By Brenna R. Kelly
Enquirer staff writer

FLORENCE - Hot dogs, baseball, apple pie, but no beer.

The Florence Freedom's last three games of the season will be dry. The stadium stopped selling beer Thursday because of a problem with its state license.

The lack of beer sales is the latest problem for the minor league team, which was hoping to end its season on a happy note with a fan appreciation weekend.

Starting today, all tickets will be $5 and all merchandise will be 50 percent off.

"It's to give back to the fans that have been coming to our games," said Morgan West, the team's general manager. "We want to thank them for all their support."

Expect fireworks after tonight's game, free apple pies and 50-cent hot dogs Sunday, and on Monday, fans can win the players' jerseys.

The team faces an uncertain future because of $4 million in liens filed by contractors not paid for stadium work, a suit filed by the city of Florence seeking to evict the team and an investigation into how part-owner Chuck Hildebrant financed stadium construction.

But West is optimistic everything will be cleared up in the off season.

"This place is going to be amazing next year," he said. "This is going to be the best in the league; it's going to blow everyone else out of the water."

League Commissioner Bill Lee said the team was trying to find a way to have beer this weekend.

"It just doesn't look like we are going to be able to get it solved," Lee said. "We apologize to the fans for any inconvenience."

Beer sales at the stadium had to be stopped because the state and city licenses are in the name of My Two Sons LLC, owned by Connie Hildebrant, state officials said.

She is the team's former general manager and wife of Chuck Hildebrant. She was removed from her position last month when the Frontier League took over management.

"Because she is no longer involved and the beer license is under My Two Sons, the stadium can no longer sell beer," said Linda Chapman, who handles liquor licenses for the city of Florence.

On Friday, the city received a letter from Connie Hildebrant dated July 28 stating that she wanted to cancel her beer license.

"But we cannot cancel it until she physically surrenders it to us," Chapman said. Hildebrant included copies of the permits with "cancel" written across them.

After the state license expires Sept. 30, the current team management could apply for a new license, said Steve Horner, public policy adviser for the state's Alcohol Beverage Control office.

The license states that Connie Hildebrant owns My Two Sons LCC, Horner said. The LLC was formed in February 2004, and lists the stadium as its address, according to the Kentucky secretary of state's office. It does not list the company's manager.

The Hildebrants are also associated with an Ohio corporation named My 2 Sons LLC.

In July, Chuck Hildebrant gave Fifth Third bank a letter saying the Little Miami School District intended to either buy or lease Maineville property owned by My 2 Sons. Hildebrant signed the letter as the manager of My 2 Sons.

Hildebrant used the letter to get a loan from the bank. Last month, a judge ordered Hildebrant to immediately repay the $987,000 loan.

A judge has also ordered Hildebrant to repay a total of $4.5 million in loans from Provident Bank and Fifth Third.

Last week, Warren County deputies identified 85 items for seizure at the Hildebrants' Morrow home. They will be sold at auction if the loans aren't repaid. On Monday, Hamilton deputies tagged for seizure a helicopter belonging to one of Hildebrant's companies, The Hildebrant Group LLC.

Also last week, a Kenton County judge ordered Heritage Bank to freeze Hildebrant's accounts.

The Hildebrant's Morrow home has also been mortgaged twice this year. The Hildebrant Group took out a $675,900 mortgage from Union Savings Bank in March, but it wasn't recorded in the Warren County Recorder's office until Aug. 19. The mortgage, which was also on a 7-acre parcel in Deerfield Township, is signed by Chuck Hildebrant as the manager/member of The Hildebrant Group and Connie W. Hildebrant, as a member.

A $750,000 mortgage was recorded on the Hildebrant home from Heritage Bank in Northern Kentucky, March 17 county records show.

Hildebrant's attorney, Jack Rubenstein, could not be reached for comment Friday.

But the problems with the team owners should not keep fans from enjoying the last three Freedom games of the season, said Mayor Diane Whalen.

"The players have done nothing wrong, they deserve our support, regardless of how we may feel about the rest of it," Whalen said, "and it's fun."

There will be giveaways of T-shirts, hats and other items all weekend, West said.

On Sunday, the first 1,000 fans will get free pies. Also, police officers, firefighters and EMS workers will get two free tickets when they show an identification badge.

During Monday's game, a silent auction will be held for player jerseys. After the game, players will give the jerseys to the winning fans.

"We want to leave people with a good taste in their mouth for next year," West said, "and that's really something that we need to do."

Last chance to see Freedom this year

Saturday: 7:05 p.m.

Sunday: 6:05 p.m.

Monday: 7:05 p.m.

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Enquirer reporter Jennifer Edwards contributed to this story. E-mail bkelly@enquirer.com