The pace of stadium negotiations between Hamilton County and the Cincinnati Reds appears to be picking up.
After a lengthy private meeting Wednesday with the county's team of Chicago attorneys, County Commission President Tom Neyer Jr. described discussions with the team as ''very active at this point.''
''I'm pleased by the focus that the issue seems to be receiving,'' Mr. Neyer said.
Reds Managing Executive John Allen said Wednesday that ''the ball has been in the county's court since Feb. 26,'' but he wouldn't specify what the club told the county.
A source familiar with the negotiations said the Reds are pursuing a new ballpark on the river. The county rejected the Reds' proposal for a new park in September, but the source said the team has tried to recast some of the economic issues in order to make the deal more palatable.
The Reds reportedly fear that a massive renovation of Cinergy Field won't generate enough money to guarantee the club success during the next 20 to 30 years.
Mr. Neyer wouldn't discuss the specifics: ''There are a variety of options being discussed, and two of those involve new stadiums.'' The options on the table continue to be a new stadium on the riverfront site known as Baseball on Main or the Wedge; a new stadium at Broadway Commons at Broadway and Reading Road; and a dramatic transformation of Cinergy Field.
Nothing, Mr. Neyer said, is off the table.
But County Commissioner Bob Bedinghaus said the county has done less preparation on Broadway Commons ''because the Reds won't talk about it at all.''
The two sides could reach a deal in the ''next couple of weeks'' if both sides commit to working quickly, Mr. Bedinghaus said.
County leaders had hoped to forge a deal with the Reds by month's end to coincide with Opening Day on March 31. Mr. Neyer said Wednesday that reaching an agreement by then is ''possible, although I wouldn't say likely.''
There has been speculation that the county is stalling because officials don't have enough money to make a deal with the Reds. Hamilton County voters approved a half-cent-on-a-dollar sales tax increase for stadium construction in March 1996.
But Mr. Neyer said officials continue to believe that the sales tax is generating enough to pay for the Bengals' $400.3 million stadium complex and whatever deal the county negotiates with the Reds.
