BY GEOFF HOBSON and LUCY MAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A threat by Hamilton County to keep the Reds in Cinergy Field until 2010 unless a new stadium deal is signed quickly ignited a Reds announcement Monday that the team would welcome offers to locate elsewhere in Greater Cincinnati.

John Allen laid the Reds cards on the table at Monday's press conference. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

"For our fans and taxpayers, we must emphasize that this is not a threat to move outside the Greater Cincinnati area," Reds Managing Executive John Allen said at a morning press conference.

"But we will explore our options within the proximity of Cincinnati."

The three Hamilton County commissioners fired back in an afternoon press conference, saying if the Reds can find a deal in the Tristate region, they welcome it.

"I doubt the taxpayers and voters of Hamilton County are going to be very upset if another community steps up to the plate and saves us hundreds of millions of dollars," Hamilton County Commission President Bob Bedinghaus said.

The exchanges marked the most serious public display of discord since talks began over where to put a new stadium and how much it would cost taxpayers and the team.

Triggering the exchanges was an Oct. 1 letter by lawyers for the county saying that the Reds' latest proposal "goes substantially in the wrong direction," and does not provide "the basis for productive further negotiations."

The letter says the county must decide soon whether to pour $50 million worth of repairs to Cinergy Field in a project that could eliminate funds for a new baseball park.

The county said that if play is to continue at Cinergy Field beyond 2001, substantial improvements are needed. If that were the case, the county said the team would play in the 27-year-old stadium until 2010 under the Reds' current lease with Hamilton County.

Commissioner John Dowlin said the decision on repairs must be made in "weeks or months," not months or years.

'We must emphasize that this is not a threat to move outside the Greater Cincinnati area' -- John Allen

Mr. Allen said his team plans to consider any site in its nine-county geographical territory as recognized by Major League Baseball: Hamilton, Clermont, Warren and Butler in Ohio; Kenton, Boone and Campbell in Kentucky; and Franklin and Dearborn in Indiana. Major League Baseball owners would not have to approve such a move in the Reds' own territory.

"We've been approached, but there have been no in-depth discussions," Mr. Allen said. "We've negotiated in good faith with Hamilton County."

Mr. Allen hinted the team can leave Cinergy before 2010 because of a violation of the equal treatment clause in the original 1967 Riverfront Stadium lease signed by the Reds and NFL Bengals. He said the club had no plans to sue.

Reds President and CEO Marge Schott and General Manager Jim Bowden have made the same argument. Mr. Allen, running the club while Mrs. Schott is suspended from MLB, said she agreed with holding the press conference.

"This is the oldest and most historic franchise in Major League Baseball and belongs nowhere but in the Cincinnati area," Mr. Allen said.

Mr. Allen did not give much hope to places like Sharonville and Warren and Butler counties, all of which expressed interest Monday. He said, "We belong near downtown Cincinnati."

'We never committed to an equal deal for each team.' -- Bob Bedinghaus

Mr. Dowlin was skeptical any other local community could make the Reds a viable offer.

Despite Sharonville Mayor Virgil Lovitt's announcement Monday that his city has at least four spots the Reds could call home, the commissioners made it clear they will not spend county sales tax funds to build a stadium in the suburbs.

"If they are to deal with Hamilton County, it will be in downtown Cincinnati," Commissioner Tom Neyer Jr. said.

The most obvious riverfront choice outside Hamilton County is Newport. But Newport officials wouldn't embrace the idea Monday.

"The citizens have spoken in Hamilton County," Newport Commissioner Ken Rechtin said. "They want the Reds in downtown Cincinnati."

Turfway Park Race Course Owner Jerry Carroll, a friend of Mrs. Schott's, dismissed Mr. Allen's announcement as "a veiled threat, posturing."

"As far as I'm concerned, I see no advantage to the stadium being in Northern Kentucky," he said. "We have no way to raise the money. . . . The last thing Northern Kentucky needs is to be used by Hamilton County or by John Allen."

Stadium sales tax opponent Tim Mara fired off an "I told you so" news release. If the county had settled on stadium sites, costs and leases before the sales tax vote, this wouldn't be happening, he said.

Mr. Allen said the team's first choice remains the riverfront. "All we're simply asking is why can't we get a deal that costs the taxpayers conservatively $80 million less than the Bengals' deal," he said.

Mr. Allen pointed out the major differences in the Bengals' lease and the Reds' proposal:

• The Bengals' pay $11.7 million in rent. The Reds' proposed they pay $20 million.

• The Bengals' initial contribution is $26 million. The Reds contribute $30 million.

• The county takes care of half the maintenance in the Bengals' stadium, an cost Mr. Allen says is between $2.5 million and $3 million per year. The Reds have asked for $500,000 annually with a 6 percent yearly inflationary increase, a difference Mr. Allen says is $30 million over the life of the lease.

• The county pays the Bengals $29.4 million over past nine years while the Reds look for nearly $34 million in the middle 10 years. The Bengals receive $4 million per game for the first six games of the 2000 season if the stadium isn't ready, and $6 million for the first six games in 2001. Mr. Allen says the Reds' proposal for a $300,000 per game penalty amounts to $51 million if there is a two-season delay, compared with the Bengals' $60 million.

• Both teams agree to a 25-cent ticket surcharge. Assuming the Bengals draw 650,000 per year and the Reds between 2 million and 2.5 million, the Reds bring in $18.7 million compared with the Bengals' $4.5 million.

• The county has guaranteed sales of 50,000 general admission seats for the Bengals' first 20 homes games. "We've asked for none. We think we can sell our own tickets," Mr. Allen said.

"Incremental revenues are not designed to line the pockets of any owner," Mr. Allen said. "We can not enter into a long-term lease that does not make economic sense for this team or our fans for the next 30 years."

But Mr. Bedinghaus said, "If he wants a football deal, he should join the NFL. We never committed to an equal deal for each team."

Commissioner Tom Neyer agreed that the Reds need to strike a deal that makes sense for the next 30 years. "Bob Bedinghaus, John Dowlin and myself are in the business of striking a deal that makes sense for the taxpayers for the next 30 years."

A Major League Baseball official told the Enquirer Monday that MLB is keeping a close eye on the Cincinnati situation in order to ensure the Reds get a deal that compares favorably to the Bengals'.

Terry Flynn contributed to this report.

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