Reds Caravan to begin five-state trip Jan. 22
CINCINNATI -- One of the annual indicators that Spring Training and baseball season is soon approaching, the 2015 Reds Caravan will be hitting the road to visit with fans across the region.
The caravan will depart from the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum on Jan. 22, and travel over four days across five states and total 3,300 miles combined.
Four caravan buses will traverse across Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia and Tennessee and join together on Sunday at Great American Ball Park for the annual season ticket Select-a-Seat event.
Sponsored by the Cincinnati USA Regional Tourism Network, all fan stops are free and open to the public. At the 17 fan stops, there will be opportunities to see some current Reds players, former players, broadcasters and front-office staff. There are often questions-and-answer sessions and autograph opportunities as well.
At each fan stop -- except the Select-a-Seat event -- the Reds will raffle two tickets to the 2015 Opening Day game vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 6 and two tickets to T-Mobile All-Star Fanfest at the Duke Energy Convention Center during 2015 MLB All-Star Week (July 10-14).
Here is the breakdown of the four Reds Caravan legs:
The North tour will travel through the Ohio cities Columbus, Lima, Dayton and Hamilton. Featured will be manager Bryan Price, catcher Devin Mesoraco (Thursday and Friday only), third baseman Todd Frazier (Saturday and Sunday only), Minor League shortstop Alex Blandino, player development director Jeff Graupe, broadcasters Jim Day and Jeff Piecoro and mascot Mr. Red.
On the South tour, which will travel through Louisville, Bowling Green and Lexington in Kentucky and Nashville in Tennessee, the headliners are broadcaster Marty Brennaman, catcher Brayan Pena, reliever J.J. Hoover, former reliever Scott Williamson, Minor League outfielder Phillip Ervin, senior director of baseball analytics Sam Grossman and mascot Gapper.
The East tour will stop in Athens, Ohio, Charleston and Parkersburg in West Virginia and Ashland, Ky. Featured are general manager Walt Jocketty, catcher Tucker Barnhart, reliever Sam LeCure (Thursday-Saturday only), broadcaster Thom Brennaman, Reds Hall of Famer Eric Davis, Minor League outfielder Kyle Waldrop and mascot Mr. Redlegs.
And on the West tour will be visits to the Indiana cities of Muncie, Evansville, Bloomington and Indianapolis. Appearing on that leg will be outfielder Billy Hamilton, former outfielder Glenn Braggs, Minor League outfielder Jesse Winker, assistant GM Dick Williams, broadcasters Jim Kelch and Jeff Brantley and mascot Rosie Redlegs.
All four caravan legs will also combine to visit over 20 of the Reds' radio affiliates.
Additional Caravan participants may be added to select tours.
Reds sales representatives will be at each stop to answer ticketing questions and discuss 2015 ticket plans, while the Reds Hall of Fame, the Reds Community Fund and Cincinnati USA Regional Tourism Network will also attend select stops.
For the full itinerary and details, go to the 2015 Reds Winter Caravan page on reds.com/caravan.