Great American Ball Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Great American Ball Park

Great American Ball Park in 2015
Great American Ball Park Location in Ohio Show map of Ohio Great American Ball Park Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Address	100 Joe Nuxhall Way
Location	Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Coordinates	39°5′51″N 84°30′24″W / 39.09750°N 84.50667°W / 39.09750; -84.50667
Public transit	Connector at The Banks Metro TANK Red Bike
Parking	850 spaces
Owner	Hamilton County
Operator	Cincinnati Reds
Capacity	43,500 (2021–present) 42,319 (2008–2020) 42,271 (2003–2007)
Record attendance	44,599 (2010 NLDS, Game 3)
Field size	Left Field – 328 ft (100 m) Left-Center – 379 ft (116 m) Center Field – 404 ft (123 m) Right-Center – 370 ft (110 m) Right Field – 325 ft (99 m) Backstop – 55 ft (17 m)
Surface	Kentucky Bluegrass
Construction
Broke ground	August 1, 2000 (2000-08-01)
Opened	March 31, 2003 (2003-03-31)
Construction cost	US$290 million ($461 million in 2022 dollars )
Architect	HOK Sport/GBBN Architects
Project manager	Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc.
Structural engineer	Geiger/THP Ltd.
Services engineer	M-E Engineers, Inc.
General contractor	Hunt Construction Group, Inc.
Main contractors	RLE Construction, Inc.
Tenants
Cincinnati Reds (MLB) (2003–present)

Great American Ball Park is a cool baseball stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. It's the home field for the Cincinnati Reds, a team in Major League Baseball. The stadium opened on March 31, 2003.

It replaced an older stadium called Cinergy Field. A company called Great American Insurance paid $75 million to have their name on the stadium for 30 years. This is called naming rights.

History of the Ball Park

How the Stadium Was Planned

In 1996, people in Hamilton County voted to add a small sales tax. This money helped build new stadiums for both the Reds and the Cincinnati Bengals football team.

Before this, both teams shared Riverfront Stadium. But by the mid-1990s, they wanted their own modern stadiums. The Reds pay rent to Hamilton County for using the park.

Building Great American Ball Park

Construction of Great American Ball Park in 2001

Great American Ball Park was designed by HOK Sport (now Populous) and GBBN. It cost about $290 million to build.

The stadium is located near where Riverfront Stadium used to be. Parts of the old stadium had to be torn down to make space. The rest of Cinergy Field was fully taken down in December 2002.

Hosting the All-Star Game

In 2015, Great American Ball Park hosted the 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. The Reds spent $5 million to make improvements for the big event. They added new bars and updated food stands.

A Cold Day for Baseball

On April 17, 2023, the stadium had its lowest attendance ever (not counting 2020). Only 4,967 fans came to watch the game.

It was very cold, around 30°F (-1°C), which is unusual for April. Fans bundled up in blankets and drank hot coffee. The Reds still won the game against the Tampa Bay Rays, 8–1.

Cool Features of the Stadium

The ballpark seen from the river in 2022

The stadium's address used to be 100 Main Street. But in 2007, it was changed to 100 Joe Nuxhall Way. This honored Joe Nuxhall, a famous Reds player and announcer who passed away.

A sign with his famous saying, "rounding third and heading for home," is on the outside of the park. The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum is right next to the stadium.

There's also a special area that looks like the old Crosley Field where the Reds used to play. It has statues of Reds legends like Joe Nuxhall and Frank Robinson playing an imaginary game.

The Gap: A Unique View

A view of Great American Ball Park, showing The Gap

There's a 35-foot-wide opening in the stands between home plate and third base. It's called "The Gap" or "Gapper's Alley."

This gap lets people see into the stadium from downtown Cincinnati. It also gives fans inside the park a great view of the city skyline.

Power Stacks: Fire and Fireworks

The centerfield "smokestacks"

In right-center field, there are two tall smokestacks. They look like the old steamboats that used to travel on the Ohio River.

These stacks light up, shoot flames, and launch fireworks when the Reds do something exciting. When a Reds pitcher strikes out a batter, fire comes out of the stacks. Fireworks go off after every Reds home run and every Reds win!

The stacks have seven baseball bats on them, which represent Pete Rose's jersey number 14. In 2015, one of the stacks caught fire during a game, but no one was hurt.

The Spirit of Baseball Carving

Near the main entrance, there's a large stone carving called "The Spirit of Baseball." It's 50 feet wide and 20 feet tall.

The carving shows a young baseball player looking up at a batter, pitcher, and fielder. In the background, you can see famous Cincinnati landmarks like the riverfront. Local artists created this amazing piece.

Mosaics: Reds History in Art

Just inside the main gates, there are two big mosaic panels. Each one is 16 feet wide and 10 feet high.

These mosaics show two important times in Reds history. One shows "The First Nine," the 1869 Red Stockings, who were the first professional baseball team. The other shows "The Great Eight," the famous Big Red Machine team that won the World Series in 1975 and 1976. These colorful mosaics were made in Italy.

The Big Scoreboard

View from behind home plate

The scoreboard at Great American Ball Park is huge! It's 215 feet wide and 40 feet high, making it one of the largest in Major League Baseball.

It was updated in 2009 with a new LED screen that shows HD video. In 2020, the scoreboard was replaced again with an even bigger, full-color video board. It can show amazing HDR (high dynamic range) content, making it the first MLB stadium with this technology.

Home Run Deck: Win a Truck!

If a Reds player hits a baseball that lands on the "Hit Me" sign between the Power Stacks, a lucky fan wins a red Toyota Tundra pickup truck. The truck is located on an elevator shaft far beyond the center field fence.

Crosley Terrace: A Nod to the Past

This area at the main entrance honors Crosley Field, the Reds' home from 1912 to 1970. It has the same sloped grass as Crosley Field's famous left-field terrace.

Bronze statues of Reds legends like Joe Nuxhall and Frank Robinson are shown playing an imaginary game here.

Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum

The Hall of Fame and Museum is right next to the stadium. It celebrates the Reds' long history with many exhibits and videos. The Hall of Fame has been around since 1958.

Fan Comforts

Nursing Suites for Moms

In 2015, Great American Ball Park became the first MLB stadium to have special suites for mothers. These rooms are designed for moms to feed and care for their babies.

Each suite has comfy glider chairs, diaper-changing stations, a restroom, and TVs showing the game. There are now two of these helpful nursing suites in the park.

Sports Betting at the Ball Park

For the 2023 season, the Reds teamed up with BetMGM Sportsbook. This allows fans to place sports bets right at the stadium.

The BetMGM Sportsbook is located in the Machine Room. It has betting windows, self-service kiosks, a full bar, and food options.

Other Events at the Park

Concerts Held Here

Great American Ball Park isn't just for baseball! Many famous musicians have performed concerts here.

Other Special Events

• On October 31, 2004, President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush held a campaign rally at the stadium.
• A memorial service for Staff Sergeant Keith Matthew Maupin was held here on April 27, 2008.

Firsts and Records at the Ball Park

Opening Day Highlights (March 31, 2003)

Other Important Firsts

Highest Attendance Records

Bold shows the winning team of each game.

Images for kids

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  Great American Ball Park at night

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  1869 Red Stockings Pavilion

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  Entrance to Great American Ball Park

See also

In Spanish: Great American Ball Park para niños