Opening Day in Major League Baseball is right around the corner. The days are becoming longer. The air is getting warmer. Spring Training is wrapping up in Florida and Arizona. Optimism abounds for many. Officially, Opening Day will occur Sunday, April 3rd. But those in the very tight knit area of Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky & Southeast Indiana would beg to differ. To them, Opening Day does not occur until the first pitch is thrown for the Cincinnati Reds.
That used to be the case for everyone, too. For decades, Cincinnati hosted the “Traditional Opener” at home, but the streak was snapped in 1990 when the Reds opened on the road vs. the Houston Astros. In 1998, Cincinnati’s city council even voted to turn back the clocks in the city on Opening Day to ensure the Reds played the first game of that MLB Season. But now, due to the pressure of TV entities like ESPN, Cincinnati no longer hosts the “Traditional Opener”.
The 2016 MLB season will be a tough one for the Redlegs. Many publications and prognosticators are predicting no better than a fourth place finish in the NL Central. Not even that will dampen enthusiasm for Opening Day in Cincinnati on April 4th. Smiles and happiness will abound, because Cincinnati’s Opening Day is indeed magical. Even with a scheduled 4:05 p.m. ET first pitch, fans will begin converging in the area known as “The Banks” around Great American Ball Park as early as 6 a.m. They will take in radio remotes, parties, tailgates, tasty food, and “icy cold beverages” to celebrate another new beginning for baseball’s oldest professional franchise.
Cincinnati Reds Opening Day also means a parade. The 97th edition of the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade will kick off at noon. For hours, it will wind its way through the downtown of the Queen City. Floats from local businesses, churches, and civic groups, marching bands, local dignitaries, and celebrities all take part. People come together to celebrate another baseball season. Thousands line the streets to show their appreciation and enthusiasm. The Grand Marshal of the Findlay Market Parade is typically a Reds star of the past. This year’s Grand Marshal will be “Sweet” Lou Piniella, who managed the Reds to the 1990 World Championship.
Opening Day in Cincinnati is a holiday. You will see many children with their parents that day at the parade and at the game. School systems in the area usually look the other way as far as absences. The parents of those children probably skipped school for Opening Day back when they were kids. Their parents before them probably did as well.
Many come from all across the region known as “Reds Country” to take in the opener. They make the trek from Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, and beyond. Unlike teams from Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia, the Reds are a regional franchise. They depend on fans coming from out-of-town and out-of-state to survive. Friends who haven’t seen each other since the end of the last baseball season come together for another 0pener.
The Opening Day Game in Cincinnati is always a sellout. Even during lean years for the Reds, a ticket to the opener is a hard one to get. Standing room tickets can range anywhere from $75 to $100. Cincinnati is most definitely a baseball town.
With all of this hoopla surrounding it, the opening game itself does become an afterthought at times once it begins. But then it is time to settle into enjoying the rhythm of the game and take in the smells and sounds of the ballpark, to sit back with friends and enjoy another season of our National Pastime. Just don’t forget your peanuts and Cracker Jacks.
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