BY LUCY MAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Think of it as a giant baby shower, and Hamilton County voters all chipped in to buy a football stadium for Cincinnati's riverfront.
County officials hope Saturday's groundbreaking for the Bengals' Paul Brown Stadium will be the first of a series of celebrations of the "rebirth of the riverfront," County Commissioner Bob Bedinghaus said.
The idea of transforming the city's riverfront into a showpiece was part of what sold voters on a half-cent tax increase in 1996 to build stadiums, Mr. Bedinghaus said.
He hopes the groundbreaking helps the community regain the enthusiasm there was after the vote. Revelations of higher costs than voters expected and a city-county feud that threatened to derail the Bengals project have led to buyer's remorse for many.
The groundbreaking south of Pete Rose Way is scheduled from noon to 3 p.m., with the main program starting at 2 p.m. The event is planned as a family affair, with face-painting, hot dogs and former and current Bengals players, said Brooke Hill, who is coordinating the event for the county.
Free parking will be available at Cinergy Field's two lots.
The $400.3 million football complex is scheduled for completion in August 2000.
