BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Reds Managing Executive John Allen said Monday the west side of the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge is no longer a "viable option" for the club's new ballpark.
The spot adjacent to the bridge had been the team's prime choice, led by Reds CEO Marge Schott's call for equal treatment for the Reds and Bengals.
The club clung to the site although officials from Hamilton County and the city of Cincinnati had said for months the land was closed for development.
With the Bengals' stadium at Central Avenue and Elm Street amounting to an 11-story building, Mr. Allen wondered what would happen if the clubs were neighbors.
"It's so tall, it would overshadow the baseball park," Mr. Allen said. "But maybe more important is there is no political support to put the Reds west of the bridge. We've been told that repeatedly. Never say never. But the way the facts stack up today, it's not a viable option."
With reports surfacing that representatives of the Reds have talked to Kentucky officials about a stadium in Newport, Mr. Allen had "no comment" when asked if the club was exclusively negotiating with Hamilton County.
"We're still negotiating with Hamilton County," Mr. Allen said. "I won't comment on Kentucky."
Mr. Allen said the club is considering "The Wedge" site, between Cinergy Field and Riverfront Coliseum. "Look at the process of elimination," he said.
Mrs. Schott reportedly wants to see more information about "The Wedge," otherwise known as "Baseball on Main." But the county says there won't be any more studies
until the Reds offer an official commitment, such as a memorandum of understanding.
On Monday, Hamilton County Commission President Bob Bedinghaus said his "preferred" riverfront location for a Reds' ballpark is at The Wedge, stressing he has not made a decision between the river and Broadway Commons.
Broadway Commons, several blocks north of the river, has been ruled out by the Reds.
"In the context of the river, the best option accommodates a baseball field and the Coliseum," Mr. Bedinghaus said. "An important goal is to have a flow from Sawyer Point to the Bengals' stadium."
Mr. Bedinghaus made the statement the same day that one of the new owners of the Coliseum said he had not been approached by Hamilton County to buy the building and raze it to create a ballpark site. The Coliseum site had been on the table before Cincinnati Cyclones' owner Doug Kirchhofer bought the building in February and pledged $14 million for privately financed renovations.
Mr. Bedinghaus said he knew of no changes in that status since the purchase.
"It would be very difficult for us to go in (the Coliseum)," Mr. Bedinghaus said.
Previous stories
NOTHING WILL DISLODGE REDS FROM RIVERFRONT Tim Sullivan column, June 3, 1997
REDS TO KENTUCKY? WHISPERS PERSIST May 31, 1997
NO DEAL WITH REDS SEEN BY JUNE 1 May 23, 1997
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
