''There is no economic development master plan for around a new
stadium (at Broadway Commons),'' John Allen told members of the Clermont County Chamber of Commerce. ''(Broadway Commons proponents) just say 'bars and restaurants.' Big deal.''
The Broadway site has other barriers, he said, including the relocation of major sewer lines beneath it and a high price tag for nearby parking lots that would have to be acquired.
Mr. Allen said about 3,800 hotel rooms are within a mile of Cinergy Field, adjacent to the so-called Wedge site on the riverfront. Only about 120 rooms are close to the Broadway Commons site, he said. ''We've had a great deal of success on the riverfront. We always draw a million fans,'' he said.
Mr. Allen acknowledged that Broadway Commons opponents are passionate about their site but don't talk about problems with it. ''Mr. Tarbell says build it and they will come,'' he said, referring to Jim Tarbell, a key booster of the site. ''I say, build it on the riverfront and they will come.''
Later Friday, Mr. Tarbell said that studies of Broadway Commons have shown the site has the greatest potential to generate economic spinoff, in part because of the success of the nearby Main Street area.
''You put a $300 million ballpark in the middle of that mix, you have a plan,'' he said. He added that downtown hotels are about the same distance from Broadway Commons as they would be from the Wedge.
Mr. Allen's comments came on a day in which the city's planning commission reaffirmed its preference for Broadway Commons and a baseball economist said the team's plight is not so serious as officials are portraying.
County Commissioners will determine a site for the new Reds ballpark. Contenders include the Wedge; Broadway Commons, at Broadway and Reading Road, and remodeling Cinergy Field into a retro-style ballpark.
The Reds are ''very close to a good baseball deal'' for a new stadium in their negotiations with the county, Mr. Allen said. ''It's not on the same page with the Bengals' deal, but it's a good deal.''
Mr. Allen called a new stadium the final piece in rebuilding the Reds into a World Series contender.
A new stadium is estimated to increase team revenue $18 million to $24 million in its first year - a good chunk, but not the cure in a game where teams such as Baltimore carry $70 million payrolls, Mr. Allen said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Allen urged fans to weather this ''tough love'' period of shrinking payrolls and rebuilding the team's minor-league farm system, which he called the first two steps toward returning the Reds to a pennant contender.
The tough love, he warned, could take some time.
Mr. Allen, Reds managing executive since 1996, said slashing the payroll to the current $22 million - ''what I became famous for'' - will help bring the ball club financial stability, necessary for a championship future.
''We have to cut payroll for the future of the team,'' Mr. Allen said. ''I hope to be here five years from now when we go to the World Series.''
Developing a strong farm-team system is vital to bring young players to the team. It's under way now with new Reds baseball academies in the Dominican Republic and Mexico and through the team's inner-city scouting program.
''The starting rotation of the Braves costs more than the entire Reds team - that's what I'm faced with,'' said Mr. Allen, who described himself as a ''green eye-shade bookkeeper who loves baseball.'' That's why, he said, ''it's so important to keep these young players.''
''I took a lot of heat for the (Dave) Burba trade (on Opening Day), but we wanted (Sean) Casey. Here's a kid who fits into our game plan,'' Mr. Allen said.
''When we move into a new stadium, we will have stockpiled this young talent,'' Mr. Allen said. ''It was a good baseball move . . . When we get to a competitive level, we'll spend the money for free agents.''
''Taxpayers say, 'We're paying for it (a new stadium),' but they have to look at what we give back,'' Mr. Allen said, adding the team is ''the largest single entity in economic impact on downtown Cincinnati.''
Planners endorse site Reds dislike April 4, 1998
Economist disputes Reds' reasoning April 4, 1998
Stadium story list
