Great American Ball Park opened on the Cincinnati riverfront in 2003, and the Reds run guided tours of it for fans who want to see what a major league park looks like when no game is on. The standard public ballpark tour is a walking tour of about three-quarters of a mile, lasting 75 to 90 minutes, and it checks in at the lobby of the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. Stops include Crosley Terrace, The Handlebar, the Champions Club, the Scouts Club, the Lexus Diamond Club, the warning track and both dugouts, though the Reds note that stops may change and not every location is open on every tour. In the offseason there is also a two-hour Major League Clubhouse Tour on Saturdays, which adds the clubhouses, the broadcast booths and the batting tunnels. It is a good rainy-day idea for baseball fans.
Schedule
From October to March the public tour runs on Saturdays and Sundays at 11am and 1pm. From April to September on non-game days it runs Sunday to Friday at 11am and 1pm and on Saturdays at 11am, noon, 1pm and 2pm. On game days the times vary by start time, and early tours on day games are limited to the dugouts, warning track, seating bowl and terrace level.
Postseason games can change times. The Major League Clubhouse Tour is offered only on Saturdays from late October to mid-March, and it includes the Reds and visitors clubhouses, the field level media room, the radio and TV broadcast booths, the batting tunnels, the dugout, the warning track and the press box.
Prices
The public tour costs 30 dollars for adults on Monday to Friday and 35 dollars on Saturday and Sunday. Children aged 5 to 12 and active or veteran military with ID pay 20 dollars, and children aged 4 and under are free. All ticket sales are final and non-refundable. Tickets are sold online through the Reds' tour page, which the link here goes to. Group tours are available for parties of 15 or more, and a Premier Game Day Experience is available for small groups of two to ten on selected home game days.
Access and bags
The tours are wheelchair and stroller accessible, and the Reds Hall of Fame provides free wheelchairs for guests who have difficulty walking. Small bags such as purses, food bags and soft-sided coolers are allowed up to 16 by 16 by 8 inches. Backpacks and most other bags are not permitted, and the Hall of Fame cannot store bags or strollers, so travel light.
Making it count
The tour begins at the Hall of Fame lobby, so it combines naturally with a visit to the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum, which has its own closing days, and a morning tour followed by a museum visit makes a satisfying baseball half-day. Wear comfortable shoes and a layer, because parts of the walk are in the open and the river can be cool.
The park is on the riverfront beside The Banks and Smale Riverfront Park, so you can follow the tour with lunch and a walk by the water. Fans of the Bengals can see Paycor Stadium from the same riverfront, but the tour covered here is the baseball one.
What to expect
The experience
A guided walking tour of the ballpark, including the dugouts and warning track, starting at the Reds Hall of Fame lobby.
Best time
A weekend morning in the offseason, when Saturday and Sunday tours run at 11am and 1pm.
How long
75 to 90 minutes, or two hours for the Saturday clubhouse tour.
Tips
Travel light because backpacks are not allowed, remember tickets are non-refundable, and expect shorter routes on game days.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Baseball fans of any age.
- Families
- Children aged 4 and under are free, and 5 to 12 pay 20 dollars.
- Couples
- Pair the tour with lunch on the riverfront.
- Pair with
- The Reds Hall of Fame and Museum, in the same building.
- Time needed
- Two hours with the museum.
Good questions
How long is the Great American Ball Park tour?+
The public tour is a walking tour of about three-quarters of a mile and lasts 75 to 90 minutes.
How much does the ballpark tour cost?+
Adults pay 30 dollars Monday to Friday and 35 dollars on weekends. Children aged 5 to 12 and military with ID pay 20 dollars, and children 4 and under are free.
When do the tours run in the offseason?+
From October to March, tours run on Saturdays and Sundays at 11am and 1pm. A two-hour clubhouse tour runs on Saturdays from late October to mid-March.
Where do I check in?+
At the lobby of the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.
Can I bring a backpack?+
No. Small bags up to 16 by 16 by 8 inches are allowed, but backpacks and most other bags are not.
