The three-year threat of a Bengals move appears to be over.
The team announced Tuesday the sale of 83 percent of the minimum 6,000 club seats needed to fulfill terms of its memorandum of understanding with Hamilton County, virtually assuring that the Bengals stay in Cincinnati.
But with the April 30 cutoff more than two months away, Bengals President Mike Brown stressed his team has to hit the maximum goals of 7,500 club seats and 104 luxury suites to stay competitive in the NFL of the 21st century.
The city's small market and the team's stadium lease put the Bengals in the middle of the NFL revenue stream.
''You're going against teams like Jacksonville and Carolina (more than 11,000 club seats) and the Redskins (15,000 club seats),'' said Troy Blackburn, the Bengals' director of stadium operations.
''We're not there yet, but we're close,'' Mr. Brown said. ''We still have seats to sell. I can't say I'm surprised because I know how great our fan base is.''
The agreement between the Bengals and Hamilton County said goals had to be hit by April 30 for seat licenses (known as charter ownership agreements, or COAs), luxury suites and club seats.
The team is expected to announce next week it has all but hit its sales target of 80 percent for luxury suites.
Two weeks ago, the county announced it had reached the required $20 million seat license goal by the Jan. 31 priority deadline for season ticket holders.
Club seats are the last piece of the stadium financing puzzle for Bengals officials, wary of a product never sold in Cincinnati. Club seats have become a pricey NFL staple, giving fans such country club amenities as wider seats, in-seat service, expensive food and entry to a club level.
''There was some businesses who bought the club seats, but the largest percentage is season ticket holders looking to move up,'' said Don Schumacher, in charge of selling club seats and seat licenses for the county.
The most expensive club seats - $1,995 per seat per season in Club 1 between the 40 yard lines - are sold out. The two remaining levels - Club 2 between the 20s and 40s, and Club 3 between the goal lines and 20s - are open with about 2,500 spots.
''That's been the trend, even with the COAs,'' Mr. Schumacher said. ''The most expensive seats have been the most popular.''
Previous stories
'The Jungle' moving to Central Ave. Feb. 14, 1997
Seat license sales pass $20M goal Feb. 7, 1997
Seat licenses $300 to $1,500 Dec. 18, 1996
Rules, procedure for buying seat licenses Dec. 18, 1996
Designs draw oohs and ahhs Dec. 17, 1996
Architect's drawings revealed Dec. 8, 1996