Union Grounds served as the first home of baseball's original professional team. The park was located near the area now occupied by the Museum Center in the Union Terminal train station. Anchored by a grandstand called "Grand Duchess," the park could seat up to 4,000 fans.
Ballparks
UNION GROUNDS (1869-70)
AVENUE GROUNDS (1876-79)
The Reds headed two miles north from Union Grounds to erect Avenue Grounds, which featured a grandstand that could seat up to 3,000 fans. The ballpark was approximately four miles from the heart of the city's population, so horse-drawn streetcars and trains were a popular way to travel to the park.
BANK STREET GROUNDS (1880-83)
The Reds moved closer to the city with the opening of Bank Street Grounds prior to the 1880 season. The ballpark was located on the north side of Bank Street, south of Western Avenue and just west of McLean Avenue, and could seat up to 4,000 fans. Innovative scoreboard features included players' names and out-of-town scores.
LEAGUE PARK (1884-1901)
Originally called American Park (in reference to Cincinnati's membership in the American Association), the park was renamed League Park (in reference to the National League) in 1890. The park featured a covered grandstand with leather-cushioned seats and open seats along the first- and third-base sides.
PALACE OF THE FANS (1902-11)
Following a major fire, the Reds rebuilt the main grandstand of League Park in 1902. Today, baseball historians refer to the updated facility as Palace of the Fans. The park featured an illustrious grandstand with pillars and columns carved by hand, as well as 19 fashion boxes (much like opera boxes) and inexpensive field-level seating.
CROSLEY FIELD (1912-70)
Originally named Redland Field and renamed in 1934, Crosley Field was the first Reds ballpark to feature a double-decked grandstand. The facility, located at the corner of Western Avenue and Findlay Street, was the site of baseball's first night game and hosted Cincinnati's first World Series Championship team.
RIVERFRONT STADIUM/CINERGY FIELD (1970-2002)
The Reds shared Riverfront Stadium/Cinergy Field with the NFL's Bengals until 1999. The multipurpose stadium, which could seat approximately 56,000 fans, was considered state-of-the-art upon its opening in June 1970. The facility hosted five pennant winners and three World Series Championship teams.
GREAT AMERICAN BALL PARK (2003-PRESENT)
On July 7, 2000, Great American Insurance Company, one of the oldest insurance companies in the United States, and the Cincinnati Reds, America's first professional baseball team, joined forces by announcing a 30-year agreement under which the new home of the Reds would be called Great American Ball Park. The facility, with room for more than 42,000 fans, includes a variety of seating and dining options, state-of-the-art sound and scoreboard systems and an array of historical elements scattered throughout. ScorePAD Sports, Inc.'s state-of-the-art STADIUMnet baseball scoring system provides a direct feed to scoreboard operations that includes a variety of in-game, season and career information about each player that can be shown on the scoreboards high above left center field and in right field.