Special Ticket Packages are a great opportunity to attend a game with others who have shared special interests and a way to get access to exclusive promotional items!
The Cincinnati Reds' third annual HBCU Celebration at the Ballpark will be hosted at Great American Ball Park on Saturday, August 1st. The Reds will be matching up with the Pittsburgh Pirates for an exciting NL Central Division game.
This HBCU Celebration will be filled with many incredible activities before and throughout the game. For the first time this year, you can join us for an on-field parade around the warning track, plus the top 3 selling HBCU alumni chapters will be granted special on-field activations before the game.
You will decide which HBCU is granted the Lift Every Voice and Sing, throws the First Pitch or serve as the Honorary Captain of the game. 1 Ticket = 1 Vote.
All participating schools will be involved in the Pregame Ceremony.
The final tally will be taken by April 30th EOD to provide adequate time for the winning HBCUs to prepare for their dedicated activation.
Additionally, a dollar amount of each ticket sold will be donated to the opted-in local HBCU alumni chapters and the Cincinnati Chapter of The National Society of Black Sports Professionals.
This ticket package includes an exclusive HBCU Celebration hat and your ticket to the August 1st game.
This limited-edition hat is only available through this offer, while supplies last.
*Offer subject to availability. You must purchase your August 1 game ticket through this special offer to receive the HBCU Celebration hat and to participate in the dedicated HBCU Celebration programming.
HAT PICKUP INFORMATION
Hats will be available for pickup on August 1 in the Fan Zone until the bottom of the fourth inning.
HBCU and Organization Participation
Alabama A&M University- Cincinnati Alumni Chapter
Black Sports Professionals (BSP Cincy)
Central State University Cincinnati Alumni Association
Fisk University Cincinnati Dayton Alumni Association
Hampton University Alumni Association- Southwest Ohio
Howard University Admissions Office
Jackson State University National Alumni Association- Greater Cincinnati Chapter
North Carolina A&T State University (NCATSU)- Cincinnati Alumni Association
Simmons College Admissions Office
Southern University- Cincinnati Alumni Association
University of Arkansas Pine Bluff (UAPB) Cincinnati Dayton Alumni
Wilberforce University Alumni Association- Cincinnati Chapter
Fan Zone Pregame Mixer: Great American Ball Park Fan Zone:
Doors Open: 2:00pm; Program: 2:30pm-4:30pm
Music in the Fan Zone with DJPrettyBoyTroy
Welcome and Introduction of Emcee - Shaumia Turner
Ode to Cincinnati Baseball: The Past(Cincinnati Tigers- Negro Leagues)
Speaker: Al Lautenslager (Author of Cincinnati Soul)
Line Dancing with DJPrettyBoyTroy
Ode to Cincinnati Baseball: The Present (Joe Morgan HBCU Classic + Reds/Wilberforce Partnership)- Reds Staff
Keynote Conversations with Kadeem Hardison(Daytime Emmy-nominated actor, widely recognized for his iconic portrayal of Dwayne Wayne on the multi-NAACP Image Award-winning, culture-defining series A Different World)
Divine Nine Roll Call
Party in the Fan Zone
Stick around in the Fan Zone to join us for the field parade
DJ, Emcee and Speakers
Troy Reaves, also known as DJPrettyBoyTroy, is a high-energy DJ, multimedia professional, and entrepreneur with over 16 years of experience creating unforgettable crowd experiences.
A Cleveland native and proud graduate of Wilberforce University, he is also a Fall 2022 initiate of the Newport-Covington Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Troy is known for blending hip-hop, R&B, and open-format music to connect with diverse audiences at collegiate events, NCAA Division I games, and top nightlife venues.
With a strong passion for Cleveland sports and a natural ability to read and engage any crowd, Troy brings an infectious energy to every performance adding a fun, friendly in-state rivalry when rocking with Cincinnati crowds.
For the 2026 HBCU Celebration, DJPrettyBoyTroy looks forward to bringing that same energy to the ballpark, creating an atmosphere where alumni, students, and supporters come together as one family to celebrate culture, pride, and the spirit of HBCUs.
@djprettyboytroy
KADEEM HARDISON is a Daytime Emmy-nominated actor and proud New Yorker, widely recognized for his iconic portrayal of Dwayne Wayne on the multi-NAACP Image Award-winning, culture-defining series A Different World, which recently celebrated its 35th anniversary.
Continuing to build on his enduring legacy, Hardison recently appeared in HBO’s critically acclaimed series Euphoria, stars in the upcoming Amazon Prime Video drama Criminal, and is set to reprise his beloved role as Dwayne Wayne in the highly anticipated A Different World sequel currently in development at Netflix.
In addition to his work in entertainment, Hardison is an entrepreneur and businessman. He is behind DEEMED, a collaboration with eyewear brand Vontélle, which made its debut on The View alongside the full cast of A Different World, marking a celebrated cultural reunion and a bold expansion into fashion and lifestyle.
Beyond his work on screen, Hardison is deeply embedded in gaming and pop culture. A passionate and respected gamer, he has collaborated with Comic-Con as both a featured speaker and fan-favorite personality, engaging audiences at the intersection of entertainment and gaming. He also hosted the SXSW Gaming Awards in 2022, further solidifying his influence within the gaming community.
With a career spanning decades, Hardison has appeared in a wide range of influential film and television projects, including The Sixth Man, White Men Can’t Jump, Teenage Bounty Hunters, Love Is_, Moonhaven, and more—showcasing his versatility and continued relevance across generations.
Al Lautenslager: A resident of Phoenix, Arizona, Al is a twelve-times published, best-selling author, entrepreneur, book collector, businessperson, and professional speaker who is passionate about sports and Italian Renaissance history and travel.
Al is a renowned baseball author, researcher and historian, passionate about sharing his latest work, Cincinnati Soul - An In Depth Review of the Cincinnati Tigers, the Cincinnati Cuban Stars, and Other Negro League Baseball teams that were based in Cincinnati, a compelling new book that delves deep into the rich, yet often overlooked, history of Cincinnati’s Black baseball teams.
His other titles include Baseball Confidential, Managing the Show, Leveling the Playing Field, DaVinci Visits Today, A Day in the Life of a Tuscany Winemaker, Guerrilla Marketing in 30 Days, and more. Al is currently enjoying a retired life pursuing his passions of baseball, travel, writing, and family life.
Pregame Activations
On-Field Parade: Be sure to stick around the First Star Fan Zone near the Swift Party Barn as soon as the gates open, so you can join us for the on-field parade around the warning track. We will send a parade email to ticket holders closer to the game.
On-Field Ceremony: All opted-in universities will have a representative or community advocate honored on field in a ceremony. We will also have a tribute to our Reds Alumni and RBI graduates who attended HBCUs.
Competition: The top 3 schools with the most tickets sold by April 30th will have the opportunity to select singer(s) to perform Lift Every Voice and Sing, select the Honorary Captain of the game or throw a Ceremonial First Pitch
*selected singer(s) will have to pass an audition conducted by Reds’ entertainment personnel
Game: Reds vs Pirates: 6:40pm
In Game Activations: The winners of the stroll competition will earn opportunities to participate in the in-game activities on the scoreboard
