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 Great
American Ball Park
Cincinnati,
OH
With its opening on March 31, 2003, Great American
Ball Park
became the second ballpark to be built on the banks of the Ohio
River in Cincinnati. In the 1990s the Reds and
the Bengals (NFL) began to want separate modern stadiums after
sharing Riverfront Stadium for nearly three decades. The idea for a
new ballpark for the Reds was first raised in August 1993 when
officials stated that a new ballpark would help the team compete
with other teams in baseball. By 1996 Hamilton County voters
approved a bond to increase the sales tax to fund new stadiums for
the Reds and Bengals. Two locations were proposed for the Reds new
ballpark, Broadway Commons and along the riverfront, in an area
between Riverfront Stadium and US Bank Arena, known as the 'wedge.'
For over a year
officials debated which location would be best for a ballpark, most
preferring the riverfront. Reds officials were concerned about the
cost of land at Broadway Commons as it was not a problem at the
riverfront county owned land. In November 1998, citizens ended the
question of where the ballpark would be built, voting to have it
constructed along the riverfront. However, this did not end the
stadium debate in Cincinnati. Owner of the Reds, Marge Schott,
threatened to move the team to Northern Kentucky if the team did not
receive a better lease agreement than the Bengals. Reds and city
officials came to a lease agreement and groundbreaking for the
ballpark took place on October 4, 2000. In order for construction to
begin, 14,000 seats had to be removed from the outfield of the Reds'
former home, Riverfront Stadium. For two years, Reds fans were able
to watch the new ballpark rise beyond the outfield of Riverfront
Stadium. Great American Insurance bought the naming rights to the
ballpark for $75 million over 30 years; thus the stadium was named
Great American Ball Park.
The Cincinnati Reds christened
their second ballpark on the riverfront on March 31, 2003. Great
American Ball Park is a combination of new and old ballparks and
provides an excellent setting for baseball. Walking along the
outside perimeter of the ballpark down Second Street, fans are
greeted by a three story building of brick and cast limestone, with
the phrase “Rounding third and heading for home,” the signature
sign-off of broadcaster Joe Nuxhall, atop the building. Banners of
great moments in Reds' history also line this area. At the intersection of Second and Main
streets is an opening to Crosley Terrace, a point most fans
pass through before entering the ballpark. The terrace is about an acre of concrete,
landscaped with grass and trees. Statues of Crosley Field-era
players (Joe Nuxhall, Ernie Lombardi, Ted Kluszewski and Frank
Robinson) dot the landscape, along with a pitcher's mound built to
Major League Baseball dimensions of the day. Grass in the terrace is
sloped at the same incline as Crosley Field's
outfield. Special lighting illuminates the statues, stone
benches and a 60-foot stone sculpture meant to depict the romance of
the game are also in the Crosley Terrace. Located adjacent and connecting to Great American Ball
Park along Main Street is the Reds Hall of Fame Museum and team
store. A rose garden, remembering Pete Rose, is located near the
museum where his record breaking hit 4,192 was at
Riverfront Stadium.
Upon entering the ballpark, fans
have sweeping views of the ballpark. Great American Ballpark
has approximately 42,271 red seats in three levels. The lower
grandstand extends from the left field foul pole to homeplate
and around to the right field foul pole. The second deck
consists of club seats, luxury suites, and the press box. Stretching
from foul pole to foul pole, the upper deck is broken into two
sections. The gap is an opening in the seating sections located
between homeplate and third base. This enables people in
downtown Cincinnati to see into the ballpark. The gap allows the upper deck to be closer to the field than most in
baseball. Doubled decked bleachers
are located in left field and additional seating is located
beyond the right field fence. With little foul territory at Great
American Ballpark fans receive excellent views of the game.
One of the largest scoreboards in
baseball is located above the stands in left field, blocking
the view of US Bank Arena. A clock atop the main scoreboard in left
field is a replica of the Longines analog clock that was at Crosley
Field. An out of town scoreboard keeping fans updated about other
games in progress is incorporated as part of the left field wall.
The bullpens are located beyond the outfield, the Reds in left
centerfield and the visiting team's bullpen behind the outfield wall
near the right field foul pole. A brewpub, known as the Machine Room
is located near the Reds bullpen and gives fans a place to relax and
catch the ballgame with their friends. The bar features tons of
memorabilia from the Big
 Red
Machine era. Located between the batters eye and the stands in right
field is a 64 feet high and 36 feet wide homerun feature. The
feature, consisting of two large smokestacks, a paddle wheel and a
large misting system makes noise, shoots fireworks, creates mist and
is a general source of entertainment. After the 2006 season, the
Reds constructed a two story Riverboat Deck on top of the existing
batter's eye and that is used as a party area. The 7,500-foot square
foot rooftop deck holds about 150 fans. Although the Reds have not
made the playoffs yet at Great American Ball Park, fans continue to
come out to support their hometown team with hopes that the Reds
will return to their former glory.
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