Channel Cincinnati - Fans Go Grass Roots To 'Save The Bengals'

Fans Go Grass Roots To 'Save The Bengals'

Internet Club Forming To Stop Paying For Tickets

CINCINNATI -- A season ticket holder of the Cincinnati Bengals since 1989, David Frey has seen several highs but many more lows with his favorite NFL team under the leadership of owner and general manager Mike Brown.

With another disastrous season in full swing, Frey (pictured right) hopes to become the general of a fan revolt. He has formed a new Web site called "Save The Bengals."

The Web site has two simple goals: First, to campaign for Brown to seek outside assistance with running the team's football matters.


	Eyewitness News 5's Brian Hamrick reports that Bengals fans don't want to wait for pigs to fly before seeing a winner. Click here to watch.

Second, Frey believes that if enough season ticket holders stop payment on their personal seat licenses at Paul Brown Stadium, Brown will take notice and make improvements.

He estimates that if 10,000 license holders with 2-4 seats stop paying for next year's tickets, the fans' financial leverage could choke the team into submission.

"The hope is, everyone will join and not pay anymore money to the Bengals," said Frey, 34, a sales engineer from Loveland.

Frey is also hoping that the team's corporate sponsors will end its partnerships with the club.

"Once we get the numbers, there's some kind of organized way to show this isn't just on paper," he said.

Fans and companies who pledge to join the group are not legally obligated to actually stop spending their money on the Bengals. The agreement is simply in good faith. However, if enough fans don't follow the pledge, there is a risk of losing the seats and seat licenses.

Frey believes that Brown broke promises to Hamilton County taxpayers who approved the funding of the $453 million stadium.

"Mike Brown promised things would be different with the new stadium," he said. "He said we will be competitive. He made all these promises and now said things won't be different. Things are going to stay status-quo, even with the new stadium."

Since he's already paid for the remainder of this season, Frey will continue to attend Bengals games. He doesn't think that putting together a winning team is out of the question.

Frey launched the Web site Oct. 1. He said that if his plan fails, he will still keep the site going as a forum for unhappy fans. It will also hold votes among the membership to determine the next move that could spark change.