Cincinnati Reds Great American Ball Park Fan Guide [2023 Info]


Sportsfanfocus.com has no affiliation with Great American Ball Park, the Cincinnati Reds, or MLB (info)

This is a guide to the Cincinnati Reds home ballpark (Great American Ball Park). Going to a major league baseball game can be fun, unique experience that you will want to plan for accordingly. Before you head to the game, you will want to know some some important policies and procedures, as well as stadium gate and parking lot locations for easy entrance.

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In this article we will discuss:

  • What to bring to a Cincinnati Reds Game
  • Cincinnati Reds Ticket Information
  • Cincinnati Reds Stadium Gate Information
  • Does Great American Ball Park Accept Cash?
  • How Long are Reds Games?

What to Bring to a Cincinnati Reds Game?

If you are going to a Cincinnati Reds game, below is a list of things you might need to bring. You will want to make sure you are complying with any security protocols the stadium has:

  • Clear Stadium BagMany stadiums have strict bag policies and recommend a clear stadium bag like this one available at Amazon (paid affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com)
  • Parking Pass – Many stadiums recommend fans to pre-purchase parking passes if needed to help avoid the hassle and wait times associated with buying passes at the stadium. Click here to view the current prices of Cincinnati Reds parking passes and tickets available at Vivid Seats (paid affiliate link takes you to VividSeats.com)
  • Weather and Sun protection – Great American Ball Park is an open-air stadium, which means you will want to be prepared to face the elements when you attend a Cincinnati Reds game. Things like sunscreen, hats, jackets, and rain ponchos may be needed depending on weather forecasts.
  • Bug Repellent – Because Great American Ball Park is open air, bugs may be an issue during summer. Just make sure your bug repellent meets stadium safety guidelines for aerosol cans.
  • Camera – Some fans like to bring a camera into the game. Just make sure your camera meets the stadium requirements regarding cameras and video recorders.
  • Noise-Canceling Headphones – Stadiums can get very loud, and noise-canceling headphones may be needed for toddlers.
  • Cashless Payment – Many stadiums are slowly transitioning to cashless payments, so bringing a form of payment other than cash is never a bad idea.
  • Baseball Glove – Some fans like to bring a baseball glove to the stadium in hopes of catching a foul ball.

Can You Bring a Bag Into Great American Ball Park?

As an emphasis on security has increased in recent years, most stadiums have adjusted their bag policies. Many stadiums recommend using a clear stadium bag like this one available at Amazon (paid affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

Clear stadium bags help with security at the gate, and not only make the stadium safer, but also help security lines move faster. But each stadium has its own safety guidelines, and may include certain exceptions. To read more, I would advise you to visit the Reds information guide.

Cincinnati Reds Ticket Information

Can You Buy Tickets at Great American Ball Park?

As of 2023, the Cincinnati Reds use digital tickets. The ticket office windows at the stadium can provide assistance in purchasing digital tickets. You can purchase tickets directly from the team’s website or from the MLB Ballpark app as long as supplies last. You can also purchase tickets from ticket brokers such as StubHub or Vivid Seats.

  • I like to use Vivid Seats because they show me what my view from the seats will look like prior to purchase. Click here to view Cincinnati Reds tickets available at Vivid Seats (paid affiliate link takes you to VividSeats.com).

If you need to visit the ticket office for assistance, the Reds ticket office entrance at The Great American Ball park is located on the north side of the stadium at the corner of Johnny Bench Way and Pete Rose Way. You will see a large set of stairs (view) that you will need to walk up and continue heading east until you see the ticket windows. The area is known as the Crosley Terrace.

On gamedays, the Reds Ticket Office at The Great American Ball Park is open Monday through Sunday from 9am until the end of the 7th inning (source).

You can also buy directly from the team by downloading the MLB Ballpark App to your mobile device. The MLB Ballpark app is MLB’s free, official app that makes it easy to access, manage, and use your tickets. This is where you can learn more about the Ballpark App.

To read more, visit our article about buying Reds tickets at the stadium. If you are looking for other ways to get tickets, check out our article on the best places to find Red Tickets.

Great American Ball Park Gate Information

Great American Ball Park gates will open 2 hours or 90 minutes before first pitch depending on what time of the year or what time the game is. While these are the posted times by the Reds, please know gate times could change. It you have questions, it is always best to contact the Reds. Great American Ball Park does have several gates conveniently located around the stadium.

Depending on where you park, and where your seats are located, one entrance might make more sense for you than the others. To read about the location of each, and what parking lots make the most sense for you, visit our Cincinnati Reds Great American Ball Park Gate and Parking Guide.

Fans can enter early to watch batting practice once stadium gates open. For more information, visit our article about watching batting practice at Great American Ball Park.

How Long Do Reds Games Last?

You can expect a Cincinnati Reds game to last slightly over three hours on average, but it is worth noting that some games can last closer to four hours depending on pace of play. In 2021, the average Major League Baseball game lasted 3 hours and 10 minutes (source).    

The length of games has become a point of emphasis for Major League Baseball as many fans site pace of play as one thing they’d like to see improve with the sport. In recent years, Major League Baseball has taken steps to help shorten the length of games, but the effectiveness of these measures is still under evaluation.

Major League Baseball games consist of nine total innings, with the exception of double header games which are only 7 total innings in length. If you are heading to Great American Ball Park, planning for a 3-4 hour game is probably the safest bet. To read more, visit our article about the average time a MLB game takes.

Buying Cincinnati Reds Gear at the Stadium

The Cincinnati Reds have an authentic team store located near Great American Ball Park Gate A or also known as the Main Entrance where you can shop for Reds jerseys and other types of fan gear. You can, of course, also shop online prior to the game. To read more, visit Reds Jersey Guide.

Does Great American Ball Park Accept Cash Inside the Stadium?

The Great American Ballpark is a cashless and, as of recently, a contactless venue for concession and merchandise stands. Fans have the option of paying with debit/credit card or utilizing Reds Pay, a new mobile payment solution run through the MLB Ballpark app.

As clarification, the 50/50 Raffle tickets can’t be purchased with cash either. It is always a good ideas to check the Reds Information Guide on the status of payment options at Great American Ball Park.

Cincinnati Reds Contact Info

This website (sportsfanfocus.com) has no affiliation with Great American Ball Park, the Cincinnati Reds, MLB, or any of the events hosted at this facility.

Any information is provided “as is” with no guarantee of completeness, meaning much of this information is subject to change, and although we do our best to keep these guides updated, we can’t guarantee accuracy at all times. For all official information, we urge you to contact the Cincinnati Reds staff. Contact information is below:

Need Tickets or Parking Passes? – I like to use Vivid Seats because they show me what my view from the seat will look like prior to purchase. Click here to view Cincinnati Reds tickets and parking passes available at VividSeats.com (affiliate link takes you to vividseats.com).

Joshua Lloyd

Joshua is lead content creator for basketball and golf at Sports Fan Focus. Golf is a passion of his and he enjoys both playing and watching golf in his spare time. To read more about Joshua, visit the SFF About Us page.

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