great american ballpark guide
Great American Ballpark is my home park. Referred to by locals as “The GABP”, You can grab the specs on Great American Ballpark here. After you are bored with that, I am going to make you aware of the smartest ways to catch a game in Cincinnati.
free and cheap parking at great american ballpark
When going to the GABP, you will find parking is readily available in both Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. If you are cheap like me, the best place to park is the garage on 6th st. between Broadway and Sycamore. It will set you back a whole $2! Depending on the night, the lot can take some time to get out of. My one complaint is that they take your money when you are leaving, so if it is a good game you may get a bunch of people leaving all at once and bottle-necking at the exit. The other nice thing is the walk to/from Great American Ballpark is similar distance to the $10 lots. This will also walk you right past the Skyline across the street from the new Great American Tower, which we usually stop in for a coney prior to the game.
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If $2 is out of your budget, you can always park for FREE. In Cincinnati, most parking meters are only in effect 8am – 6pm Monday through Saturday (it will say on the meter).
The best thing to do is to be driving on 3rd street a couple minutes before 6 (or better yet be earlier and then pay the meter through 6PM. All the metered parking on the left becomes a free for about that time. If you score an on-street spot there, you are a parking genius. You will be about a Corey Patterson throws length from Great American Ballpark and it cost you nothing!
If you don’t care to walk awhile to Great American Ballpark, there is much more free parking available in Covington and Newport KY. On street parking in Covington usually isn’t metered at all, but if it is they usually aren’t monitored after 6 either. We used to live in the 600 block of Greenup St. and just walk from our apartment. Your best bets for on street parking are probably Greenup, Scott, and Garrard which all run North to South.
From there you can walk across the blue suspension bridge and enter through the right field gate. If you are walking that way, you want to take the side of the bridge closest to the stadium (right), you will get there quicker. That side gives you stairs down to the street level by the Great American Ballpark right field gate.
Due to the rise in popularity of Newport, free parking is tougher to find. In fact, the last time I was over there, they have added more meters and they are in effect until 9pm or even midnight. I like to eat at Dixie Chili, and leave my car there on the street and walk. The yellow bridge you walk across from Newport will drop you off by the US Bank Arena. Again on that bridge, walk across the side closest to Great American Ballpark for the shorter route (left). It will give you a stairway to the left field gates. The distance from Dixie Chili to GABP is 1.1 miles, so if you think that is comfortably walkable - which I do - go for it. The metering on streets like York and Monmouth starts right about 6th street. So to park un-metered in Newport, you will have about a mile walk. You now have plenty of options so you can stop complaining about expensive parking.
Another solid option for GABP parking is using Park Whiz. This site lets you pre-pay for a space in various garages/lots so you don't have to stress about where to park. It is a pretty cool concept and you can find some cheap deals for sure. It is especially helpful when you are going to a game that is supposed to be a big crowd.
The final option I'll mention is parking at Fountain Square. After 4PM they go to a flat rate of $5, and it is a very modern facility that is set in the heart of the city. You can pay at the pay station prior to leaving, and you are still a reasonable walk to the ballpark. You are surrounded by places like Starbucks, Rock Bottom, Graeters, etc. so there are plenty of places to go before and after the ballgame. If no other option works out, this is a nice, safe place to park.
If you are going to a weekday - day game, forget everything that I just told you. You will want to head straight to Kentucky and park and ride the shuttle or walk. Downtown has so many garages that are employees only that it can be tough to find something. Click here to read my full post on daytime parking. I learned the hard way.
The best thing to do is to be driving on 3rd street a couple minutes before 6 (or better yet be earlier and then pay the meter through 6PM. All the metered parking on the left becomes a free for about that time. If you score an on-street spot there, you are a parking genius. You will be about a Corey Patterson throws length from Great American Ballpark and it cost you nothing!
If you don’t care to walk awhile to Great American Ballpark, there is much more free parking available in Covington and Newport KY. On street parking in Covington usually isn’t metered at all, but if it is they usually aren’t monitored after 6 either. We used to live in the 600 block of Greenup St. and just walk from our apartment. Your best bets for on street parking are probably Greenup, Scott, and Garrard which all run North to South.
From there you can walk across the blue suspension bridge and enter through the right field gate. If you are walking that way, you want to take the side of the bridge closest to the stadium (right), you will get there quicker. That side gives you stairs down to the street level by the Great American Ballpark right field gate.
Due to the rise in popularity of Newport, free parking is tougher to find. In fact, the last time I was over there, they have added more meters and they are in effect until 9pm or even midnight. I like to eat at Dixie Chili, and leave my car there on the street and walk. The yellow bridge you walk across from Newport will drop you off by the US Bank Arena. Again on that bridge, walk across the side closest to Great American Ballpark for the shorter route (left). It will give you a stairway to the left field gates. The distance from Dixie Chili to GABP is 1.1 miles, so if you think that is comfortably walkable - which I do - go for it. The metering on streets like York and Monmouth starts right about 6th street. So to park un-metered in Newport, you will have about a mile walk. You now have plenty of options so you can stop complaining about expensive parking.
Another solid option for GABP parking is using Park Whiz. This site lets you pre-pay for a space in various garages/lots so you don't have to stress about where to park. It is a pretty cool concept and you can find some cheap deals for sure. It is especially helpful when you are going to a game that is supposed to be a big crowd.
The final option I'll mention is parking at Fountain Square. After 4PM they go to a flat rate of $5, and it is a very modern facility that is set in the heart of the city. You can pay at the pay station prior to leaving, and you are still a reasonable walk to the ballpark. You are surrounded by places like Starbucks, Rock Bottom, Graeters, etc. so there are plenty of places to go before and after the ballgame. If no other option works out, this is a nice, safe place to park.
If you are going to a weekday - day game, forget everything that I just told you. You will want to head straight to Kentucky and park and ride the shuttle or walk. Downtown has so many garages that are employees only that it can be tough to find something. Click here to read my full post on daytime parking. I learned the hard way.
food stands at gabp
If you are cheap like me; ballpark food and your wallet probably don’t get along too well. But I am going to let you in on a secret that very few people take advantage of: You can bring in your own food into Great American Ballpark!
So please never complain again about ballpark prices! You are not a captive audience. There are tons of options around the stadium, so walk around a little. This is especially true with the Banks, which I'll talk more about in a minute.
The Reds will let you bring almost anything. I always bring my own peanuts, and I have carried in Skyline, Pot Belly, etc. many times. I have found that the "yellow shirts" of security at Great American Ballpark are pretty friendly. If you forget to bring your own snacks, check out the nearby Walgreens.
You can also bring your own non-alcoholic bottled beverages into the stadium. This of course is only plastic bottles, and those bottles have to be unopened.
So please never complain again about ballpark prices! You are not a captive audience. There are tons of options around the stadium, so walk around a little. This is especially true with the Banks, which I'll talk more about in a minute.
The Reds will let you bring almost anything. I always bring my own peanuts, and I have carried in Skyline, Pot Belly, etc. many times. I have found that the "yellow shirts" of security at Great American Ballpark are pretty friendly. If you forget to bring your own snacks, check out the nearby Walgreens.
You can also bring your own non-alcoholic bottled beverages into the stadium. This of course is only plastic bottles, and those bottles have to be unopened.
Sometimes you just need ballpark food. Its the American thing to do. The Reds have also introduced the $1 menu. It includes kids hot dogs, peanuts, candy, ice cream and 12 oz pop. You definitely get what you pay for, as all of that stuff is Honey I Shrunk The Kids small. However, a man can live on 2 of those dogs with a side of peanuts.
The reason I love the $1 idea by the Reds is just the fact that you now have that option. Before if you just wanted a drink the starting price was $4.00, so the $1 booth can really help with the kids that just need "something."
There used to be 2 $1 stands, but now there is only 1 in the upper deck. The $1 stand on the lower level was replaced by the Food Network stand. The lines so far have been ridiculously long, so get it early. Speaking of the Food Network stand at Great American Ballpark, I tried the food there recently and was quite impressed. Read my full review of the Food Network Stand here.
Here is my favorite "full size" value option; Penn Station. This local east coast sub shop first opened booths in 2007, and they serve only their steak sandwich and fries at the stadium. The restaurant is hugely popular in the area, and the sandwich and fries will cost you about $10 at Great American. But the thing is a medium sandwich and fry at the restaurant costs about $8, so the mark-up isn't as outrageous as other food options. Places like Skyline and Larosas are good, but their ballpark mark-up is about double. For instance, Larosa's pizza is about $5 a slice in the park and you can get an entire large pizza at their restaurant for about $12. If you are going to spend… spend wisely.
For most thrifty people its not all about saving a buck, but its getting the best bang for it. I think you will see I don’t always recommend the cheapest thing, but I do look for the best value. Nowhere is that more important than tickets.
Another new development which is great for pre and post-game dining is the Banks. The "Banks Project" is a term known by most Cincinnatians as a project that seemed like it would never happen. The Banks is located in the same place that used to have a big empty pit of dirt next to the first base side of the stadium.
While not for the budget conscious, the Banks parking garage also provides a nice premium parking option. For about $12, you can park virtually under the stadium, and minimize your walk. If you are coming in from out of town, I would recommend grabbing dinner at the Moerlein Lager House. This is an amazing looking facility, and it sits on the former site of Riverfront Stadium. Christian Moerlein is an old Cincinnati brewery, and this is a place you won't find anywhere else. The views are also amazing from every level. Best of all, this is just steps from the ballpark. Congrats to Cincinnati for getting this one right. A cheap food option at the Banks is Jimmy Johns, which has good sized subs for a little over $5, which you can take into the ballpark with you.
Here is more information about what else can be found at the Banks
For most thrifty people its not all about saving a buck, but its getting the best bang for it. I think you will see I don’t always recommend the cheapest thing, but I do look for the best value. Nowhere is that more important than tickets.
Another new development which is great for pre and post-game dining is the Banks. The "Banks Project" is a term known by most Cincinnatians as a project that seemed like it would never happen. The Banks is located in the same place that used to have a big empty pit of dirt next to the first base side of the stadium.
While not for the budget conscious, the Banks parking garage also provides a nice premium parking option. For about $12, you can park virtually under the stadium, and minimize your walk. If you are coming in from out of town, I would recommend grabbing dinner at the Moerlein Lager House. This is an amazing looking facility, and it sits on the former site of Riverfront Stadium. Christian Moerlein is an old Cincinnati brewery, and this is a place you won't find anywhere else. The views are also amazing from every level. Best of all, this is just steps from the ballpark. Congrats to Cincinnati for getting this one right. A cheap food option at the Banks is Jimmy Johns, which has good sized subs for a little over $5, which you can take into the ballpark with you.
Here is more information about what else can be found at the Banks
finding cheap reds tickets
Anybody can look at a team website and find out what the cheap seats are. As I said before; I like a good deal. That doesn’t always mean buying the cheapest seats available. I am going to give you a lesson in value as it pertains to Great American Ballpark seating.The bleacher seats at Great American Ballpark are $7, but at an evening game you are the last people to get shade. For the majority of the season that is not a good thing, you will be baking until about 9:00. Usually seats are available in every section. In most cases you can buy the bleacher seat, and then move over to the upper deck in right field. If you want to move any lower than that, you will probably run into an usher checking your ticket until about the 4th inning. If you are moving down, for some reason the field seats between third base and the left field foul poll are usually pretty empty, that is a good area to shoot for later in the game.
Keys to moving down: - Get a birds eye view and scout empty rows, and usherless sections.
- Wait at least 3 innings, people are always late
- Once you have found the area to invade, WALK CONFIDENTLY.
- Half the battle is looking like you know exactly where you are going.
- If there are ushers around, act like you’re on the phone. They are less likely to stop you.
- In the lower sections, move to the middle of the row. It is preferable if you don’t have to get folks to stand up and let you in. The less you inconvenience people sitting there, the less likely they are to say something.By being the middle you decrease the odds of somebody coming in with those seats, (people like aisle seats) and you give yourself options to move in the same row if somebody does show.
If the game is pretty crowded, or you just don’t want the adventure/hassle of moving around, here are other value options.
View Level Right Field – These are going to set you back about $14 a piece, and personally I think that sometimes the higher up, the better. I know that is contrary to most ticket logic, but it gives you a better breeze, shade on a day game, and a better view of the river and Mt. Adams. Besides that, the crowd tends to be thinner up there, and less late people walk in front of you.
The Reds have also just announced that they are bringing back the $5 seats at Great American Ballpark for every game in the last 2 sections of the right and left field view level seats. That is now officially the best deal in the stadium in my opinion. These tickets were $14 in 2008, but the Reds brought the price back down because Bob Castellini is a decent man. Right field still trumps left in my opinion because I prefer the shade. You should arrive early on game day to get these tickets, they will go fast on a nice night with high walk up numbers.
To me its important to be in the shade for summer games. Anything in on the first base side is preferable in that regard.
Sun/Moon deck Right Field - Great value for a night game. In this section you want to be as close to row A as possible, which would have you hanging over the outfield fence. This area of Great American Ballpark is more crowded than the upper deck, but you still get in the shade around game time (night games) and are very close to the field for around $20 - $30 .
In these seats right field trumps left field again because of the scoreboard view. The seats on the left field wall have no view of the big screen which really takes away from the mid-inning fun. You cannot go wrong in right field.
If you are a bigger person and tend to feel uncomfortable and cramped in stadium seats, the GABP has you covered. They have a fair amount of seats that are on the aisle and don't have an arm rest, or the arm rest flips up. So you can spread out a bit and not worry about trying to cram into a seat. These are often in the last couple rows of the section, but if you go to the ticket window and just ask about the seats with flip up arm rests - they will know what you are talking about. Sometimes they are considered handicapped rows, but that certainly isn't a requirement. We have had season tickets at Great American Ballpark for years with one of these seats; it's nice for a big man.
Another way to find discounted Reds tickets is to be a PNC customer, at least for now, if you pay $10 annually for a Reds' check card, you can buy Monday - Thursday games at 50% off non-premium seats. That is a great deal if you only use it one time. See your local branch for details
Where to buy
For the Reds you can usually buy tickets at the window or online via their website. For tough games (which is rare) you can always feel good about going to Stubhub. Craigslist is an option too, but be careful to not get screwed, tatooed, and barbecued (AKA taken advantage of). Here is my checklist for buying tickets on Craigslist.
Another great place to buy tickets is from Score Big. Let's face it, most ticket broker sites are the same but this one is actually different. It is kind of like the Priceline of sports tickets. Essentially you can search events in your area, and make an offer on tickets and get an instant answer on whether your bid is accepted.
Here are a couple of screenshots of how it works. You can select a quantity, and then it gives you different tiers. It gives you an approximate discount percentage, and shows on the seat map which sections your tickets could possibly be in.
Next you enter in a price, again it gives you an idea how how likely that is to be accepted. I made the comparison to Priceline, and it is true, you have to put in payment details prior to making an official offer. But if you are going to the game, what a great way to save money on tickets! I have a feeling this site is going to get big. From time to time, I'll have a promo code available for Score Big. Click here to see if there are any current discounts.
Click here to check out tickets on Score Big.
Keys to moving down: - Get a birds eye view and scout empty rows, and usherless sections.
- Wait at least 3 innings, people are always late
- Once you have found the area to invade, WALK CONFIDENTLY.
- Half the battle is looking like you know exactly where you are going.
- If there are ushers around, act like you’re on the phone. They are less likely to stop you.
- In the lower sections, move to the middle of the row. It is preferable if you don’t have to get folks to stand up and let you in. The less you inconvenience people sitting there, the less likely they are to say something.By being the middle you decrease the odds of somebody coming in with those seats, (people like aisle seats) and you give yourself options to move in the same row if somebody does show.
If the game is pretty crowded, or you just don’t want the adventure/hassle of moving around, here are other value options.
View Level Right Field – These are going to set you back about $14 a piece, and personally I think that sometimes the higher up, the better. I know that is contrary to most ticket logic, but it gives you a better breeze, shade on a day game, and a better view of the river and Mt. Adams. Besides that, the crowd tends to be thinner up there, and less late people walk in front of you.
The Reds have also just announced that they are bringing back the $5 seats at Great American Ballpark for every game in the last 2 sections of the right and left field view level seats. That is now officially the best deal in the stadium in my opinion. These tickets were $14 in 2008, but the Reds brought the price back down because Bob Castellini is a decent man. Right field still trumps left in my opinion because I prefer the shade. You should arrive early on game day to get these tickets, they will go fast on a nice night with high walk up numbers.
To me its important to be in the shade for summer games. Anything in on the first base side is preferable in that regard.
Sun/Moon deck Right Field - Great value for a night game. In this section you want to be as close to row A as possible, which would have you hanging over the outfield fence. This area of Great American Ballpark is more crowded than the upper deck, but you still get in the shade around game time (night games) and are very close to the field for around $20 - $30 .
In these seats right field trumps left field again because of the scoreboard view. The seats on the left field wall have no view of the big screen which really takes away from the mid-inning fun. You cannot go wrong in right field.
If you are a bigger person and tend to feel uncomfortable and cramped in stadium seats, the GABP has you covered. They have a fair amount of seats that are on the aisle and don't have an arm rest, or the arm rest flips up. So you can spread out a bit and not worry about trying to cram into a seat. These are often in the last couple rows of the section, but if you go to the ticket window and just ask about the seats with flip up arm rests - they will know what you are talking about. Sometimes they are considered handicapped rows, but that certainly isn't a requirement. We have had season tickets at Great American Ballpark for years with one of these seats; it's nice for a big man.
Another way to find discounted Reds tickets is to be a PNC customer, at least for now, if you pay $10 annually for a Reds' check card, you can buy Monday - Thursday games at 50% off non-premium seats. That is a great deal if you only use it one time. See your local branch for details
Where to buy
For the Reds you can usually buy tickets at the window or online via their website. For tough games (which is rare) you can always feel good about going to Stubhub. Craigslist is an option too, but be careful to not get screwed, tatooed, and barbecued (AKA taken advantage of). Here is my checklist for buying tickets on Craigslist.
Another great place to buy tickets is from Score Big. Let's face it, most ticket broker sites are the same but this one is actually different. It is kind of like the Priceline of sports tickets. Essentially you can search events in your area, and make an offer on tickets and get an instant answer on whether your bid is accepted.
Here are a couple of screenshots of how it works. You can select a quantity, and then it gives you different tiers. It gives you an approximate discount percentage, and shows on the seat map which sections your tickets could possibly be in.
Next you enter in a price, again it gives you an idea how how likely that is to be accepted. I made the comparison to Priceline, and it is true, you have to put in payment details prior to making an official offer. But if you are going to the game, what a great way to save money on tickets! I have a feeling this site is going to get big. From time to time, I'll have a promo code available for Score Big. Click here to see if there are any current discounts.
Click here to check out tickets on Score Big.
Stubhub is the official marketplace for MLB tickets, and they protect you against fraudulent tickets. If you want to buy on Stubhub, you are usually better off if you can wait until close to game time. For baseball, you usually print your tickets at home after you buy. This means you can often buy tickets up until a couple hours before game time. From the seller perspective, Stubhub encourages sellers to reduce their price incrementally as the event gets closer so they aren't stuck with the tickets. So when you are looking at a game that starts in just a few hours, it is likely you are going to find some great value
lodging near great american ballpark
The first thing I'll recommend isn't a hotel at all, it is AirBNB. If you aren't familiar, this is a site rising in popularity that allows people to host you and turn their own place into a Bed and Breakfast. It is a great way to meet people and even better to stay at some really cool places for way less than you would pay at a hotel. Imagine staying at this place (pictured) in the 'Nati for just over $100 a night (prices vary)... I've done AirBNB myself and think it is definitely worth checking out. So check it out.
If you prefer the hotel route, I'd go with Hotwire. They are pretty widely known at this point, but I've used it countless times and have had mostly great success. You'll certainly save money over booking directly through a hotel. If not knowing the name of the hotel is your problem, check out my road trip guide for a breakdown of how I can figure out a hotwire hotel ahead of time.
If you are coming from out of town to see the Reds, Cincinnati USA may have a solution to get a hotel and discounted tickets at the same time. Here are more details.
As far as safety, I would stay in downtown and be fine with it. There you can walk to Great American Ballpark. If you are not going to stay there, I would next go to Florence, KY or Sharonville, OH. Those are both about 10 miles away, but they have easy interstate access and are very safe areas. Anywhere near downtown that is not in the heart of downtown is a crappy area to stay, and you might die. They won't mention that on the Great American Ballpark A-Z Guide, that's our little secret.
If you prefer the hotel route, I'd go with Hotwire. They are pretty widely known at this point, but I've used it countless times and have had mostly great success. You'll certainly save money over booking directly through a hotel. If not knowing the name of the hotel is your problem, check out my road trip guide for a breakdown of how I can figure out a hotwire hotel ahead of time.
If you are coming from out of town to see the Reds, Cincinnati USA may have a solution to get a hotel and discounted tickets at the same time. Here are more details.
As far as safety, I would stay in downtown and be fine with it. There you can walk to Great American Ballpark. If you are not going to stay there, I would next go to Florence, KY or Sharonville, OH. Those are both about 10 miles away, but they have easy interstate access and are very safe areas. Anywhere near downtown that is not in the heart of downtown is a crappy area to stay, and you might die. They won't mention that on the Great American Ballpark A-Z Guide, that's our little secret.
free stuff at GABP and/or from the reds
- During the seventh-inning stretch of all weekend home games and other special dates, the Rumpke Green Guardians consisting of 30-40 volunteers will walk the aisles collecting recyclable items from fans. The Reds and Rumpke are proud to partner on this and other recycling initiatives, which includes more than 200 recycling containers throughout the ballpark. Participants receive free entry to the game and a Green Guardian T-Shirt. If you or your group would like to be a part of the Reds Green Guardians, please contact Sean Brown at (513) 765-7061 or sbrown@reds.com.
- The Reds Rover is great for local festivals, charity fundraisers, parades and many other community events. The Rover will come equipped with enter-to-win contests, a coloring contest, Reds Cornhole, and giveaway items for your event. The Reds Rover is available for booking from April-October. For more information visit reds.com or contact the program coordinator at (513) 765-7230 or rover@reds.com. The Reds Rover is a free service to the community.
- Free games for the kids in the Fan Zone, which is located next to the Hall of Fame down the first base side of the ballpark. Speed pitch, run the bases, slides, and more all included with your entry to the game.
