Whether you’re a lifelong Cincinnatian or new to the area, opening day for the Reds is a rite of passage. This year is a bit unusual. The game has been pushed back to April 7th due to the MLB lockout that was only recently resolved. As a result, for the first time in over 30 years, the Reds will not open their season at home. Curiously, the last time the Reds did not open at home was 1990, when they last won the world series. Instead of a home game, they will open against the Atlanta Braves who won the World Series last year. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
This year, opening day is actually opening night. The 8 pm first pitch might make it difficult for families to enjoy the full length of the game, but Cincinnatians will postpone their parade and festivities until the first home game. Opening day at Great American Ballpark will be April 12th at 4:10 pm against the newly christened Cleveland Guardians. This game is the first Ohio Cup game as the Reds face their in-state rival for a two-game series. The next will be May 17th and 18th. Cleveland leads the series all-time with a 69-54 record although the Reds are 30-30 against Cleveland when playing in Cincinnati.
The FindlayMarket Parade begins at noon on April 12th and you can see the map of the parade route here. This parade is much-anticipated as it has been on a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Because of the MLB lockout the normal festivities were not fully scheduled. However, now that the date is locked in you can expect that bars, restaurants, parks, and all sorts of venues will find ways to commemorate the day. To get a sense of the celebration downtown, you can look at the list of events from previous years and get a good sense of the activities that will be happening.
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