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-{{Infobox_Baseball_Stadium |
- stadium_name = Great American Ball Park |
- nickname = GABP |
- image = [[Image:GreatAmericanBallParkLogo150.PNG|150px]]<br>[[Image:Gabp_from_the_gap.jpg|300px]] |
- location = 100 Main Street<br>[[Cincinnati, Ohio]] 45202 |
- broke_ground = [[August 1]], [[2000]] |
- opened = [[March 31]], [[2003]] |
- closed = |
- demolished = |
- owner = [[Hamilton County, Ohio|Hamilton County]] |
- operator = |
- surface = Kentucky Bluegrass |
- construction_cost = [[United States dollar|$]]290 million |
- architect = [[HOK Sport + Venue + Event|HOK Sport]] and GBBN Architects ([[Cincinnati, Ohio|Cincinnati]]) |
- former_names = |
- tenants = [[Cincinnati Reds]] ([[2003]]-present) |
- seating_capacity = 42,059 ([[2003]]) |
- dimensions = Left Field - 328 ft (100 m) <br> Left-Center - 379 ft (116 m) <br> Center Field - 404 ft (123 m) <br> Right-Center - 370 ft (113 m) <br> Right Field - 325 ft (99 m) <br> Backstop - 55 ft (17 m)
-}}
-'''Great American Ball Park''' is the home of the [[National League]]'s [[Cincinnati Reds]]. The park opened on [[March 28]], [[2003]] with an exhibition game with the [[Cleveland Indians]]. The first regular season game, on [[March 31]], 2003, saw the visiting [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] defeat the Reds 10-1. The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by former [[President of the United States|President]] [[George H. W. Bush]], who replaced his son, current president [[George W. Bush]], who was scheduled, but unable to attend.  The younger Bush eventually did get the opportunity to throw out the first pitch before the Reds' [[April 4]], [[2006]] opening day game versus the [[Chicago Cubs]].  However, the Reds lost 16-7.
-Contrary to popular belief, the park's name is not a patriotic reference.  Adhering to the norm in American professional sports, Great American Ball Park is [[naming rights|named]] after a business [[sponsor]], the Great American Insurance Group.  Great American is the insurance division of [[American Financial Group, Inc.]], the principal shareholder of which is former Cincinnati Reds majority owner [[Carl Lindner, Jr.]].
-==Location==
-Great American Ball Park is located in downtown [[Cincinnati, Ohio|Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]] on the [[Ohio River]] between [[U.S. Bank Arena]] and the former site of [[Cinergy Field]].
-==Building GABP==
-In [[1996]], [[Hamilton County, Ohio|Hamilton County]] voters passed a one-half percent [[sales tax]] increase to fund the building of two new facilities for both the Cincinnati Reds and the [[National Football League|National Football League's]] [[Cincinnati Bengals]]. Previously, the teams shared occupancy of [[Cinergy Field]], but complained that the aging multipurpose facility lacked modern amenities and other things necessary for small market teams to survive.
-After much discussion and debate, the site that was eventually chosen became informally known as "the wedge," due to it being "wedged" between the two existing facilities. To accommodate construction on the small plot, Cinergy Field was partially demolished, although it remained in use until Great American Ball Park was ready. Cinergy Field, which opened midway through the [[1970 in sports|1970]] season under its working name, Riverfront Stadium, was demolished on [[December 29]], [[2002 in sports|2002]].
-[[Image:Gabp.jpg|300px|thumb|A view of the third base line stands at Great American Ball Park, including ''The Gap''.]]
-==Features==
-'''The Gap'''. A 35' (11 m) wide break in the stands between home plate and third base called "The Gap" is bridged by the concourse on each level (see photo). Aligned with Sycamore Street, it provides views into the stadium from downtown and out to the skyline from within the park.
-'''Pepsi Power Stacks.''' In right center field, two riverboat-inspired smokestacks flash lights, emit smoke and launch fireworks to incite or respond to the home team's efforts.
-'''The Spirit of Baseball.''' A 50 foot by 20 foot (15 by 6 [[meter|m]]) limestone [[bas relief]] carving near the main entrance shows baseball figures of a boy and a man along with the Cincinnati riverfront.
-'''The Mosaic.''' A mosaic paying tribute to two legendary Reds teams: the [[1869]] Red Stockings, Major League Baseball's first professional team, and the [[1975]] [[Big Red Machine]] club that won the first of two consecutive [[World Series]], are just inside the main entrance.
-'''The Panoramas.''' Panoramas of downtown Cincinnati, Mt. Adams, the Ohio River and [[Northern Kentucky]] are visible from most of the park (see main photo).
-'''The Scoreboard.''' At 217 feet, 9 inches (66 m) wide, the scoreboard is the third largest in Major League Baseball; only the scoreboards at [[Denver, Colorado|Denver's]] [[Coors Field]] and [[Detroit, Michigan|Detroit's]] [[Comerica Park]], respectively, are larger.
-[[Image:GABPCrosleyTerrace.jpg|thumb|The Crosley Terrace features bronze statues of Reds players involved in an imaginary ball game.]]
-'''Crosley Terrace.''' As a nod to [[Crosley Field]], the Reds' home from [[1912]]-1970, a monument was created in front of the main entrance to highlight the park's infamous left-field terrace. Bronze statues of Crosley-era stars [[Joe Nuxhall]], [[Ernie Lombardi]], [[Ted Kluszewski]], and [[Frank Robinson]] are depicted playing in an imaginary ballgame. These statues were created by sculptor [[Thomas Tsuchiya]].
-[[Image:Great-american-ball-park.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Great American Ball Park at night.]]
-'''4192 Mural.''' A three-piece mural on the back of the scoreboard in left-field depicts the bat [[Pete Rose]] used for his record-breaking 4,192nd hit and the ball he hit.
-'''Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.''' Located on the west side of Great American Ball Park on Main Street, the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum celebrates the Reds' past through galleries and extensive use of multimedia. Although theoretically in existence since [[1958]], there was no actual building until it was built as part of Great American Ball Park. The Hall of Fame currently honors 68 past Reds (63 of them players.) The newest inductees are [[outfield|outfielder]] [[Eric Davis]], [[pitcher]] [[Jose Rijo]], and 19th century players [[George Wright]] and [[Harry Wright]]. Davis and Rijo were key players on the Reds' [[1990]] wire-to-wire team that swept the favored [[Oakland Athletics]] in the World Series. Rijo was named the series' [[Most Valuable Player]].
-'''"Rounding third and heading for home..."''' The trademark signoff phrase of former Reds pitcher and longtime radio announcer Joe Nuxhall is depicted on the rear of the third base stands on the north side of Great American Ball Park.
-'''The Home Runs''' There were 246 home runs hit at the stadium last season, which led the major leagues. That was up from 220 in 2004 and 215 in 2003. The 681 home runs hit the previous three seasons were third-most in the majors behind [[U.S. Cellular Field]] (home of the [[Chicago White Sox]]) and [[Ameriquest Field]] (home of the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]). "If you elevate a ball for hitters, they've got a chance to put it in the air, and if you put it in the air here you've got a chance for it to go out of the ballpark," Reds manager Jerry Narron has said.
-=="Gapper"==
-<!-- [[image:LynneAndBuddies.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[SABR]] 34 organizer Lynne Gibson poses with Reds mascots Mr. Red (left) and Gapper (right.)]] -->
-{{main|Gapper (mascot)}}
-With a new park, the Reds' ownership decided to update the mascot as well. Thus, in 2002, a contest to name the new mascot was created at Redsfest, the team's annual fan convention. "Gapper" made his debut on opening day, 2003. Gapper is available for special appearances at corporate events, parties, and visits to Reds fans at [[assisted living]] communities.
-[[Image:gapperandfriends.jpg|thumb|225px|right|The Reds' [[mascot]], Gapper, is a fan favorite.]]
-==Notable non-baseball events==
-*On [[October 31]], [[2004]], President George W. Bush and [[First Lady]] [[Laura Bush]] held a campaign rally in Great American Ball Park. Two [[Baseball Hall of Fame|Hall of Famers]]: former Reds [[catcher]] [[Johnny Bench]] and Reds announcer [[Marty Brennaman]] were in attendance.
-==Statistics==
-* Seat width: 19 inches (48 cm)
-* Ticket windows: 25
-* Concourse widths: 40 feet (12 m)
-* Escalators: 3
-* Passenger elevators: 14
-* Public restrooms: 47 (20 women, 20 men, seven family)
-* Concession stands: 28
-* Parking spaces: 850
-==Tours==
-For an in-depth view of Great American Ballpark, tours are available. The tour includes views of Crosley Terrace, Press Box, Diamond Club, 4192 Club and dugouts. Along the way, your tour guide will educate you on Reds history. You will also have an opportunity to see many of the items listed in the features section above. [http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/cin/ballpark/tours.jsp Tour information is available online.]
-==Trivia==
-* On [[April 3]], [[2006]], President George W. Bush was the first sitting President to throw out a first pitch before a Reds game, even though the team is pro baseball's oldest. His father, former President George H. W. Bush, helped inaugurate the ballpark by throwing a ceremonial first pitch [[April 2]], [[2003]].  The elder Bush also threw out the first pitch at [[Cinergy Field|Riverfront Stadium]] for the 1988 MLB All-Star Game.
-==External links==
-* [http://www.derekmiller.us/baseball/greatamerican.html Brief History of Great American Ball Park]
-* [http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/cin/ballpark/index.jsp Great American Ball Park page at the Reds' website]
-* [http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/nl/GreatAmericanBallpark.htm Great American Ball Park page at Ballparks of Baseball]
-* [http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/cin/ballpark/museum/hofqa.jsp Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum]
-* [http://www.retrosheet.org/ballparks/great_amer_ballpark.htm retrosheet.org Great American Ball Park list of firsts]
-* [http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/cin/ballpark/tours.jsp Cincinnati Reds - Ballpark Tours]
-* [http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060409/SPT04/604090368/1071/SPT Cincinnati Enquirer Article on home runs at GABP]
-* [http://www.pbase.com/cincyimages/great_american_ballpark Great American Ballpark Photos]
-{{sequence
- | list = Home of the<br>[[Cincinnati Reds]]<br>[[2003]]&ndash;present
- | prev = [[Riverfront Stadium]] <br> [[1970]]&ndash;[[2002]]
- | next = Current
-}}
-{{coor title dms|39|5|50.61|N|84|30|24.69|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
-{{MLB Ballparks}}
-[[Category:Sports venues in Cincinnati]]
-[[Category:Major League Baseball venues]]
-[[Category:2003 establishments]]
-[[fr:Great American Ball Park]]
-[[nl:Great American Ball Park]]
-[[ja:グレート・アメリカン・ボール・パーク]]
-[[pt:Great American Ball Park]]