The Cincinnati Reds' announcement Monday that the team will entertain offers for a new stadium outside Hamilton County got the attention of several likely suitors.
But not from Newport, long viewed as Hamilton County's chief rival for the new ballpark.
Mayor Tom Guidugli, in fact, all but ruled out a Newport stadium. "We believe it belongs in Cincinnati down on the riverfront." Other communities weren't so shy. Officials from Warren, Butler and Dearborn counties expressed interest in the idea Monday.
But in addition to the fame and tourism a new ballpark could bring communities outside Hamilton County, local governments must consider the traffic and expenses associated with a new ballpark, said David Smith, manager of economic development for Cinergy.
"I think local government will have to think deep and ask probing questions," he said. "Are they prepared? The amount of traffic will flex any suburban community's capacity. What small community will stand up and commit to that type of infrastructure without a program or plan to recoup the investment?"
Several seem willing to give it some thought.
Warren County business and government leaders said they have had no discussions with the Reds management but welcome the opportunity.
"If they can't work it out down there, we'll work it out up here," said John Harris, president of the Mason Landen Kings Chamber of Commerce. "We're already Cincinnati's playground: We have The Beach, Paramount's Kings Island, the ATP tournament and the Kroger Senior Classic. We're no stranger to professional events."
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the area attracted more than 3 million people - exceeding the 1997 Reds' attendance, Mr. Harris said.
"With some creative thinking and financing, I wouldn't rule it out," Mr. Harris said. "There is available land."
The land easily accessible from Interstate 71 includes 1.5 acres that Reds President and CEO Marge Schott bought in 1988. The property off Kings Mills Road, between the interstate and the Golf Center at Kings Island, is occupied by a small retail center.
The land may not be enough for a stadium, but it is near undeveloped tracts that could offer favorable locations for the Reds, pending funding arrangements.
Warren County Commissioner Larry Crisenbery questioned how the community could pay for a Reds stadium in Warren County.
"I'm not going to saddle our constituents with 100 percent of the cost," Mr. Crisenbery said. "We'd have to sit down and look at it. I'm not for sticking my constituents for a bunch of money."
But Ohio Rep. George Terwilleger, R-Maineville, said that "there are a lot of opportunities to finance a package in the Warren County area."
"We do not need to put the tax on the people," said Mr. Terwilleger, a former Warren County commissioner. "There are ways to make finances happen without taxing the people directly."
Butler County Administrator Derek L. Conklin said the Reds have only to ask and Butler County will put together a list of possible stadium locations.
"It's all speculation, but there are probably some very good sites within Butler County," he said. "I can think of one at the corner of Ohio 63 and Ohio Route 4."
Another site may be off Union Centre Boulevard, a new I-75 interchange about 2.5 miles north of I-275. Commercial and retail development is planned, but that could change if the Reds express interest.
"There is certainly enough area out there," said Chris Wunnenberg, development director of Schumacher Dugan Construction Co., which controls hundreds of acres near the interchange.
"The streets and roads are planned or put in. The water and sewer capacity is there. It has all the utilities. Whether or not the community would view this as a positive or a negative, a good deal or not, I wouldn't know," he said.
The problem is money. "I can't imagine people in Butler County coming up with that kind of money. Whether Butler or Warren, that number would be extraordinary," Mr. Wunnenberg said. "The only local community in the area that could do something like that is Cincinnati and Hamilton County because of the size of the tax base."
Mark Dole, Dearborn County commissioner, said he thinks property owners would welcome a buyer for their land in order to build a baseball park.
Gregory A. Hall and Lucy May contributed to this report.
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