Reds to celebrate Opening Night

[OnBaseMachine]

From the Reds website:

Every Reds fan knows about the tradition of Opening Day, but this year there's a special celebration for the first night game of the season as well! It's Opening Night, and fans will have plenty of excitement to look forward to when the Reds take on the Cardinals April 7.

From a meet and greet with Reds players and live music in the Fan Zone to a flyover and full team introductions during pregame ceremonies to a spectacular post-game fireworks show, Opening Night will have all the glitz and glamour of the traditional homer opener combined with the thrill of baseball under the lights. Don't miss the birth of a new can't-miss date on the Cincinnati calendar!

Here's a rundown of the night's events:

Opening
5:10 p.m.
Hall of Fame breezeway gate opens to all fans
Reds Fleecie Giveaway (first 20,000 fans), presented by hhgregg
Fan Zone Fun: "Meet & Greet" with current Reds players and special appearance by Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, Carnival Performers, Games and Reds House DJ "DJ Sab"
Right field Porch: Swingtime Big Band performing

Act I
6:30 p.m.
Special "Opening Night" Team Introductions
Ceremonial first pitch by Joe Morgan
Anthem Performed by "Widow Douglas" (Jenn Scott) from The Children's Theatre's production of "Tom Sawyer"
Flyover: Four (4) F-16s from the 178th Fighter Wing of Springfield, Ohio

Act II
7:10 p.m.Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Right field Porch: Swingtime Big Band performing between innings throughout the game
Act III
Post-Game101st Airborne Rangers U.S. Army Parachute Demonstration Team
Fireworks Spectacular, presented by Hollywood Casino

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/cin/t...ning_night.jsp

[RBA]

I guess Reds marketing is getting it.

[redsfan1966]

Wow...I must admit that if the Reds keep this up for next year, maybe I will quit breaking my back for Opening Day tickets and go down for Opening Night! I may be there anyway if my local cable company doesnt pick up the FSOhio Reds feed that night..

[OnBaseMachine]

From John Fay's blog - What’s new with the Reds and GABP for 2010

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/201...reat-american/

[OnBaseMachine]

I'll just post this in here. Article from the Cincinnati Enquirer on the Reds marketing.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2...st+beer++brats

[OnBaseMachine]

From Jamie Ramsey:

Tonight's crowd of 28,143 was the highest attendance figure for a Reds second game of the season since 1994 (55,093).

http://ramsey.mlblogs.com/

[Spring~Fields]

Opening
5:10 p.m.
Hall of Fame breezeway gate opens to all fans
Reds Fleecie Giveaway (first 20,000 fans), presented by hhgregg
Fan Zone Fun: "Meet & Greet" with current Reds players and special appearance by Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, Carnival Performers, Games and Reds House DJ "DJ Sab"
Right field Porch: Swingtime Big Band performing

Act I
6:30 p.m.
Special "Opening Night" Team Introductions
Ceremonial first pitch by Joe Morgan
Anthem Performed by "Widow Douglas" (Jenn Scott) from The Children's Theatre's production of "Tom Sawyer"
Flyover: Four (4) F-16s from the 178th Fighter Wing of Springfield, Ohio

Act II
7:10 p.m.Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Right field Porch: Swingtime Big Band performing between innings throughout the game
Act III
Post-Game101st Airborne Rangers U.S. Army Parachute Demonstration Team
Fireworks Spectacular, presented by Hollywood Casino

Value added, they just might have finally caught on.

[fugowitribe]

Just got back....One of the best nights I have ever seen at the park. I was at opening day on Monday, and I think the value and promotions left me in a better mood all together tonight, than Monday.

[Cyclone792]

Just got back....One of the best nights I have ever seen at the park. I was at opening day on Monday, and I think the value and promotions left me in a better mood all together tonight, than Monday.

Good to hear, and I'm glad the Reds may finally be getting it.

People will pay out the nose for Opening Day just for the prestige of attending Opening Day. There are likely a truckload of "fans" who shelled out serious cash for Opening Day tickets who may not even attend one more game the rest of the season. If I were the Reds, I'd jack the cheapest Opening Day ticket way up, much higher than it is, and just reap the benefits.

The weeknight games, especially in April and May, are where the marketing department needs to concentrate. Turn a 15k gate into a 20-25k gate (last night was over 28k, I believe), and that will really help the overall attendance figures.

[lollipopcurve]

The weeknight games, especially in April and May, are where the marketing department needs to concentrate. Turn a 15k gate into a 20-25k gate (last night was over 28k, I believe), and that will really help the overall attendance figures.

Easier said than done. Last night was an opportunity to capitalize on unmet Opening Day demand, and they did a great job of it. Circumstances conspired to make the gate even better -- Cards in town, great weather.

That opportunity has now passed. They can still have success with clever promotions from time to time, but it's not like they haven't been trying and having success with those (bobblehead nights, for example). The missing ingredient is a winning ballclub, plain and simple.

[redsmetz]

From John Fay's blog - What’s new with the Reds and GABP for 2010

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/201...reat-american/

This jumped out at me:

Ballpark Texting

Fans can text the Reds Safety & Security staff during games to report unruly or intoxicated fan behavior, request assistance from the medical team or report beverage or food spills and more. Just text: RedsFan (space) ‘Your Issue and Seat Location’ to 9-0-8-0-8 and a member of the Reds staff will be on hand shortly to assist.

I could have used that on Opening Day. We had a couple of innings with near fights with a group of drunken rowdy fans. Security came back three or four times, but it took a while on the final times. They escorted two guys away, allowing one to return who kept his mouth shut (and had an intense conversation with his wife/girl friend who didn't look thrilled with his stupidity). We commented they needed something like the Bengals had. I'll have to remember this text number.

[RBA]

The best marketing is winning.

[Hoosier Red]

From Jamie Ramsey:

Tonight's crowd of 28,143 was the highest attendance figure for a Reds second game of the season since 1994 (55,093).

http://ramsey.mlblogs.com/

If I remember correctly in 1994 "Opening Day" was the 2nd game of the season because they played the Cardinals on Sunday night in the first game.

[wolfboy]

It was a great marketing effort. I'm sure the weather played a big factor as well.

[Blitz Dorsey]

Is today's game being marketed as "Opening Business Day Special?" ;-)

Calling last night "Opening Night" was lame. It was the first night game for the Reds this season, but no baseball fan considers that "opening night." It's just the first night game of the year and second game of the season.