Tuesday, April 13, 1999
New Reds stadium could be delayed
BY LUCY MAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Hamilton County officials say if they don't sign a lease soon with the Reds, the new ballpark might not open for the 2003 season.
The county also is waiting for the city of Cincinnati to transfer land next to One Lytle Place to the county so it can build a new garage.
If the county does not start building that garage in June or July as planned, the schedule for the rest of the central riverfront's $1 billion in projects could be thrown off, said Hamilton County Administrator David Krings.
“I think the Reds understand that if they don't sign soon, that could put the 2003 opening in jeopardy. I think the city understands if they don't transfer the land soon, that puts the (National Underground Railroad) Freedom Center and everything else on the riverfront in jeopardy,” he said.
“It's hard to say that with out it sounding like a threat. It's not a threat. It's just fact.”
City and county officials spent months last year arguing about the transfer of some city-owned land needed for the Bengals new Paul Brown Sta dium. But Mr. Krings said the city and county are not fighting about this land.
Deputy City Manager Richard Mendes, who is leading negotiations for the city, agreed.
City council's Community Development Committee on Monday passed ordinances that will clear the way for transferring the land once the city and county complete negotiations, he said.
“This is much more straightforward” than the transfer of land for the Bengals stadium, Mr. Mendes said. “And I think it will go rather smoothly.”
The new garage, with anywhere from 1,025 to 1,200 spaces, is a key to the rest of the riverfront development. It will provide parking for Cinergy Field, Firstar Center and downtown workers when part of Cinergy Field's garage is demolished for construction of the new $297 million ballpark.
The county wants to build the $9 million to $10 million garage before partial demolition of Cinergy Field begins late next year.
Before much more work is done to design and plan for the new ballpark, county officials want to have a signed lease with the Reds.
Already the county has interim contracts with HOK Sport, the Kansas City firm designing the ballpark, and Huber, Hunt & Nichols, the Indianapolis firm serving as the construction manager.
Commissioners approved spending as much as $750,000 on HOK Sport's services and up to $300,000 on Huber, Hunt & Nichols' services through March. Commissioners will vote in the coming days on whether to extend those interim contracts for another month, Mr. Krings said.
Hamilton County Commissioner Bob Bedinghaus said he's comfortable that the two sides can reach a deal soon despite the uncertainty surrounding team ownership.
Copies of draft agreements obtained by the Enquirer through an Ohio public records request show the sides appear to be close.
“If you compare the agreements, you'll find that the distance between the parties isn't too great,” Mr. Bedinghaus said. “There are very few disagreements at this point.”
The major financial arrangements between the county and team were settled in the memorandum of understanding signed in July.
The differences now appear to center on technical points like construction insurance and the timing of county deposits into funds for ballpark maintenance.
Reds Managing Executive John Allen could not be reached for comment Monday. He has said in the past that the sides are close.
He also has said a lease can be signed before the question of Reds team ownership is resolved, and county officials agree.
After all, the longer it takes to reach a deal, the longer it will take to build the new ballpark.
And whoever owns the team presumably wants a new ballpark as soon as possible to start earning the new revenue the facility will generate.
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