BY GEOFF HOBSON and LUCY MAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Hamilton County officials quietly are discussing a staggered construction timetable for new Bengals and Reds stadiums.
Among concerns: Simultaneous construction of two facilities could drain the labor pool and drive up costs projected to run at least $544 million.
While many still say simultaneous construction could be done, there's talk about whether it is the smartest or cheapest way to go.
Assuming a lease between the county and Bengals is signed by June 1, the county would pour the foundation of a football stadium in February or March. Construction would be finished for the 2000 exhibition season opener.
The Reds, who have a lease to play in Cinergy Field until 2010 and have yet to agree on a site for a new ballpark, may be offered the option of waiting to get their stadium built. In exchange, the county has privately discussed compensating the club for lost revenues from a new park.
Delays in the way
If the Baseball on Main site between Cinergy Field and Riverfront Coliseum is selected, it is fraught with construction challenges and tied to a $162 million Fort Washington Way renovation that isn't scheduled for completion until August 2000, at best. So the Reds might not be able to get into their new park until 2002 or 2003.
If the Reds' stadium goes on Broadway Commons, rebuilding Fort Washington Way isn't a factor.
''It's more than just the two stadiums,'' said Hamilton Coun
ty Commission President Bob Bedinghaus. ''There's just an awful lot going on.''
He said there is concern among business leaders about the size of the labor force needed to handle simultaneous construction.
By spreading out construction, the county would not only lessen the burden on labor, but also create a steady supply of jobs for a longer period of time, he said.
''That's also a good thing,'' Mr. Bedinghaus said.
There is no firm timetable for construction of a Reds ballpark, which will take 30 months, Mr. Bedinghaus said.
Commissioner Tom Neyer Jr., a Cincinnati developer, said it would be less expensive to build the stadiums sequentially rather than concurrently because of labor and materials.
Reds want it sooner
Reds Managing Executive John Allen doesn't rule out the possibility of delaying construction of the Reds ballpark, but he said the team and county haven't talked specifically about a delay.
''The sooner we get a new stadium, the sooner we can generate more revenues to help us get healthy in this current economic situation,'' Mr. Allen said. ''Obviously, the National League would like us to be in a stadium as soon as possible. If factors dictate we can't get in right away, then we'll have to adjust to the situation.''
The Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce said there are 42,400 construction workers in the area, which includes home builders. With at least three other large projects in the works - the Corporex building in Covington, the Fountain Place retail project downtown and Xavier University's convocation center - some wonder if there's enough help to go around.
The most workers at one time on a football stadium site is about 800, and between 1,200 and 1,300 for the entire construction. For a smaller baseball stadium, those numbers shrink by about 100 to 150 workers.
Bring on the concrete
Jerry Monahan, executive secretary of the Greater Cincinnati Building Trades Council, said local labor can handle the work.
''Bring the concrete, we'll do the work,'' Mr. Monahan said.
But from a business standpoint, there are good reasons to ask the Reds to wait, said Dave Phillips, chief executive officer of Downtown Cincinnati Inc. (DCI).
Even if it's not more expensive to do so, building two stadiums at the same time likely would require the use of more contractors outside the community, he said.
''Labor may be an issue. It's never been anything like this here before,'' said Dan Staton, CEO of Duke Construction. ''With the right coalition of contractors and labor unions, a solution can be found.
''The (positive) side of (simultaneous construction) is you can buy a lot of concrete and a lot of steel, and a lot of things from suppliers in volume.''
Building both projects at once wouldn't be impossible, said Robert F. Wassler, vice president of Allied Construction Industries.
''From a labor standpoint, a staggered start would help ease the strain a little bit. But as the supply dwindles and the demand grows, there are other people to fill the market. The number of workers fills the need to a certain extent.''
If the county decides to delay construction of the Reds' stadium, it only makes sense to compensate the Reds, said John Williams, president of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce.
''If one or the other team is forced to hold off because of the good of the community, it makes sense to compensate them in some way,'' he said.
But Hamilton County Commissioner John Dowlin, a vocal supporter of the Broadway Commons site for a Reds ballpark, said the price for waiting is a higher project cost.
''The more you delay it, the more it costs,'' Mr. Dowlin said.
COSTS GOING UP
Previous stories
SCHOTT SAYS 'NO WAY' TO WEDGE April 12, 1997
SULLIVAN COLUMN April 12, 1997
CITY COULD PAY TO DELAY STADIUM April 10, 1997
BENGALS LEERY OF WEDGE April 9, 1997
THE GREAT STADIUM DEBATE
BALLPARK DEBATE LINGERS ON April 6, 1997
NEIGHBORHOOD A BIG PART OF BALLPARK April 6, 1997
BALLPARK, FANS' HONEYMOON SHORT April 6, 1997
REDS HAVE HURDLES, HELP IN SITE HUNT April 6, 1997
KENTUCKY DESERVES REDS, TOOApril 6, 1997
BORGMAN CARTOON
April 6, 1997
REDS PLAN SEAT LICENSING March 14, 1997
REDS TOLD BENGALS NOT PICKING SITE March 12, 1997
MAYOR SUPPORTS BROADWAY March 5, 1997
DESPITE FLOOD, REDS DON'T WAVER FROM RIVER March 5, 1997
BASEBALL ON MAIN PROPOSED Feb. 26, 1997
WEDGE SITE GETS BOOST FROM COUNTY Feb. 22, 1997
REDS, COUNTY RESUME STADIUM TALKS Feb. 19, 1997
ONLY CRIME IS NOT CONSIDERING BROADWAY Feb. 18, 1997
RIVER SITE OR LAWSUIT Feb. 15, 1997
REDS ARE READY TO PLAY HARDBALL Feb. 15, 1997
SCHOTT THREATENS TO MOVE IF REDS AREN'T ON RIVER Feb. 14, 1997
