MENKHAUS SAID "the doors could not be opened" until the rock group had completed its warm-ups and sound checks.

Menkhaus said a crowd began forming as early as 1:30 p.m. Monday and that by 5 p.m. more than 1,000 persons were gathered outside the coliseum.

Menkhaus said by 6:30 p.m. "the potential for problems was obvious," and at 7:20 p.m. the first door was broken open by the crowd on the "even section" side of the arena.

By this time, Menkhaus said, the crowd outside had grown to 8,000 and the doors had not opened.

"To alleviate some of the crush of the crowd, the coliseum management announced on the outside public address system not to push and that the doors on the north side were open."

For Monday night's concert, the coliseum employed festival seating for the concert, meaning most of the seats were sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Cincinnati Ticketron officials said 10% of the seats were reserved with the remaining 90% of the tickets sold as general admission.

Tafaro said decision on the seating system is determined jointly by the coliseum and the promoter.

"We work with them . . . we work together."

But Morgan said "the act and the promoter make that decision."

SUNDAY NIGHT, The Who played before a sell-out crowd at Pittsburgh's Civic Arena. Of the 17,000 tickets sold for that concert, only 1,700-2,000 seats were on a first-come, first-served basis.

"We got away from full festival seating because of control problems," said Jack Mathison, sales manager for the facility. "And whenever we do a show with festival seating, it's never more than 2,000."

Tuesday night's performance by The Who was in Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium with all seats reserved.

The British group's last concert on its U.S. tour was set for Dec. 17 at the Providence, R.I., Civic Center, but civic center officials canceled the performance Tuesday at the request of Providence Mayor Vincent Cianci.

Today, Boston Mayor Kevin White will decide whether to cancel a show in Boston Garden next week.

Diane Cubert, 20, Erlanger, Ky., who was injured in the melee, said the "whole problem was that only two doors were open. They should have known they had to have more doors open.

"I was in the door. I thought I was dead. I didn't think I'd make it.

"I laid there at least for 15-20 minutes. They were laying on me and standing on my own legs. You could feel their feet move back and forth on your legs. I wanted out so bad but I couldn't move. I was pinned down on the ground."

DR. FRANK P. Cleveland, Hamilton County coroner, said the 11 persons killed in the stampede "died from asphyxiation and most of them had minor injuries." Cleveland said the asphyxiation was the result of the victims' bodies being compressed by the weight of the others above.

Official coroner's rulings will be made after blood and tissue tests are complete.

Meanwhile, Tafaro said 150 concerts have been held at the Coliseum without tragedy.

And Cincinnati Police Officer Charles Ross said rock patrons "always rush the doors. There's not much you can do about it.

"Normally" he said, "they have four openings; two on one side and two on the other."

Study Criticized Seating Method

"Obviously, the promoters like the idea of festival seating," added Springer. "Obviously, it's more lucrative."

But the councilman also said nothing is inherently wrong with that position or motivation. The responsibility to determine whether it is appropriate for the public safety lies with the city, he said.

WHETHER THE study team's more unequivocal recommendations were followed is also an open question.

"All aisles will be kept open and clear during events," the study team demanded in its first report, dated August 24, 1976. At least one city official acknowledged Tuesday that that will be news to regular coliseum concertgoers.

And Buckley believes the violations go beyond that issue.

"It is no secret that during any concert at the coliseum numerous violations of the fire code are openly committed and that the in-house security force employed at the coliseum does little or nothing to enforce the fire code," he wrote in a letter to then-acting City Manager Martin P. Walsh Jr. in September of this year.