Bengals threaten to veto proposed site for new concert venue at The Banks

The Cincinnati Bengals have threatened to veto the proposed site of a new concert venue at The Banks that would be operated by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

The group that makes recommendations for developments at The Banks selected the CSO as the preferred developer for a new concert venue early last month.

The orchestra has proposed building a $19.25 million, three-story venue on a parcel known as Lot 27, southeast of Paul Brown Stadium near Smale Riverfront Park.

But the Bengals' stadium lease with Hamilton County gives the team the right of first refusal for any development there.

Bob Bedinghaus, the team's director of business development, told Councilman David Mann that the Bengals want to preserve the site for tailgating and would veto a concert venue at Lot 27.

Mann disclosed his conversation with Bedinghaus at a regular council meeting Wednesday attended by an Enquirer reporter.

The Bengals released a statement that didn't directly address what Mann said at the city council meeting. The statement said that the team supports the music venue project but "have concerns about the proposed location."

"Our goal is to work through these issues and move toward a positive result," the Bengals' statement said.

The Bengals haven't objected to Hamilton County, said Commissioner Todd Portune, the Board of Commissioners president. Portune said Bedinghaus and the Bengals have raised tailgating as an issue. But he doesn't think that will prevent the CSO or anyone else from building a music venue.

The exact location and design of the venue at The Banks still remains to be determined, he said. The Board of Commissioners will move forward on Monday with a vote to choose the preferred developer build it.

"It seems like the issue of tailgating always does come up," Portune said. "I would not deny tailgating is an issue they want to talk about here as well. There are so many ways we can talk about that issue that do not preclude the county and the city and developer from developing a music venue."

The Bengals' objection was news to orchestra officials. Mike Smith, the head of the symphony's music management group, said he didn't know about the Bengals' decision and didn't have a comment on Wednesday.

The Joint Banks Steering Committee, which makes recommendations for The Banks, chose the orchestra as a preferred developer. Their decision was not binding because both the city and the county have to approve the developer.

Two other concert promoters, PromoWest and Live Nation, also submitted proposals for concert venues at The Banks at different locations.

Mayor John Cranley has expressed his support for PromoWest.

But PromoWest's proposed concert venue would span parcels near the stadium that the Bengals also have domain over under the terms of their lease.

"To avoid potential litigation, the Public Parties should obtain the Bengals' consent with respect to any proposed music venue at The Banks,'' Cranley wrote in a memo to City Council late Wednesday afternoon. "Absent this consent, the Bengals could pursue litigation against the Public Parties and, even if they are unsuccessful, the Bengals could delay the construction of a music venue at The Banks for several years.''