Thursday, August 17, 2000
Taxpayer got little from tour
Visitor not made to feel welcome
I toured the $453.2 million Paul Brown Stadium and all I got was a lousy piece of hardware, a screw.
The screw was nice and shiny — of the Phillips head variety. I found it on the floor of the Bengals' locker room. Threaded pieces of metal and the like — rusty nails, the odd bolt — were the only freebies anyone could readily take with them from Wednesday's open house for the Bengals' new home.
Mike Brown's team and Hamilton County, the stadium's landlord, must be awfully cash-strapped. They threw a party. Invited the whole city. An estimated 100,000 people streamed downtown to tour the stadium. But the Bengals and the county could not afford to hand out anything.
No souvenir programs.
No trinkets.
No posters.
Not even a postcard.
Nothing that said: “I attended the open house of Paul Brown Stadium.”
Instead of anything tangible, I did receive an experience I'll never forget. And hope never to repeat.
Normally, I avoid open houses. Too crowded. Too many lines. But, I made an exception Wednesday. I'm a taxpayer. Our taxes paid for the stadium. So, I'm part-owner. I wanted to see where all my money went.
As I strolled inside the plush club level with a group of my fellow stadium owners, we saw sunlight pouring from tunnels leading to the seats.
Drawn toward the light, like moths to a flame, we entered the grandstand area and proceeded to take the seats in sections 142 and 144 for a test drive. Wiggle the cup holders. Fold down the seats.
“Hey get outta there!” a cop barked from the field. “Those sections are closed.”
Welcome to Paul Brown Stadium.
Enjoy the tour.
Of your stadium.
Apparently, the cop didn't know he was talking to some of the owners. At that very moment, we were being saluted on the stadium's message board.
“A special thanks,” the board flashed, “to the taxpayers of Hamilton County for their support of Paul Brown Stadium.”
You're welcome.
Pause that refreshes
Touring the stadium built up a powerful thirst. The place was hot and dusty. Some concession stands were open. Cokes cost $4 for a souvenir cup.
Sparing no expense — just like the Bengals did when they lined the lushly appointed locker room with beautiful hardwoods — I plunked down $4. The big cup had the team's 2000 schedule printed on the side, listing games the Bengals just might lose.
Quenching my thirst, I lined up to go onto the field. The line stretched the length of the stadium's west plaza. As the line inched its way to the entrance of yet another tunnel, an orange-shirted staffer announced: “No drinks on the field.” She pointed to a plastic garbage can. People dumped their drinks and continued on the tour.
Drink-free, we walked through the tunnel, into sunshine, down some steps and onto the field.
Bob Bedinghaus, the Hamilton County commissioner praised during the afternoon ceremonies as the reason Paul Brown Stadium exists, stood on the field. Put him at about the 20-yard line.
As he walked toward the goal line, the commissioner put his hand to his mouth. He sipped something from a cup.
I guess if this important person spilled his drink, it would not harm the grass. But if the people — the owners — touring the stadium would drop something, that might poison the grass and pollute the soil. Nothing would ever grow there again.
Because of Wednesday's impressive turnout, the county and the Bengals plan to throw another open house in the near future. Maybe for that one, they won't let the people go home empty-handed. They'll give them something. And, not just a hard time.
Columnist Cliff Radel can be reached at (513) 768-8379; fax 768-8340.
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RADEL: Taxpayer got little from tour
