BY LUCY MAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Even if Hamilton County commissioners and the Cincinnati Bengals announce a final lease agreement today, that doesn't mean construction on the team's stadium can begin immediately. There are a number of things that must be done first. Among them:

• The county must acquire the land needed for the site. County Commission President Bob Bedinghaus said he expects the county will be able to settle on a price with most land owners out of court.

• The county must complete environmental studies of the site.

• The county must have its construction manager negotiate a "guaranteed maximum price." That price would include every detail of construction, from concrete and plumbing to labor and seats. The construction manager would be responsible for making sure the stadium project costs don't run higher than that price.

• If that guaranteed maximum price is higher than the price the county and team agree to in their lease, the lease will spell out a process by which the team and county will resolve the price difference, Mr. Bedinghaus said.

• The construction manager, which the county already has hired, must organize the county's contracts and prepare bids for the work.

• Contractors will have to demolish buildings now on the site. The county must start clearing the site by fall to meet the deadline.

• Officials from the county and city also must work to relocate utility lines on the site and reroute Pete Rose Way and Mehring Way.

• The lease will include reimbursement for the team in the event the Bengals miss games because the stadium isn't ready for August, 2000.

IT'S GOAL TO GO FOR STADIUM

Previous stories

Stadium victory at hand May 26, 1997
Terms of the deal May 26, 1997
Regional effort fills seats May 25, 1997
Bengals reach sales goal May 24, 1997
Hold on: Shirey wants to boost admissions tax May 24, 1997
Brown, county race deadline May 21, 1997
NFL committee OK's lease May 20, 1997
Ticket tax increase gains steam May 20, 1997
Stadium team tries to trim $48M May 6, 1997
Bengals ask lease by May 20 April 30, 1997
Stadium redesign well received April 25, 1997
Bengals leery of Wedge April 9, 1997
Stadium price tag growing April 3,1997
Stadium gaining ground? April 2,1997
Bengals won't sign till tax dies March 25,1997
Mike Brown's 'Letter to the Editor' March 25, 1997
Bengals balk at tax plan March 24,1997
Bengals want county blitz on seat licenses March 21,1997
City balks at size of stadium March 15,1997
Seat sales on target for team to stay Feb. 19,1997
'The Jungle' moving to Central Ave. Feb. 14, 1997
Stadium site to be announced this week Published Feb. 9, 1997
Seat license sales pass $20M goal Published Feb. 7, 1997
Consultants favor Riverfront West Published Dec. 20, 1996
Seat licenses $300 to $1,500 Published Dec. 18, 1996
Rules, procedure for buying seat licenses Published Dec. 18, 1996
Designs draw oohs and ahhs Published Dec. 17, 1996
Architect's drawings revealed Published Dec. 8, 1996
Site selection is a decision of a lifetime Published Dec. 2, 1996