Thursday, August 28, 1997
Boomer leases luxury box
Esiason seeks protection for ill son
BY LUCY MAY
Talk about revenue sharing.
After less than five months back on the job with the Cincinnati Bengals, backup quarterback Boomer Esiason has contributed to the team by leasing a 20-seat luxury box at Cinergy Field.
He leased the suite for $30,500, and the Bengals will get $30,000 of that.
Mr. Esiason said Wednesday he leased the box so his son, Gunnar, 6, who has cystic fibrosis, would have a warm place to watch games in December and when the team makes the playoffs in January.
''Does it really make sense for my son to be sitting at the 50-yard line outside? No, it doesn't,'' he said. ''It's a small price to pay.''
Typically, the luxury suites lease for $47,220 per year. But that includes access for Cincinnati Reds games, too. The baseball season was almost over by the time the lease agreement was made. The lease does not include tickets.
Hamilton County officials decided to lease the suite for less, figuring it was better than getting no money for the box. The county, which owns the stadium, guarantees the team $30,000 per box whether they're leased or not.
County commissioners approved the lease agreement Wednesday.
Early in April, Mr. Esiason signed a two-year, $1.5 million deal to return to the team as Jeff Blake's backup. He played for the Bengals from 1984 to 1992.
Chris Haft contributed to this report.
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