Baseball

3 Pages 736 Words

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 the mid 1990's the Reds and the Bengals (NFL) began to want separate modern stadiums, after sharing Cinergy Field for nearly three decades. In 1996, Hamilton County voters approved a bond to build new stadiums for the Reds and Bengals. In July 1998, the Reds announced that their new ballpark would be built between Cinergy Field and US Bank Arena, in an area known as the 'wedge'. Groundbreaking for the ballpark took place on October 4, 2000. In order for construction to begin on the ballpark, 14,000 seats had to be removed from the outfield of the Reds former home, Cinergy Field. For two years, Reds fans were able to watch the new ballpark rise beyond the outfield of Cinergy Field. 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 lines this area. Another three story building will be built on the west side of the ballpark throughout the 2003 season, and will house the Reds Hall of Fame and merchandise store.

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. Statutes of Crosley Field-era players (Joe Nuxhall, Ernie Lombar...