Everybody's an architect. Cincinnati Reds fans from Western Hills to Venezuela e-mailed us with their views on the plans for the new ballpark, unveiled by architects HOK and the Reds May 11.

        Fans left no brick unturned. This unscientific survey drew more than 150 responses, but there was no consensus. As many fans cheered the design as hated it, with a broad group in the middle who liked some features and disliked others.

        Many want a retro ballpark, others thanked the gods it isn't retro. There were calls to put a terrace in the outfield a la Crosley Field, and many want the ballpark moved closer to the river so they could watch Junior's blasts splash into the Ohio. And there are the Broadway Commons proponents who just won't let it go.

        Here's what you told us:

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        I'm OK, it's OK: There was a fair stack of e-mails from fans who like the new design. “I have been waiting five years to see the new design, and I'm pretty pleased with what I've seen,” wrote Ray Neugebauer of Cincinnati. “I especially like the brick facade that should tie the exterior to downtown fairly well.”

        Jerry Putman of Burlington, Ky., said he never got to take his kids to Crosley. “With the right field sun/moon deck, I will have that chance for them to experience the ball game basking in the sun, watching the Reds play and eating hot dogs — the way a ball game should be watched,” he said.

        “I think this will be one of the best ballparks in the entire league. From the way it looks, there will not be a bad seat in the place,” said Dan iel Siegel of Sharonville. “The entire plan looks first class.”

        “The incorporation of the public art such as the Crosley player statues, bas relief sculptures and the scoreboard mural will be much more cosmopolitan than a "toy' train,” said Chris Grossman of Lawrenceburg, Ind.

        “I love the retro buildings, the museum, mural, all of it,” said Cindy Weber of Cincinnati.

        “I love it. Send me a bleacher ticket,” said Bob Battle of Palm City, Fla.

        Hated it: “What we have is Cinergy with a few new features,” said Ron Fleshman of Rainelle, W.Va.

        “There's nothing that makes it stand out like Enron, Pac Bell, Coors, Wrigley or Fenway,” said Joel Cossins.

        “Listening to the Reds and the architects talk about this park, I feel as if I'm listening to my sister tell me about the girl that she wants to set me up with: "She has a great personality,'” wrote James Houston of Cincinnati. “That may be true, but I'd still rather date the knockout.”

        It's retro, it's not: A good number of fans wanted a made-to-look-old retro ballpark, like Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Though there are touches of old, HOK has presented a fairly modern design.

        “The new look has no old-time warmth and does not convey the early era traditions that baseball fans want,” said David Groene of Centerville.

        Andrew Laurens of Cincinnati said call the ballpark “a horse by committee,” because the architects seem to be trying to please too many factions with a sort-of retro, sort-of modern design. “When I was studying architecture at the University of Cincinnati, I seriously doubt that I would have passed with a project as ambiguous as this ballpark,” said the Broadway Commons proponent.

        Some writers question the worth of a “retro” ballpark when half the area's population is too young to remember Crosley Field. “A new stadium should look new if you are looking for new and younger fan support,” said Gloria Vesper.

        And, maybe, the retro thing is a fashion to be avoided. “Therefore, it won't look obsolete when the current trend for retro stadiums becomes passe,” said Chris Hendricks of Highland Heights, Ky.

        The field: Fans got emotional over the seeming plainness of the field — fairly symmetrical, no odd angles in the outfield. Also no terrace, and the near impossibility of hitting a home run into the river.

        “For too many years we've had to deal with the boring symmetry of Cinergy. Give us different height wall, angles, something unique out there,” said Thomas Young of Cincinnati.

        “Why put the river out of reach of home runs? Everybody, everywhere wants to see that,” said Larry Hamby of Beverly Hills, Calif.

        “If San Francisco can get permission from the league for a short right field, then Cincinnati can too,” wrote Chris Grabarz from Lakehurst, N.J.

        “To omit the terrace is wrongheaded,” said Michael Costello of Marblehead, Mass.

        Some fans don't want to see baseball played on an obstacle course. “After watching the series in Houston (in the new Enron Field), I became so sick of nooks and crannies in the outfield,” said John Iacobucci of Westmont, Ill. “It seems to me that if you want to have a "different' park, go with uniformity.”

        “If you want funny bounces that influence games, go to the local Putt-Putt,” said Paul Riedinger from Phoenix.

        The notch: What do we call it? The Notch? The Picture Window? Do we sell naming rights and refer to it as The Gap Gap? Whatever, fans are divided on the worth of splitting the upper deck behind home plate, and putting a standing-room bridge there instead of seats.

        “If nothing else is changed, please kill the notch,” wrote Bill Meyer of West Chester.

        “It is a waste of prime seating for an ineffectual attempt at uniqueness,” said Irvin Fahr of Finneytown.

        The outbuildings: Facing Second Street to the north and Main Street to the west, HOK placed long buildings to house Reds offices and a museum. This creates courtyard spaces behind the buildings, next to the ballpark structure.

        Some fans don't like the concept, and others think the buildings are dull.

        “While I do like the design of the actual ballpark, I really don't like the ugly warehouse-looking buildings around it,” said Jeanne Ruter of Cincinnati.

        “They are boxy and boring. They remind me of going to work,” wrote Melissa Winterod of Burlington, Ky.

        “The exterior buildings shown in the drawings don't seem to do anything but close the stadium off from the downtown area,” wrote Daniel Linneman.

        “The current design looks like so many current office building designs whose only claim to the warmth of nostalgic forms is the designer's choice of warm-toned brick,” wrote Susan West Helms of Mason.

        Get me a pennant: “If the Reds can win there, I couldn't care less what the ballpark looks like,” said Trent Cook of Dayton.

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