Sunday, April 04, 1999Reds fans helping build on memories
New ballpark may incorporate suggestions
BY ANNE MICHAUD
The Cincinnati EnquirerReds stadium architect Mike Hand stood on the podium and recalled the first baseball game he attended with his dad. Whitey Ford pitched a one-hitter.
With that, he invited Saturday's audience to say what would make their new stadium memorable in years to come. “It's really a start on memories,” said Mr. Hand of HOK Sport, Kansas City. “Memories are what we're about.”
The fans were few but chatty Saturday afternoon, offering practical advice about transportation and food, arguing with Mr. Hand about the stadium's orientation and puzzling through bullpen locations with John Allen, the Reds' managing executive.
It was the second of two meetings designed to elicit fans' desires for the new ballpark, scheduled to open in 2003 at a cost of $297 million. More than 200 people attended the first meeting; about 35 showed up on Saturday.
An early suggestion was to have first-row seats at the field level, instead of several feet above. Mr. Hand said that is much easier to accomplish with a single-sport stadium than with Cinergy Field, which was built to accommodate baseball and football.
Later, Mr. Allen said the closer seats might mean the bullpens would be in the outfield. Some people were unhappy with that trade-off.
One of the only decisions previously announced by HOK and the Hamilton County Commission, that the stadium would open out to the river, came up for criticism. Audience members said a view of the skyline would give game-goers a better sense of being in Cincinnati.
“We will keep looking at it, but I don't want to be overly encouraging,” Mr. Hand said. HOK feels the river view gives a sense of space, he said, and the orientation would best block traffic noise from Fort Washington Way.
Kent Stephens, in town for Easter from Elkhart, Ind., said he would like to see elements of Crosley Field in the new stadium: right field bleacher seating and a “rooters row” behind home plate where beer was served in glass steins.
Pat Watkins, a Silverton taxi driver, requested better vehicle access and signs to show where people can catch taxis and buses.
Mr. Hand said Main Street will be extended down to the river, and that should answer her access concern.
Jeff Spelman of Newport suggested visible recognition of the Reds' history, such as a sculpture.
Other ideas were a food court outside the stadium, more leg room in the seats, nearby boat docking, seat cushions, sections named for players and a year-round restaurant.
Ray Niemeyer, a White Oak resident, said the team could build memories by keeping the same name on the stadium for 100 years or so: “How can you create a tradition when you're constantly renaming a field for money?”
PITCHING IN
• Fans who have an opinion will have at least one more chance to voice it. HOK Sport will hand out comment cards at Cinergy Field on Opening Day. The cards will include a question on natural grass vs. artificial turf and whether to have a picnic area.
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