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BEEN THERE, DONE THAT: Aug. 2002 (u.c.), Aug. 15, 2004 (SD 7, CIN 2); Aug. 15, 2009
Contrary to what one might think, the name of the Reds' new stadium is not brazen boastfulness, but rather is the name of the insurance / financial services corporation that paid for the naming rights. "Great American"certainly is a beautiful ballpark in a picturesque setting, but it goes a bit overboard in terms of design features. It would seem that the architects were trying to overcompensate for all the flaws of its rather dull predecessor, Riverfront Stadium (a.k.a. Cinergy Field), which used to stand right next to where GABP (as it known for short) is located. (Hence the two-phase demolition.) Like a theme park, it has a big riverboat paddle wheel and two smokestacks beyond center field. Great American Ballpark is wide open, providing good views of the Ohio River (at least for upper-deck fans), whereas the old stadium was fully enclosed. Most notably, there is a gap between the upper decks on the left side behind home. (NOTE: The profiles in the diagram above apply to the respective side of the grandstand they are on.) Also, the upper deck is much smaller on the third base side, with virtually no overhang over the mezzanine deck, quite unlike the first base side. Taken all together, these design elements come across as a bit gimmicky.
Just as Riverfront Stadium and Three Rivers Stadium shared many design features (and "birthyears"), GABP and Pittsburgh's PNC Park (two years older) bear many similarities. The most notable parallels are the outfield dimensions, the configuration of the seating areas, and the river beyond the right field seats. In back of the center field fence is a shrub-covered slope and the "Batter's Eye Pavilion," a lounge with dark windows. In addition, there is a distinct bend in the fence in dead center field, which was presaged by the similar "bent" fence in "Cinergy Field" during its last two years when the outfield grandstand was demolished to make room for construction on GABP. Foul territory is miniscule, though the curvature of the grandstand in that area is broader than at PNC Park. The correspondingly-positioned scoreboard in left field is the longest one in all of major league baseball, and the upper deck below it consists of true bench-style bleachers. Behind that scoreboard is a huge image of the bat and ball with which Pete "You Bet!" Rose hit his 4,192nd hit, breaking Ty Cobb's record. Between GABP and U.S. Bank Arena on the east side is "Pete Rose Way," part of which is visible in one of the photos below.
There are a number of oddities that make this venue quite unique, and perhaps a little strange. Both the grandstand on the first base side and the right field quasi-bleachers are gently curved, unlike any other neoclassical stadium. Those bleachers are much steeper than normal, and the number of rows declines steadily as it extends toward center field. This curvature of the outside perimeter of the stadium was forced by the curved street alongside the Ohio River. Apparently no one has yet hit a home run into the Ohio River on the fly, though in 2004 Adam Dunn hit one that bounced in. The upper deck on the first base side has a wide concourse that cuts into the profile of the deck, almost dividing it into two. At the far end of the mezzanine level near the right field foul pole is "Riverfront Club" upscale restaurant and a party deck. The very long stretches where the grandstand parallels the foul lines on both sides, especially the third base side, are much like Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
Many aspects of GABP have obvious commercial origins, which is understandable given the limited public funding available in a smaller city. There are special party suites on both ends of the mezzanine level. In back of the grandstand behind home plate there is an office building complex that creates a triangular semi-closed plaza, somewhat like behind center field at Turner Field. (The building on the north side is visible in the diagram, but the building on the west side is not.) As you enter that plaza, there is a huge bas relief mural titled "The Spirit of Baseball." Quite appropriate for the home city of the very first professional baseball team. The big drawback with GABP's location is that the freeway impedes pedestrian traffic and isolates the stadium from the rest of downtown.
In terms of its hoped-for effect on winning games, the inaugural year of Great American Ballpark was a disappointment. The early part of the 2004 season saw a remarkable upturn in the team's fortunes, however, as the Reds were briefly vying with the Cubs and the Astros for the lead in the NL Central Division. Then the Cardinals brushed everybody aside. With the departure of the aging slugger Ken Griffey Jr. and young slugger Adam Dunn, the Reds are sorely lacking in offensive power. One wonders how many of the folks attending games at GABP even remember the glory days of the Big Red Machine? Cincinnati baseball fans are in desperate need of some wins...
SOURCES: Lowry (2006), Pastier (2007), Google Earth, www.blueskyaerialphotography.com
