Opening Day: Things to know
Opening Day is truly an event in Cincinnati; after all, we do have baseball's first professional team, and the Reds have the privilege of kicking off every season here at home.
To make the most of the city's unofficial holiday Monday, here are a few things to know.
The Parade
• The 95th annual Findlay Market Opening Day Parade starts at noon Monday. You can watch it live online at Cincinnati.com starting at noon.
• As usual, the parade route starts at Findlay Market, on Race Street. However, instead of staying on Race, it will go right on Liberty, left on Elm to Central Parkway, then back to Race and down to Fifth.
• This year's grand marshal is Reds Hall of Famer Dave Concepcion. Teddy Kremer, whose stint as a guest batboy garnered national attention, is the honorary grand marshal.
The change provides two great new positions for spectators:
• The wide sidewalk in front of Music Hall and Washington Park across the street.
• Double-wide Central Parkway, between Race and Elm streets.
Other good vantage points:
• Race Street north to Findlay Market, where local celebrities gather before the noon start.
• Race and Fifth streets, where vehicles and bands slow down and turn east on Fifth toward Fountain Square.
Street closures
The parade will necessitate the following street closures on Monday. Streets will be closed until it is deemed safe to reopen.
Closing at 8 a.m.:
Race Street, between Liberty Street and McMicken Street
Elm Street, between Liberty Street and McMicken Street
Findlay Street, between Central Parkway and Vine Street
Elder Street, between Central Parkway and Vine Street
Green Street, between Vine Street and Logan Street
Henry Street, between Race Street and Dunlap Street
Dunlap Street, between Findlay Street and McMicken Street
Logan Street, between Liberty Street and Findlay Street
Closing at 11:15 a.m.:
Liberty Street, between Vine Street and Central Parkway
Elm Street, between Liberty Street and Court Street
Central Parkway, between Vine Street and Plum Street
Race Street, between Twelfth Street and Fourth Street
Fifth Street, between Elm Street and Sentinel Street
Fifteenth Street, between Republic Street and Central Parkway
Fourteenth Street, between Central Parkway and Race Street
Twelfth Street, between Race Street and Central Parkway
Court Street, between Elm Street and Vine Street
Ninth Street, between Elm Street and Vine Street
Eighth Street, between Elm Street and Vine Street
Seventh Street, between Elm Street and Vine Street
Sixth Street, between Elm Street and Vine Street
Vine Street, between Fourth Street and Sixth Street
Walnut Street, between Fourth Street and Sixth Street
Main Street, between Fourth Street and Sixth Street
Sycamore Street, between Fourth Street and Sixth Street
Broadway Street, between Fourth Street and Sixth Street
In addition, the Cincinnati Reds Community Fund Block Party will close the following streets near the ballpark from 6 p.m. Sunday through the end of the game.
Joe Nuxhall Way, between Second Street and Mehring Way
Freedom Way, between Walnut Street and Joe Nuxhall Way
Keep in mind:
• Access to downtown hotels within the parade route closures will be maintained; motorists should seek the assistance of a detailed police officer.
• Parking within the closed areas will be restricted.
• Metro will maintain service, but stops may be altered.
About the game
What: Opening Day game vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Where: Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown.
When: 4:10 p.m. Monday
First pitch: "The Captains," David Concepcion and Barry Larkin, will throw out simultaneous first pitches.
Tickets: Sold out
Check out the 2014 Enquirer Reds season preview section
Who to follow
Here are some Enquirer staffers to follow on Twitter for updates on Opening Day.
• Sports updates – @ENQsports • Entertainment updates – @ENQThingsToDo
Reds beat reporters: John Fay – @johnfayman; C. Trent Rosecrans – @ctrent
Other sports reporters: Paul Daugherty – @enquirerdoc; John Erardi – @johnerardi; Bill Koch – @bkoch; Shannon Russell – @slrussell
Photographers: Jeff Swinger – @swingmancinci; Cara Owsley – @caraphoto23; Carrie Cochran – @carriecochran; Joseph Fuqua II – @jfuquaEnquirer; Liz Dufour – @ldufour; Gary Landers – @garylanders; Glenn Hartong – @glennhartong
More reporters:Shauna Steigerwald – @shaunaincincy; Cliff Radel – @cliffradel
What about the weather?
Monday's Opening Day forecast will make Red's fans smile. The high temperature is expected to be 66 degrees with plenty of sun.
How to watch and listen to Opening Day
• 4:30-7 a.m.: Live coverage on Channels 5, 9 and 12 newscasts.
• 4:30-11 a.m.: Live coverage on Channel 19 news.
• 6-10 a.m.: "Bob & Tom Show" on WOFX-FM (92.5), broadcast from Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati's Pavilion.
• 7-8 a.m.: Live WKRC-TV coverage on Channel 64.
• 9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Brian Giesenschlag and George Grande anchor reports from around town on Fox Sports Ohio.
• Noon: Parade on Channel 9 (until 1 p.m.); Channel 5 (until 2 p.m.); Channel 12 (until 2:30 p.m.). Parade also will be streamed live at Cincinnati.com, fox19.com, wcpo.com and wlwt.com.
• Noon-1 p.m.: Barry Larkin, Karl Ravich and John Kruk host "Baseball Tonight" live from Crosley Terrace outside Great American Ball Park on ESPN.
• 2:30 p.m.: "The Boy Are Back in Town" Reds special, Channel 12.
• 3-4 p.m.: "Reds Live" pregame with some on-field ceremonies on FSO, Channel 12.
• 4 p.m.: Reds-Cardinals game on FSO andChannel 12 (Thom Brennaman, Chris Welsh); ESPN (Dan Shulman, Kruk); and WLW-AM (Marty Brennaman, Jeff Brantley, Jim Kelch).
• Postgame: "Reds Live" immediately after the game, FSO.
Traffic and parking tips
The city's Department of Transportation and Engineering provided these tips for smoother navigation and parking downtown.
• Motorists are encouraged to use the following routes into Downtown
From I-75 southbound: Use the Freeman Avenue exit to Mehring Way to the Riverfront
From I-75 northbound: Use the Fifth Street exit in Cincinnati, then right onto Central Avenue to the Riverfront
From I-71 southbound: Use the Reading Road exit to Eggleston Avenue to the Riverfront.
From I-471: Use the Third Street exit to the Riverfront.
• Arrive early.
• Plan Ahead: Access ODOT's website, Ohgo.com, for real-time travel information.
• Use public transportation: The Southbank Shuttle, operated by the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) (859-331-TANK; www.tankbus.org) and Metro (513-621-4455; www.go-metro.com) are options.
• Parking is available in the lots north of Third Street, including the Fountain Square Garage and the Fountain Square South Garage below the Westin Hotel; along East Pete Rose Way, Eggleston Avenue and near Sawyer Point; and north and west of Paul Brown Stadium. Cash parking will be available in riverfront surface lots near Paul Brown Stadium and Great American Ball Park on a limited first come, first served basis, but the Great American Ball Park Garage, the Central Riverfront Garage and the East Garage will be reserved for Reds season parking pass holders. Construction sites in and around the riverfront and Central Business District are off limits for public parking.
• A limited number of parking spaces for people with disabilities will be available at the East Garage, the Great American Ball Park Garage and the Central Riverfront Garage, located directly underneath the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. In addition, a portion of Joe Nuxhall Way, north of Mehring Way, will be reserved for dropping off and picking up people with disabilities who arrive in cars, vans and other vehicles with a capacity of 15 or less.
• Tour groups that arrive by bus are encouraged to use the Riverfront Transit Center for parking, loading and unloading. Groups should call ahead to reserve a parking spot for their buses prior to game date by calling 513-632-7527.
For more information about the Department of Transportation and Engineering, visit www.cincinnati-oh.gov\dote.