Miller Park may be my “home ballpark,” but Great American Ballpark is currently the closest Major League Baseball stadium, and probably the one I have been to the most after Miller Park. Like Miller Park, it’s also special to me for several reasons.
Hubby and I went to a lot of baseball games when we lived in Chicago and Milwaukee, but I believe that it was in the stands of the Great American Ballpark when our Major League Baseball ballpark tour was born. We were living in Michigan, and we were in Cincinnati because Hubby was running the Flying Pig Marathon for the first time. We decided to go to the game as something low-key to do on the night before the race. As we sat in the outfield watching the game, we decided it would be very cool to see every Major League Baseball stadium, and that we wouldn’t do it all in one year, but we would definitely do it!
Fast forward nine years, and Hubby, infant Kiddo, and I moved to Cincinnati from Milwaukee. The Brewers and the Reds are in the same division (NL Central) so we can still see the Brewers play a few times per year without having to travel. As luck would have it, the Brewers played the Reds in Cincinnati on Mother’s Day the first year we lived in Cincinnati – my first Mother’s Day. Because we are who we are, we celebrated my first Mother’s Day at Great American Ballpark, where we watched the Brewers beat the Reds! This also happened to be kiddo’s first baseball game. He even has a certificate for his first game, with the date and opponent. Even though it was in Cincinnati, we always call it his first Brewers game! And, as the icing on the cake, my parents came to the game with us, so I got to celebrate my first Mother’s Day with my mom doing something that is so special to our whole family.
My 1st Mother’s Day celebrating at the ballpark with my mom! 
Kiddo’s 1st Baseball Game
And, can we all agree that Great American Ballpark is the greatest name for a ballpark?
Great American Ballpark is located in downtown Cincinnati, which has changed dramatically in the last five years. Downtown Cincinnati is gorgeous and if you are visiting from out of town, plan to spend some time at Smale Riverfront Park and have dinner or a drink at one of the many restaurants and bars in the area. Smale Riverfront Park is next to the Ohio River and extends between Great American Ballpark and Paul Brown Stadium (home of the NFL Cincinnati Bengals), and has a great playground, splash pad, human checkers, giant porch swings, and a plethora of other things that are worth spending some time exploring. I like Moerlein Lager House for dinner before games – it is across the street from the stadium, has good food, and they take reservations on OpenTable. It’s a microbrewery so it’s a chance to try some local beers too. In fact, on Sundays, the Reds have partnered with Moerlein for a Brunch, Brews, and Baseball series.
Public transportation exists in Cincinnati, but it’s more of a novelty than a functional method of transportation, so walking from a downtown location or from Newport, Kentucky, and driving are the best options to get to the ballpark. There are plenty of garages and parking lots near the stadium, but tailgating is not part of the experience.
The area immediately outside of Great American Ballpark is really nice, even on non-game days. There are some statues to pose with, and the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum is open on game days, on the weekend on non-game days during the season, and Tuesday through Sunday during the off-season. As the oldest franchise in professional baseball, the Reds have a long, interesting history.
Inside the park, the stadium is very nice and there really isn’t a bad seat in the house. The views of the city and the riverfront are fantastic. However, amongst all the stadiums I have seen, there is nothing inside the stadium that stands out as unique or special. The food is fine, and the nacho helmets are really good, but there isn’t a vibe to the stadium that feels like this stadium is a special place to watch a game.
To be fair, of the five games I have attended, three started with a rain delay so attendance was sparse. Another game was an afternoon game in which the interstate shut down and prevented us from getting to the game until the fifth inning (others probably didn’t show up). The other game was a work function, and baseball is never the same when I’m working!
The feature of the stadium I do love is the Pampers Nursing Suite. Other stadiums have added this feature, but Great American Ballpark was the first to have it. The suite has gliders, changing stations, refrigerators (if you need to pump and store, for example) and televisions to keep up with the game while you visit the suite. There are also rocking chairs outside of the suite while you are waiting, or if you just need to rock your tired toddler to sleep. The nursing suite is an indication that the Reds are committed to providing a family-friendly environment at their games, and that is increasingly important to me.
Even though the stadium doesn’t stand out, I love going to games at Great American Ballpark. It is a solid stadium that provides an enjoyable experience watching a game, is easy to get to, and is located in an area that offers a lot to do if visiting from out of town. Because of the special memories I have from the games there, Great American Ballpark will always have a special place in my heart.
