BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Reds said Friday they would consider renovating Cinergy Field in the unlikely event they can't strike a deal with Hamilton County for a new ballpark between Cinergy and Riverfront Coliseum.
Although recent stadium debate has centered on building a new facility either adjacent to Cinergy or at Broadway Commons, Hamilton County Commission President Bob Bedinghaus said Friday a Cinergy renovation has always been an option.
But it's never been discussed among the parties, he said.
Reds Managing Executive John Allen said he fully expects to agree on a deal for a new ballpark between Cinergy and the coliseum, a site known as Baseball on Main or the Wedge. The deal hinges on a site feasibility study.
But, he added, ''if, for whatever reason, the deal couldn't work there, yes, we would consider a renovation. But we don't think it's going to get to that point. We think we can get it done. If there was a setback, we would have to look at all our options and that would be one of them.
''We don't consider Broadway an option.''
Mr. Allen denied that the Reds and the county have had no recent dialogue. Despite no formal negotiating sessions for more than two months, he talks informally with the county. As late as Thursday afternoon, he spoke with two county attorneys.
''It's the feeling I get from the county they want a new stadium, too,'' Mr. Allen said.
Mr. Bedinghaus wouldn't take a stand on any site. He also denied that controversy over the cost of the new Bengals stadium has rekindled interest in a renovation that likely would cost less than the $235 million for the new ballpark the Reds want.
''It wouldn't be a Band-Aid approach,'' Mr. Bedinghaus said. ''It wouldn't be the $15 million-$20 million you had in St. Louis (at Busch Stadium). It would be massive.
''I don't know what the price would be. But if you put something around $100 million into it, it would have to be more attractive.''
A renovation could include:
- Luxury suites around the yellow section.
- A restaurant where the center field red seats are.
- Fountain/floral area behind center field wall.
REDS PAGE
Previous stadium stories
NL PRESIDENT BACKS RIVERFRONT SITE September 10, 1997
ANALYSIS: NO NEED TO RUSH REDS BALLPARK August 31, 1997
DOWLIN ASKS FOR NL'S HELP ON STADIUM August 29, 1997
ALLEN VISITS ATLANTA SEEKING STADIUM IDEAS August 23, 1997
BIG STADIUM ROADBLOCK REMOVED July 25, 1997
STADIUM SIDES DEFINED July 11, 1997
STADIUM STANCES July 11, 1997
STADIUM MEETING TONE UPBEAT July 11, 1997
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
