Barry Bonds is coming to town this weekend. Saturday, Jose Rijo will make his first start in Cinergy Field since it was Riverfront Stadium. So how are ticket sales for the three-game series with the San Francisco Giants that begins Friday? Less than brisk.

        “Our projections aren't good,” Reds chief operating offi cer John Allen said.

        Allen said the Reds are expecting only between 22,000 and 23,000 for each of the three games. The Reds are already down 49,913 after the first 10 home games. They are averaging only 19,170 a game. That projects to 1.5 million for the season. The Reds drew 1.8 million last year, down from 2.6 million in 2000.

        And it could get worse. Tuesday's crowd of 14,518 was the smallest since the Reds traded for Ken Griffey Jr.

        Wednesday, the crowd was even smaller. The paid attendance was 13,004, the smallest crowd since the Reds drew 12,969 on Sept.21, 1998. The Opening Day sellout (41,913) is the only time the Reds have broken 20,000.

        “We're very concerned,” Allen said.

        The bottom line if things don't get better? It could affect the player payroll number for 2003. There has been a lot of talk about the added revenue of Great American Ball Park translating into a higher payroll for next season. If this year is a financial disaster, the bump in payroll will not be as big.

        “It's all about revenue,” Allen said. “Most of our revenue comes from ticket sales. If revenues are down, it has an effect on a lot of things.”

        Adding to the financial concerns is the fact the Reds have payments due on GABP.

        “We've already put $20 million into Great American Ball Park,” Allen said. “We've got another $10 million that's due in April. Plus, we're responsible for cost overruns. Or anything over $280 million — I wouldn't call them overruns. We're paying for the grass in the new ballpark. We're paying for the scoreboard.

        “We'll put $40 (million) to $50 million in that ballpark before we move in. That's not taxpayer money; that's Cincinnati Reds money. That money has to come from somewhere.”

Reds 4, Rockies 3 Reds box, runs Barely hundred fans at finish Small crowds could mean big trouble for Reds Baseball owners push deal to avert strike Reds broke even last year, baseball says SULLIVAN: Baseball's future lies in balance Owners pitch luxury tax 'Middle-class' players could prove to be key Reds fined for tampering with Griffey No date set on Griffey's return Reds Notebook: Kearns earns playing time Yankees 8, Athletics 5 Angels 10, Mariners 6 Cubs 10, Giants 4 Expos 5, Brewers 4, 15 innings

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