The Bengals said they had a productive meeting Friday with Cincinnati City Manager John Shirey in which the sides discussed their views of riverfront development.
Troy Blackburn, Bengals' director of stadium development, and the club's attorney, Stuart Dornette, walked through with Mr. Shirey last November's amendment to the Bengals' stadium lease with Hamilton County in an effort to define the club's developmental rights on the river.
Last month, Mr. Shirey objected to what he called unclear language in the amendment. Fearing a Bengals' veto power over development, he also called for the city and Hamilton County to adopt guidelines for the riverfront as a city-county agreement instead of part of the Bengals' lease. That made the team anxious about its rights.
Mr. Shirey couldn't be reached for comment, but indications were Friday the sides are attempting to compromise. The development debate is just one part of a city-county controversy, which is holding up the city's transfer of 10 crucial acres to the county. The Bengals have said they'll cancel the lease if there's no land transfer by Jan. 31.
But Mr. Shirey told Cincinnati City Council this week he expects a deal. The Bengals were upbeat Friday.
''The city recognized we have legitimate concerns and we understand that the city has some valid points,'' Mr. Blackburn said. ''We're looking for language to protect both interests and told them we're willing to move forward. We're looking for a bridge, some place in the middle.''
The club will apparently send some new language to the city, maybe as early as Monday. There are still a maze of financial issues to be settled, but Mr. Blackburn said, ''we're hopeful the city and county can agree soon.''
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