Cincinnati Bell will play ball

In an unusual promotional move, Cincinnati Bell is going far beyond mall kiosks and stadium signs. They’ll have a "Riverboat Deck" in the center field area of the Cincinnati Reds' Great American Ball Park, that it can use to show products, have meetings and watch ball games.

In a three-year deal worth more than $1 million annually, the company's Technology Solutions division will have a pavilion to display products from partners such as Cisco, Sun and Nokia; plus a conference room, and access to seats to watch the games. The Reds will remodel an existing building and add several levels. There'll be several hundred seats on top.

"The idea for this is to reach the mid-level businesses," Cincinnati Bell Technology Solutions GM John Burns said. Bell's Technology Solutions unit offers communications security and other products and services to business customers. Technology Solutions has not done in-stadium advertising before, but Bell's Wireless unit has sponsored a special event for fans. (info from The Cincinnati Enquirer & SmartBrief)