December 27, 1968: Al Heim, publicity director of the Cincinnati Bengals, says that it’s a “99 percent certainty” that the city’s new football team would play at Crosley Field in 1968 and 1969 until the opening of Riverfront Stadium.
In fact, the Bengals decided upon Nippert Stadium on the University of Cincinnati campu, and announced the decision on February 15, 1968. Crosley Field was rejected because of the cost of erecting a temporary grandstand in left field and a football press box. The field would have been shoehorned onto the playing surface with one end zone at the base of the RF terrace and the other in front of the 3rd base dugout.
All “Reds trivia†posts come from Greg Rhodes and John Snyder’s fabulous book, “Redleg Journal†(see link for purchasing) and are used with Greg’s permission.
Thanks again to Greg Rhodes for permission to use his material.