BY GEOFF HOBSON and ANNE MICHAUD
The Cincinnati Enquirer

This view of the stadium model, from the corner of the end zone, shows a scoreboard and three levels of seating along the sides. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

Calling the Bengals' new 66,500-seat stadium an innovative design, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Monday he expects the facility to help the club reach its sales goals and keep the franchise in Cincinnati.

Mr. Tagliabue, in town to help Bengals President Mike Brown launch the stadium's ticket campaign, applauded the seating bowl model unveiled Monday by architects NBBJ Sports and Entertainment of Los Angeles.

''Sooner or later, someone was going to reach out for a tailor-made and innovative design,'' Mr. Tagliabue told The Enquirer before a Spinney Field press conference.

Although the stadium has yet to have a home, Mr. Tagliabue could see why the Bengals want the stadium on the riverfront.

''The contours are different than the more traditional design,'' Mr. Tagliabue said. ''The flow to it, it almost feels like you're flowing next to a river.''

Mr. Tagliabue referred to the elimination of corner and end-zone seating that opens the stadium to a view instead of the traditional bowl at Cinergy Field.

The seating plan calls for 70 percent of the 66,500 seats along the sideline (only Buffalo has that many) and about 45,000 below the upper deck (most in the NFL). | ZOOM |

The design also concentrates 70 percent of the fans on both sidelines in three tiers of seats. Only Buffalo's Rich Stadium has that many sideline seats.

NBBJ principal architect Ron Turner said the preliminary design for the Bengals' stadium has about 45,000 seats below the upper deck, most in any existing NFL stadium.

''Most season ticket holders will be able to get closer to the 50-yard-line because of the simple math,'' said Hamilton County Commission President Bob Bedinghaus.

There are 27,300 seats in the lower bowl, 21,500 in the upper bowl, 104 luxury suites and 7,500 to 8,000 club seats. Remaining seats are mostly in the end zones. The corners of the end zones are cut away, ridding the stadium of many of the worst seats.

Mr. Turner said end zone seating could feature a Cincinnati version of Cleveland's Dawg Pound, once home of the Browns' most fanatical rooters.

He stressed the designs are preliminary and as many as 4,000 seats could be added. Such props as overhangs and ''George Jetson'' scoreboards at both ends of the field could be changed. Designs also depend on where the stadium is located.

The upper level would hold 21,500 seats and be sloped at 31 degrees, less than the 33-degree slope of the upper deck at Cinergy Field. There would be 104 upper-level and mid-level suites (shaded brown and green) with seating for 1,254. The club level (shaded yellow) would have 7,500-8,000 seats. The lower level (shaded blue) would hold 27,300 seats. | ZOOM |

Because the field is oblong instead of round, more of the sideline seats are closer to the action. The top-most seats are 8 to 10 feet above the upper seats in Cinergy Field, Mr. Turner said.

The Bengals won't know how this non-bowl, 21st-century plan will go over with the fans until seat licenses go on sale Wednesday morning. The campaign for selling seat licenses, one-time fees to have the privilege of buying season tickets, is announced this morning.

If Hamilton County can't sell $20 million worth of the seat licenses by April 30 at a $500 average, the county can renegotiate the deal.

Mr. Tagliabue continues to shoot down the idea that Mr. Brown would move the club to Cleveland, which has a lease with the NFL for a new stadium that has already sold 93 private suites.

''The feeling here is the Bengals have been a great tradition for three decades and the team should stay here. And I think this agreement that has been reached has realistic conditions that can be met in this community,'' Mr. Tagliabue said.

Mr. Tagliabue moved from the Bengals' utilitarian practice facility to the posh Queen City Club on Monday evening to sell Cincinnati's corporate community on the stadium's other key element, private suites ranging from $40,000 to $100,000, according to the proximity to the 50-yard line.

The deal can also snag if the Bengals don't sell 80 percent of the 104 suites.

The architect said the design's people-friendly exterior would encourage nearby entertainment and restaurants. | ZOOM |

Mr. Brown, Mr. Bedinghaus, and Bengals head coach Bruce Coslet delivered persuasive arguments, according to Michael Baumgardner, president of Burke Inc.

''Personally, coming in I didn't think they could sell them,'' he said. ''They're very impressive. ... We're considering buying one.''

''They're going to be beautiful. They're impressive,'' said Bunny Meisel, president of Globe Furniture. ''We're talking about it.''

David Lindner, director of marketing for United Dairy Farmers, said he thought the presentation was ''very impressive'' and that the idea of buying after the presentation was ''a lot more appealing.''

At end of the day Monday, Mr. Brown said he was satisfied with the launch of the sales campaign.

''It went well. We got our story out to all kinds of people, and everyone seemed to listen with an open mind. And I have a feeling they are behind us,'' he said.

Mr. Tagliabue said the Bengals have to focus on expanding their market, like Kansas City and Buffalo have.

''They're the models in our league, and teams like the Bengals will no doubt take a page out of their book. Places like Dayton and Northern Kentucky are very important,'' he said.

To underscore regionalism, Mr. Tagliabue visits business leaders in Lexington, Ky., this morning in an event hosted by nearby Georgetown College, site of the Bengals' new training camp.

Reporter William A. Weathers contributed.

Sale of personal seat licenses kicks off today
Will club seats get any takers?
Paul Daugherty column