BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Even though Hamilton County can't pull off a double play by June 1, county commission President Bob Bedinghaus said Thursday he remains confident a preliminary stadium deal can be worked out with the Cincinnati Reds.
Mr. Bedinghaus said he anticipates an announcement from the NFL Bengals next week, fulfilling the county's requirement to secure a lease with one of the teams by June 1 to prevent repeal of the stadium sales tax.
"While I remain optimistic with the Reds, I don't anticipate an announcement in the next 10 days," Mr. Bedinghaus said of negotiations that have heated up the last two weeks.
"I don't see having both teams not committed to something by June 1 as a problem."
Reds Managing Executive John Allen had no comment when asked whether there was urgency surrounding June 1.
Mr. Bedinghaus said, "sooner is better than later, but if it's in the middle of June or end of June, that's good, too."
The parties are attempting to craft a tentative deal expected to settle the emotional debate about the site for a nostalgic baseball park.
The Reds and county agree a preliminary document could mirror what the Bengals signed in September.
In that memorandum of understanding, the Bengals agreed to specific financial goals and a "site to be determined by the County and approved by the team."
Asked how specific the memorandum would be with the Reds, Mr. Bedinghaus said, "I imagine it would put an end to the riverfront vs. Broadway Commons question. I would expect there'd be a general description of the site.
"There could be a couple of options at Broadway and a couple on the river. You could frame them generally. As we saw with the Bengals (between Central Avenue and Elm Street on the river), the site evolved over time."
Mr. Allen reiterated Thursday the Reds won't go to Broadway and "want and need a riverfront site. . . . I don't think you'd have to be site-specific (in a memorandum). The Bengals went with mutually agreeable language."
But if Mr. Allen is looking for more in-depth studies about the leading riverfront option - between Riverfront Coliseum and Cinergy Field - he'll have to wait until some type of memorandum is signed. "There'll be no more studies until we get some kind of commitment," Mr. Bedinghaus said.
Mr. Allen said the club has many questions about the site known as "The Wedge," or "Baseball on Main." Construction involves renovation of Fort Washington Way, demolition of Cinergy and the thorny question of when the Reds could start playing there.
"I guess you could put in an agreement that the site is contingent on more study of Fort Washington Way, or how long it would actually take, or any other contingencies," Mr. Allen said.
The Reds reportedly aren't near the financial specifics the Bengals hammered out in their memorandum, committing more than $44 million to construction.
The county reportedly has backed down from its $80 million demand from the Reds, but the club still is trying to chip it closer to the Bengals' contribution.
Bengals' officials spent Thursday prepping for a final weekend of negotiations that could culminate in an announcement Tuesday.
Previous stories
REDS EASE STANCE ON 'WEDGE' May 16, 1997
REDS MIGHT HAVE TO WAITMay 5, 1997
COSTS GOING UPMay 5, 1997
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
