With the Bengals' deadline met, Hamilton County now looks to its Opening Day deadline of March 31 to secure a stadium deal with the Reds.
As County Commissioner John Dowlin reiterated his belief Friday that the county doesn't have enough money left from the county sales tax to build two new stadiums, Reds managing executive John Allen refused to take stadium questions at a Reds media luncheon.
''We're going to be short-changing the Reds,'' Mr. Dowlin said,
a charge denied by fellow commissioner Bob Bedinghaus.
The Reds reportedly have spent an active month looking for their own architectural survey of a transformed Cinergy Field.
Mr. Allen told the Enquirer earlier this month that talks with the county have centered on renovation.
Hamilton County Administrator David Krings gave the ''thumbs-up'' after a tour of renovated Anaheim Stadium in California last weekend. Mr. Allen also said a site for a new stadium between Cinergy Field and The Crown is still on the table.
Mr. Allen and Major League Baseball officials fear the massive transformation the Reds would require could cost close to the $230 million the team proposed for a new park. Yet the Reds have said they'll examine the option.
County Commission President Tom Neyer Jr. said the county has had ''sporadic conversations'' with the Reds over the past month. Mr. Neyer said the county's protracted talks with the city and the Bengals to get the football project moving haven't stalled talks with the Reds.
Initial Reds talks would happen with the county's team of Chicago lawyers, who have been available for negotiations for months, Mr. Neyer said.
Lucy May contributed to this report.
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