTON DAILY NEWS, 5/31). In a statement, Bengals
President and GM Mike Brown noted that the Reds move was cause
for concern, but hopes things will work out. Brown: "We hope
this will prove to be a first step toward an overall solution
that will keep both of the city's major league franchises where
we believe they belong" (Bengals). Brown reportedly has until
late June to respond to an offer from the Maryland Stadium
Authority to move the team to Baltimore (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER,
5/31).
