The Cincinnati Reds won't add significantly to player payroll this year to make a post-season run unless increased attendance supports it, owner Carl Lindner said Friday.

        In a rare interview, Mr. Lindner said the new Great American Ball Park would add significantly to the team's revenue in 2003, but it won't alter the team's break-even philosophy, even if fans are frustrated about the Reds' payroll restrictions.

        “We're in, I think, first place,” Mr. Lindner said. “And if you look at the record the last 15 or 20 years, outside of the Yankees, we've been in the playoffs and the World Series nearly as much as any other team.”

        Reds chief operating officer John Allen has said the new ballpark would net the Reds about $10 million to $15 million in new revenue through higher ticket prices, greater attendance and money from luxury boxes.

        Now 83, Mr. Lindner is recovering from a broken foot. He plans to watch his first-place team in person for the first time this season Sunday.

        While many Reds fans have complained that the team won't spend enough to be competitive over an entire season, Mr. Lindner said he has high hopes for this year's young team. The Reds have not reached the playoffs since 1995.

        Since Mr. Lindner led a group of limited partners that bought the team from Marge Schott in September 1999 for $67 million, Major League Baseball has suffered turbulent times. The owners' threat to cut two teams and looming labor trouble are the most recent.

        Mr. Lindner has firmly aligned himself with commissioner Bud Selig and his drive to force teams in large markets such as New York to share revenue with teams from smaller cities such as Cincinnati.

        He declined to comment on revenue-sharing proposals Friday, but said the Reds were in a much better financial position than a team such as the Montreal Expos, which could be folded because of financial difficulties.

        “Cincinnati's a good baseball town, for our size,” he said.

        Mr. Lindner said he still is glad he bought the Reds and has no plans to sell the team or retire.

        “The team is doing well,” he said. “We've luckily chosen pretty good players. Our health thing (injuries) last year, that just really hurt. ... I'm pretty optimistic now.”

        Mr. Lindner said the Reds will lose a small amount this year. Last year, the team posted an operating loss of $285,000, the second-smallest in baseball, according to Major League Baseball figures.

        Mr. Lindner said spending more wouldn't necessarily help the team on the field.

        He pointed to Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks, who gave shortstop Alex Rodriguez the richest contract in baseball history in 2000 but hasn't been able to make the team a winner.

        “Tom Hicks, he paid $250 million for his team, then paid $250 million for that guy (over 10 years), and he's in last place,” Mr. Lindner said. “That ain't fun, either.”

        Mr. Lindner said he was disappointed in attendance, but that bigger crowds in the season's final months could loosen the payroll a bit.

        Through 29 games at Cinergy Field, attendance has totaled 607,771, down 13.1 percent from the same period in 2001 and 30.1 percent from 2000.

        “If you have good teams coming in here to play, maybe you can make that up,” Mr. Lindner said.

        The team has not set a budget for next year's payroll, he said.

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