The Game at Great American Ball Park

Those of you attending Friday’s Cardinals vs. Reds game had a choice of sitting in the Sun/Moon Deck or in the View Level. The Sun/Moon Deck, in right field, was influenced by old Crosley Field. The uncovered section creates an old-time ballpark atmosphere. The View level seats offer breathtaking views of the Ohio River, Mt. Adams and Northern Kentucky. You can’t go wrong with either choice.

To add to your enjoyment and experience, we wanted to provide a little background information about various features in Great American Ball Park (GABP). If you would like to learn more about GABP, take one of the two group tours scheduled during the convention.

1. "Spirit of Baseball" Relief

Adorning the west end of the Reds administration building is the "Spirit of Baseball," a limestone relief that stands 50-feet tall and 20-feet wide.

2. Mock Infield

Nearly two-thirds of fans entering GABP will stroll through the 50,000-square-foot Crosley Terrace, a tribute to Crosley Field. The terrace contains approximately an acre of concrete, which is landscaped with grass and trees that resemble a playing field. The "infield" contains a pitcher's mound built to Major League Baseball dimensions of the day, and grass in the terrace is sloped at the same incline as the infamous Crosley outfield.

3. Bronze Statues

The mock infield of Crosley Terrace will be brought to life by the inclusion of four bronze statues honoring Reds greats from the Crosley era: Ted Kluszewski (hitter), Ernie Lombardi (catcher), Joe Nuxhall (pitcher) and Frank Robinson (hitter). The statues were sculpted by local artist Thomas Tsuchiya.

4. 1869 Team Mosaic

As you enter the main gates of GABP, you’ll be greeted by two team mosaics. One mosaic depicts the original nine of the Cincinnati Red Stockings, baseball's first team of professionals.

5. Big Red Machine Team Mosaic

The second mosaic depicts the 1975 World Champion Cincinnati Reds team. The mosaic features the "Great Eight" of the Big Red Machine - Ken Griffey Sr., Tony Perez, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Pete Rose, Cesar Geronimo, Dave Concepcion and George Foster.

6. Concourse Quote Band

Stretching the circumference of the ballpark's concourse is a band of quotes that the team feels best represents the spirit of baseball in Cincinnati. The quote band is located on the suite level and begins on the ballpark's third-base side.

7. The "Gap"

Although the "Gap" along the third-base line provides spectacular views of downtown Cincinnati from within the ballpark, it also serves as a structural element that allows for more fans to sit closer to the field.

8. Main Scoreboard

GABP’s scoreboard is 217'9" long and 68' tall, making it the third largest (and baseball's longest) scoreboard in the Major Leagues (only Colorado and Detroit have bigger scoreboards).

9. Crosley-Era Clock

The Longines clock at Crosley Field was a unique feature in the Reds former ballpark. That historic element has been brought back to life, thanks to a replica of the clock that adorns the main scoreboard. The current clock is significantly larger than its predecessor.

10. Pepsi Power Stacks

This one-of-a-kind machine celebrates the city’s river heritage. It is found in right field between the Sun/Moon Deck and the Batter's Eye Pavilion. The Pepsi Power Stacks, which stand 64-feet high and 36-feet wide, are activated after a Reds home run, exemplary play or team victory.

11. Historic Home Plate

Following the final game at Crosley Field, home plate was dug up and ceremoniously flown by helicopter into Riverfront Stadium, where the plate was used until 1997. Sticking with tradition, that replacement plate was dug up and transported to Great American Ball Park following the final game at Cinergy Field on Sept. 22, 2002.

12. Nostalgic Field Dimensions

The distance to a 12-foot wall in left field is 328 feet, the same as Crosley Field. The distance to an 8-foot wall in center field is 404 feet, the same as Cinergy Field before the 2001 reconfiguration. And in right field, a would-be slugger would need to clear an 8-foot wall that's 325 feet from home plate, which is the shortest porch allowed by Major League Baseball.

13. Revolutionary Turf

The playing surface of GABP features a patented, stabilized sod that's grown on plastic micromesh. The roots grow into this mesh, producing durable heavy-grass matting that can weigh up to 200 pounds for a 3 foot by 5 foot section.

14. Light Towers

Twelve "toothbrush" light towers, so named because the shape is similar to that of a toothbrush, light the field at GABP. Longtime Reds fans should notice the resemblance of these light towers to those of the Crosley Field days.

15. Anti-Lightning System

This system, better known as the Prevection 4 E.A.S.E. (Electronically Activated Streamer Emission) Air Terminal System, uses the height of GABP’s light towers to grab and store atmospheric energy and safely carry it to the ground through the structure's grounding system.