Trouble is, the teams remain intractable. Tarbell has run a remarkable grass roots campaign, but he has struck out repeatedly in the executive offices of the Reds and Bengals. And that is the name of that tune. Without the blessing of Mike Brown or Marge Schott, a ballpark at Broadway Commons is no more likely than vineyards on Venus. The will of the people is one thing.
Political power is quite another.
Those who see this massive construction project as an instrument of urban renewal miss the fundamental fact of the matter. Sports franchises, like any other business, exist to make money, not to revitalize neighborhoods. While it might make perfect sense for city planners to place one of the ballparks at Broadway Commons, the concept collapses without a willing tenant. What benefits teams Despite the public's considerable tax contributions, the issue at hand is not which location is best for the general welfare of the city, but what serves the specific needs of the teams. But it has to make good business sense.