BY GEOFF HOBSON
and LUCY MAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Reds Managing Executive John Allen ruled out on Thursday accepting Broadway Commons as a stadium site just because it could be as much as $62 million cheaper to build than a ballpark on the riverfront.

Hamilton County Commissioner John Dowlin, a proponent of the site at Broadway and Reading Road, argued that the cost difference means the county could offer the Reds a better financial package if the team agrees to Broadway.

But Mr. Allen said: "At this point, no, we would not do that. Flat out. No. We're still pro-river and we're for it because of long-term reasons."

Mr. Allen continues to think the Reds have a chance to move into a new park between Cinergy Field and Riverfront Coliseum around 2002 because the stadium could be built around the Fort Washington Way reconstruction.

That site, known as Baseball on Main or "The Wedge," has been endorsed as the best riverfront option by County Commission President Bob Bedinghaus.

A May 30 analysis by stadium consultant HOK Sports Facilities Group said, "It will be possible to create a playable, architecturally exciting and fan-friendly ballpark" in either the Broadway Commons or riverfront location.

But the HOK analysis warned that construction of "The Wedge" would require: Reducing Reds' seating capacity at Cinergy Field; demolishing and then rebuilding a section of floodwall while the Reds still play at Cinergy; and losing as much as half the parking in the Cinergy garage during the demolition phase of construction.

Mr. Allen said those issues need more in-depth study, which will come when the Reds agree to a memorandum of understanding with the county.

REDS PAGE

Previous stories

DOWLIN SAYS BROADWAY CAN SAVE $62 MILLION June 19, 1997
BALLPARK ESTIMATE: $230 MILLION June 11, 1997
RIVERFRONT SITE BETTER BET June 6, 1997
BROADWAY, 'WEDGE' ONLY OPTIONS LEFT? June 4, 1997
REDS RELENT ON WEST SITE June 3, 1997
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