Baseball returns to Cincinnati Thursday. The Reds start the 2024 season hosting the Washington Nationals. Mayor Aftab Pureval says the day is about more than a game.
“This is a moment for us as a community to celebrate the optimism we have for the coming season, the pride we have in Cincinnati’s legacy, and the fact that this is a day that you cannot experience anywhere else.”
Cincinnati is one of a few cities that celebrates the first day of the season, recognizing the birthplace of professional baseball.
Related: Howard Wilkinson says this will be the second year for a new Reds era
Reds President and COO Phil Castellini says the team is wildly excited for the season.
“Most importantly, we’re excited for our fans. We’re excited for our city. We’re excited to get baseball started in Cincinnati,” he says. “What’s most exciting is how pumped up our players are. The energy is high. The enthusiasm is high, and I think we’re going to pick up right where we left off last year.”
The team ended last season with an 82-80 record, which was 20 more wins than the year before. In June 2023, the team had a 12-game win streak, the third best in franchise history.
Let's have a parade
The Opening Day parade starts at noon at Findlay Market, and travels south on Race Street, and then east on Fifth. Two members of the 1999 Reds will lead the parade this year: Pokey Reese and Dmitri Young.
According to the Cincinnati Department of Transportation and Engineering, several streets will be closed for the staging and the parade. Streets will remain closed until after the parade has passed, and they are safe to open.
Related: Grand Marshalls named for 105th Findlay Market Opening Day Parade
All Metro services Thursday will be fare-free, including Metro fixed-routes, Access paratransit, and MetroNow! on-demand services.
The parade will affect Government Square and other Downtown stops throughout the morning and early afternoon. Please check http://www.go-metro.com/service-detours for which routes will be impacted.
The following streets in the Findlay Market area will close at 8:00 AM:
- Race Street –between Liberty Street and McMicken Street
- Elm Street - between Liberty Street and McMicken Street
- Findlay Street - between Central Parkway and Vine Street
- Elder Street - between Central Parkway and Vine Street
- Green Street - between Vine Street and Logan Street
- Henry Street - between Race Street and Dunlap Street
- Dunlap Street - between Findlay Street and McMicken Street
- Logan Street - between Liberty Street and Findlay Street
Beginning at 11:15, the following Parade Route and Cross Streets will be closed:
- Liberty Street- between Vine Street and Central Parkway
- Central Parkway- between Vine Street and Elm Street
- Race Street - between Liberty Street and Fourth Street
- Fifth Street - between Elm Street and Sentinel Street
- Fifteenth Street - between Republic Street and Elm Street
- Fourteenth Street - between Elm Street and Republic Street
- Thirteenth Street- between Race Street and Vine Street
- Twelfth Street - between Elm Street and Vine Street
- Court Street –between Elm Street and Vine Street
- Ninth Street –between Elm Street and Vine Street
Cross Streets (close at 11:15 AM):
- Eighth Street –between Elm Street and Vine Street
- Seventh Street –between Elm Street and Vine Street
- Sixth Street - between Elm Street and Vine Street
- Vine Street –between Fourth Street and Sixth Street
- Walnut Street – between Fourth Street and Sixth Street
- Main Street - between Fourth Street and Sixth Street
- Sycamore Street - between Fourth Street and Sixth Street
- Broadway Street - between Fourth Street and Sixth Street
The Banks:
- Freedom Way- between Rosa Parks Street and Joe Nuxhall Way
- Marian Spencer Way- between Second Street and Ted Berry Way (local garage access maintained)
- Joe Nuxhall Way- south of Second St (hotel and handicap drop off maintained from Mehring)
At Great American Ball Park
Gates open at 2:10. Pregame ceremonies will start at 3:30. The first pitch of the game is scheduled at 4:10. According to the Reds, the pregame ceremonies include:
- Ceremonial First Pitch: Reds Hall of Famer Sean Casey.
- Game Ball Delivery: Reds Hall of Famer & 1977 NL MVP George Foster will deliver the Official Game Ball. Honorary Captain: Reds Hall of Famer Marty Brennaman will serve as the Honorary Captain of the Game, celebrating the 50th anniversary of his debut as a Reds broadcaster in 1974.
- National Anthem: Marlana VanHoose from Denver, Ky. will perform the National Anthem.
- Flyover presented by GE Aerospace: The pregame flyover will be performed by two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the U.S. Army Reserves 8-229th Assault Helicopter Battalion out of Fort Knox, Ky. The helicopters feature GE T700 Turboshaft engines.
- American Flag: A giant 300’ by 150’ American flag will be unfurled during the singing of our National Anthem by members of the Cincinnati Firefighters Local 48.
- Honor Guard: Members of the United States Marines Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, Army & Air Force will present colors in our traditional “Parade of Colors.”
- Rosie Reds: Representatives from the Rosie Reds organization will make the traditional presentation of Opening Day plaques to Reds manager David Bell and Nationals manager Dave Martinez.
- Findlay Market Basket: Representatives from Findlay Market will make their annual Findlay Market Basket presentation to Reds manager David Bell.
