About Great American Ball Park in Ohio
Great American Ball Park in Ohio is home to MLB’s Cincinnati Reds who play in the National League Central Division. Opening their doors in time for the 2003 MLB season, the ballpark replaced Cinergy Field, formerly known as Riverfront Stadium where the Reds played their home games from 1970 to 2002.
Breaking ground on August 1, 2000, the ballpark had their opening ceremony on March 21, 2003. Just before then, the insurance company Great American Insurance bought the naming rights to the stadium for $75 million on a 30-year deal.
The stadium was built by famed architect firms HOK Sport (Populous) and GBBN, coming in with a price tag of approximately $290 million, with an initial capacity of 42, 271. A renovation in 2021 expanded that maximum capacity to 43,500. It is built on the grounds of the former site of Riverfront Stadium, which was demolished on December 29, 2002.
Located at 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Great American Ball Park is known for some of its unique features, including The Gap, the Power Stacks, The Spirit of Baseball, and Mosaics. Most notably, the Power Stacks, which sit in right-center field, were built in honor of the steamboats that were typical on the Ohio River in the 19th and 20th centuries. Each time a Reds’ pitcher strikes out a batter, fire emits from the stacks, and each time a Reds’ player hits a home run, fireworks emit are launched from the stacks.
Is there sports betting at Great American Ball Park?
Yes, there is OH sports betting right across the street from Great American Ball Park at BetMGM Sportsbook. Initially located inside Great American Ball Park, it was announced in June 2023 that the BetMGM Sportsbook at the ballpark would move across the street to the corner of 2nd Street and Joe Nuxhall Way, an area formerly called Galla Park.
In addition to a full-scale sportsbook that offers betting windows and a self-service kiosk, the sportsbook also features a Nation Kitchen & Bar, one of four in the city of Cincinnati. BetMGM Sportsbook at The Banks is the best gaming and dining experience in Cincinnati, with a great environment both on game days and throughout the year. For BetMGM Rewards members, there is a VIP Lounge at the BetMGM Sportsbook which features a private bar, luxurious seating, and high-end sports viewing and dining experience.
Great American Ball Park and BetMGM Sportsbook partnership
Already with a brick-and-mortar presence in Northfield, OH (BetMGM Northfield Park), BetMGM Sportsbook Ohio inked a deal to become the official sports betting partner of the Cincinnati Reds in October of 2022. The multi-year agreement came just a few months ahead of the official launch of legal sports betting in Ohio and initially put a sportsbook directly inside of Great American Ball Park in Ohio, home of the Reds.
At the time, the BetMGM Sportsbook became one of just two MLB teams to have a sportsbook in their stadium, with the other being Nationals Park in Washington, DC.
As one of the most prominent names in the world of sports betting, BetMGM Sportsbook was instantly a hit inside Great American Ball Park and was open not only on game days but throughout the year. The Great American Ball Park and BetMGM Sportsbook partnership also gave the gaming behemoth exclusive sports betting advertising rights throughout the stadium.
To have more space, BetMGM Sportsbook moved their operations across the street to The Banks, just across the street from the stadium. Also featuring a great restaurant in Cincinnati’s own Nation Kitchen & Bar, the BetMGM Sportsbook at The Banks is one of the best places in Ohio to take in a sporting event.
History of the Great American Ball Park
