The latest written proposals from Hamilton County and the Cincinnati Reds differ on the price of a new ballpark and the team's construction contribution.
But in Thursday's negotiations, the sides agreed on the need for a site feasibility study, sources said.
A county proposal made to the team in May, and obtained by The Enquirer Thursday through an Ohio public records request, offers the first glimpse at how far apart the county and team were when they resumed negotiations Thursday.
County Administrator David Krings said the two sides continued to make progress during Thursday's negotiating session, but they haven't yet reached an agreement.
A source familiar with the negotiations said the talks were a "non-event," and the session was "more of a rehash of the issues and an exchange of ideas instead of negotiations."
The talks centered on the site feasibility study, which must be done for the lone riverfront site, Baseball on Main. Also known as "The Wedge," the site is between Riverfront Coliseum and Cinergy Field.
Under discussion is a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that hinges on the Reds' approval of a future engineering study. The sides discussed Thursday how specific such a document would be. "You really can't say the sides are at odds because they can't be all that specific until there is a site," the source said. "Right now, it's just trying to understand each other's numbers."
Based on the May proposal - the last offer the county put in writing - and the team's June counterproposal, the two sides disagree on key points:
The county proposed a $220 million stadium. That price didn't include land acquisition, parking or demolition. But it does include "soft" costs, such as architectural and design fees.
The Reds' counterproposal in June was a $235 million stadium, as of 2000. So the stadium's price would increase with inflation if the stadium isn't finished by then, and it appears the sides don't think it will be. That cost also doesn't include land, parking, demolition or "soft" costs.
But a source said the county's proposal does not include a specific year attached to the price and may not be all that different from the team's proposed cost.
A report prepared in late May by HOK Sports Facilities Group of Kansas City for the county estimated the costs of parking, land, demolition, "soft" costs and infrastructure, such as road improvements, could add as much as $85 million for a stadium at Baseball on Main or as much as $54 million for Broadway Commons.
That means the Reds' $235 million stadium project on the riverfront would carry a total cost of more than $320 million, before figuring any inflationary increases.
The county outlined the team's contribution to construction as $25 million from sources that include concessionaire fees and personal seat licenses, $15 million in rent and an unspecified sum in naming rights.
The Reds countered with two options: $30 million from sources such as concessionaire fees, sale of luxury suites, or all revenues from stadium naming rights; and $25 million in rent.
The source said team contribution and other financial issues are difficult to nail down because they are affected by the site. The county proposes it will determine a site that has to be approved by the team. The Reds want to approve only a river site.
But the county specifically describes two options, "The Wedge" and Broadway Commons.
The two sides appear to have reached common ground on some areas: Both proposals refer to a 45,000-seat baseball stadium that would include 3,000 club seats and about 50 luxury suites. In both, the county would get a free luxury suite. (The Reds, however, want the county's suite to be in addition to the other 50.)
Both documents say the new ballpark would be ready for the 2002 baseball season, and both say it would be comparable to other Major League Baseball facilities opening in the late 1990s.
Both say the county will build a parking structure for at least 4,000 cars for use by the team's luxury suites and club seats patrons, as well as players and team employees.
Both would establish a reserve fund for capital repairs. The county would deposit $1 million a year into the fund. The team also wants a reserve fund for maintenance and operating expenses that would also get $1 million yearly from the county.
But even those items could change during the negotiations, said county commission President Bob Bedinghaus.
"That's just the basis of negotiations," Mr. Bedinghaus said.
The draft agreement being negotiated is the foundation for an initial agreement that will eventually lead to a lease deal. Ultimately, the three county commissioners vote on the stadium deal. Commissioner John Dowlin is a vocal fan of Broadway Commons. The others - Mr. Bedinghaus and Tom Neyer - say they haven't made up their minds on a site.
STADIUM STANCES
STADIUM MEETING TONE UPBEAT
Previous stadium stories
REDS PLAY DOWN SEAT LICENSES July 9, 1997
REDS CALL FOR SEAT LICENSES, RIVERFRONT SITE July 8, 1997
HIGHLIGHTS OF REDS' PROPOSAL July 8, 1997
REDS WANT GUARANTEE ON 2002 July 5, 1997
REDS SAY THEY NEED GOOD STADIUM DEAL TO COMPETE July 4, 1997
CITY, COUNTY FEUD OVER CONSULTANT July 4, 1997
REDS ASKED FOR $235M STADIUM July 3, 1997
'WEDGE' FOES DEMAND STADIUM STUDY July 2, 1997
'WEDGE' TO BE PUT TO THE TEST July 1, 1997
REDS UNMOVED BY PRICE GAP June 20, 1997
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
