Ballparks
Ballparks
I’ve now been twice - once during the inaugural season of the GAB in August of 2003, and on Monday, July 16, 2012. (All Photos are from the second trip in 2012).
On my first trip, Kim, Kate Murphy and I drove down from Cleveland on a day off while shooting ElimiDATE. Unfortunately, we left a bit late and I, trying to make up some time, was driving a bit fast. Let’s just say that people in Ohio drive slow. Very slow. An officer was standing in the fast lane over a hill and waved me off to the left shoulder where about five other cars were getting tickets. Not a great start to the day.
After that, we entered Cincinnati. I found it to be a bit run down like much of the “Rust Belt,” but you wouldn’t know it being next to the stadium. Parking is between the two beautiful and new stadiums -- the NFL Bengals Paul Brown Stadium is right next door. Both stadiums sit between downtown and the river. On the other (South) side of the river is Kentucky. And all around is a newly redeveloping downtown. Lots of restaurants and bars. A new classic “retro” ballpark in the heart of downtown.
We sat on the third (upper) deck on the 3rd base side, which afforded a nice view of the river. In the outfield, a “steamboat“ shoots fire out of it’s smoke stacks during home runs or other important events. That’s pretty cool.
I think Kate got a picture with the Mascots. Can’t remember his & her names, but they are sort of weird looking, like the Phillies Phanatic.
The biggest disappointment (besides the speeding ticket) was that the “Great American Ballpark,” which to me sounded like a proud anthem of anti-corporate naming, was in fact, just the opposite. Great American Insurance is the corporate sponsor. So much for Cincinnati’s independence. Ugh.
On my second trip in 2012, I was in a northern Cincinnati suburb shooting America’s SuperNanny, season two. I drove from the hotel with camera operator Carlos Carmona, and after a quick stop by the Frank Lloyd Wright Boulter House off I-75 near the University of Cincinnati, we headed to the GAB. We got underground parking near the park.
The area right around the stadium had grown up a bit. It looks like they had added a “Reds Hall of Fame” and a few more bars, restaurants & lofts directly across from the park. The good news is that we were able to meet up with a few other crew members at the “Holy Grail Tavern & Grille.” Directly across the street from GAB, the place was packed.
We headed over to the park a few minutes before game time, and got right in. $50 seats near first base - very nice view of the game, but no river view. Kind of missed that.
Got a picture with the mascot and Eileen, our Audio op for ASN. Must have been a man inside the costume, because I got pushed aside so he could have a photo with her! Pretty funny photo.
This time I filled up on peanuts & beer. I was highly tempted to get the two foot loaded sausage, called the “Bratter Up,” but couldn’t convince anyone to go in with me on it. Maybe next time.
The game was against the Diamondbacks. Saw some amazing plays and quite a few runs scored in the early innings. Diamondbacks ended up winning and broke the streak of the “red hot” Reds who had won something like 7 or 8 games in a row.
Cincinnati Reds - Great American Ball Park
Sunday, August 31, 2003