Wednesday, August 11, 1999
Who gets Bengals seats in the taxpayers' suite?
BY LUCY MAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
When Jerry Wilson heard Hamilton County would have a luxury suite in the new Bengals stadium, he had one sarcastic question: “When's my turn?”
The retired banker from North Bend bought six charter ownership agreements for season tickets to Paul Brown Stadium, but he wouldn't mind watching from a heated suite.
“Just don't do it alphabetically,” Mr. Wilson quipped.
While the county willhave a suite between the 30- and 40-yard lines valued at $74,000 a season, chances are average taxpayerswon't get a chance to use it.
Hamilton County commissioners aren't sure how it'll work yet, but they insist the suite won't be a place for elected officials or their families to kick back and watch a game.
Commission President Tom Neyer Jr. and Commissioner Bob Bedinghaus suggest the suite could be used to reward county employees or to promote the county to businesses.
“The best way to show off the facility is when it has 60,000 screaming fans in it,” Mr. Neyer said.
Commissioner John Dowlin wonders if the county could sub-lease the box game-by-game.
The county doesn't have a policy for the use of its luxury suite at Cinergy Field because the county uses it only one Reds game and one Bengals game each year to recognize county employees.
The new Cleveland Browns stadium doesn't have a luxury box for the city, county or any other government entity.
The Baltimore Orioles ballpark has three government suites. The stadium authority uses the Maryland Lottery to select “ordinary citizens” to use the box five games a year.
Without talking to Mr. Dowlin, who is on vacation, aide Rob Fredericks floated a similar idea for Hamilton County.
Mr. Wilson said the county would be better off selling the suite and using the money to pay for a bit of the stadium.
“They ought to keep it simple and just get rid of it,” he said. “Enough taxpayers are mad at them without that.”
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