If you have been to GABP, you have likely noticed the restaurant on the second level, down the first base line. In the past, you needed a ticket just to get to this area, and then order of the menu. According to the Enquirer, that has changed for 2011. I can't verify this yet on the Reds' site, but here is the Enquirer write up:

"The Riverfront Club is now open to anyone with a ticket. It’s a buffet, set up with upscale food stations including a salad bar, a carving station, a pasta bar and a dessert bar. Sounds like a bargain to me: it’s all you can eat for $26 ($20 on day games except Opening Day).

Plus, there are great views of the game and the river from here, so if you’ve bought cheap bleacher seats, you can not only up grade the food, you can possibly snag a much better view of the game while eating. It also offers an a la carte menu, with dishes like Airline Chicken, a half breast beautifully sauced with morels and gnocchi and slender young carrots."

If true, this presents a nice budget luxury option. Get a $5 ticket and pay $26 more for all your food and drinks in a premium area. I would call ahead until you have done this once, and definitely get there early. There are only a few tables with a good view of the action.
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I am making an effort to update my guides as the season gets started, and I am starting with my most visited pages. Fenway Park is near the top of that list, so I just made a few updates to my guide.

Check it out for some new comments on ticket demand and best standing room areas at Fenway Park.
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I realized after looking at my analytics that a number of you click on the "ballparks" page of this site, but I don't have anything there! The idea is that you would hover over the ballparks menu item, and then select the park you want to see.

I realized that if you access this site on a mobile device, that isn't possible. So now, you will find the links to my ballpark guides on that page as well.

In other news - Spring Training has started!
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If you haven’t heard, the Reds are in the playoffs. Perhaps you were lucky enough to snag a couple of tickets to the NLDS game vs. the Phillies on Sunday night. I have heard it said that these tickets are as in demand as any tickets in the area over the last 15 years. If you are headed down, parking should be a nightmare. The Bengals play at 1, and there is also an event at U.S. Bank Arena. Obviously, you should plan to leave about an hour earlier than you normally would for a game.

 

In my opinion, it will be worth your while to park in Newport or Covington and take the Southbank Shuttle to and from the game. Heck the shuttle has a stop by Mainstrasse, so you could park in their lot for free and ride the shuttle to the game. The key is being very early, because the shuttle will probably be delayed because of traffic. You could also flag down a cab; which may cost a little more but will be quicker.

 

I can’t say for sure, but if you park in Cincinnati you can expect wait times after the game to be much longer. Generally, the Kentucky side provides quicker access to the interstate for a really crowded game. The moral of the story is you probably don’t want to get stuck in some 10 story garage for an hour afterward.

 

Go Reds.

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The Reds have unleashed the jinx of allowing fans to register for the opportunity to buy playoff tickets today. Along with this, they revealed the prices of the tickets and that is what I want to focus on. For more information on registering for tickets, go here

For the breakdown of the best ticket values, keep reading...
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8/22/10 marked my first television appearance. I have to admit that it was pretty cool to sit in a live studio and observe how the process of making a show works. It was also fun to warm up back stage by saying "unique, New York." Here is the clip:
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If you are going to Great American Ballpark for a day game, you better hope a big crowd won't be joining you. I had the misfortune of trying to park for the Reds game vs. the Cardinals on 8/11. The 12:35 start isn't something I usually go for anyway, but I learned that parking during the work day is a nightmare.
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This question came in from the email bag. You know the Reds are going good when people are starting to ask about standing room options at GABP. Here was my response:
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As of 2010, the by far the best way to see a Mets game is the McFadden's VIP package. From my friend Kurt Smith's blog; "A VIP Package at McFadden's Citi Field includes: one hour of open bar, an order of chicken wings, a ticket for a free drink after the game, and a ticket to the game--and not just a ticket but a ticket to the 100 or 300 level! All for somewhere between $30 and $60, generally depending on whom the Mets are playing.

Buying directly from the Mets, a 100 or 300 level ticket alone costs more than that. At $60 this is a total steal, at $30, well, you start to think like me...wondering what the catch is."

Kurt goes onto say that there really is no catch, but there is a limited number and it is for select dates. Who knows if this will be an option for years to come, but here is the McFadden website for more information on dates and prices. My recommendation would be to plan ahead and take advantage of this phenomenal deal.
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The Reds have just announced what I feel is a very innovative ticket promotion. If you buy a selected 2011 full season ticket plan, they will throw in tickets to the last 25 home games for free.

25 - that is a lot of games.

Here is how it breaks down. You have to buy tickets in the view level, mezzanine on the 3rd base side, or the field box. Here are the prices per ticket: 

Field Box $2,490.75 
Mezzanine $1,611.90
View Level $1,105.65

Click read more to view the math behind this deal
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