Cincinnati Bengals and Hamilton County officials waged a battle of the bands Friday that lasted into the night.

        The Bengals spent Friday trying to keep high school marching bands off the Paul Brown Stadium turf during halftime of today's football playoff games between St. Xavier-Princeton and Colerain-Elder.

        The controversy forced county commissioners to call a special meeting Friday evening. They voted unanimously to order the stadium management company — owned by the Bengals — to allow the bands access to the field.

        Each band will get seven minutes on the turf.

        The immediate issue was whether the bands would march on the field today. The larger issue was who — the Bengals or county commissioners — has the authority to decide how the $451 million stadium, built with public money, is used.

        Commissioner Todd Portune threatened to have county sheriff's deputies escort the bands on and off the field if the Bengals would not concede.

        “The taxpayers of Hamilton County are owners of that facility, and they expect us to find as many uses for it as we can,” Mr. Portune said. “It strains all credibility to argue that a 300-pound lineman playing an entire game with cleats will do less damage than a 100-pound clarinetist playing at halftime.”

        Troy Blackburn, the team's director of business development, said the Bengals are particularly concerned because the turf is due for its annual inspection by theNational Football League on Nov. 17.

        If the field is deemed unacceptable, the NFL can levy a fine against the team. Mr. Blackburn said if that happens, county taxpayers will pick up the tab.

        The team was not fined for the poor condition of the playing field last year.

        “The team can object to events because of concerns for the playing field,” Mr. Blackburn said. “The club has been consistent. The turf professionals say the more stress you put on the field, the worse it's going to be.

        “We defer to the experts.”

        Commissioners were not willing to concede that taxpayers will pay any fine, if there is one. But the issue does worry Commissioner Tom Neyer.

        “I'm concerned we're going to make a decision today that will make everyone happy, but four weeks from now, when we get a $100,000 bill, no one will be happy,” he said.

        Commissioner John Dowlin said it's worth the risk.

        “We've heard from the professionals and there is danger in allowing the marching bands to perform,” Mr. Dowlin said. “I'm willing to accept that risk.”

        County administrators recommended the bands stay in the stands. High-stepping band members will cause more damage to the field than football players because of “compaction,” which can damage the sod's root system, they say.

        But after public outcry to commissioners, the decision was made Thursday to allow the bands on the field. The Bengals spent Friday fighting that decision.

        “It's an issue of additional traffic on the field,” Mr. Blackburn said. “Traffic stresses the grass.”

        The question remains: Who has the right to decide such issues? Mr. Blackburn said there must be agreement between the county and the team; commissioners believe they can direct the stadium managers to allow such events.

        “That's a legal issue they're still talking about right now,” said Joe Feldkamp, assistant stadium director, who pointed out that the security and logistics of getting the bands on and off the field in an NFL stadium is much more complicated than in a high school arena.

        Mr. Neyer pointed out that the county and the Bengals worked hard to move the event to Paul Brown Stadium. On Sunday, that looked like an impossibility when Ohio High School Athletic Association Commissioner Clair Muscaro said the $125,000 price tag to play at Paul Brown Stadium was too steep.

        Mr. Portune got involved Sunday night, talking to Mr. Blackburn, Mr. Muscaro and county staffers, which whittled the operational expenses at the stadium down to $93,000.

        With about 40,000 fans expected, there will be a profit for everyone involved. Mr. Muscaro then agreed to bring the games to Cincinnati, hometown for each of the four schools.

        “Let us use this as an opportunity to bring the community together,” Mr. Neyer said.

        Enquirer reporter Mark Curnutte contributed.

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