Popular games
Some games get more attention, and tickets are in more demand. Some sections of the stadium are sold out for the following games: March 31 vs. San Diego; April 5 vs. Los Angeles; April 19 vs. New York Mets; May 16-17 vs. Chicago Cubs; May 22-24 vs. Colorado; June 5-7 vs. Cleveland; June 12-14 vs. Houston; July 3-5 vs. St. Louis; July 19 vs. San Diego; July 27 and 30 vs. Atlanta; Aug. 8-9 vs. Milwaukee; Sept. 13 vs. Arizona; Sept. 27 vs. Pittsburgh.
For up-to-the-minute information on ticket availability: 421-4510, Ext. 4300.
For Opening Day only, red reserve seats are $7, and the top six cost $4.
When you order tickets at $250 or more, you get four free green reserve seats to any available game except Opening Day.
You can buy tickets in person at the Cinergy Field ticket window, on the west side of the stadium, at Gate 13; at the Westin Hotel, 21 E. Fifth St., or any Ticketmaster location, including all Thriftway stores, Ticket Express at Bigg's Mall, 4450 Eastgate Boulevard, Summerside; Kenwood Pharmacy and Medical, 7677 Montgomery Road; Festival Shops at Kenwood Towne Centre and Tower Place, downtown, and Northern Kentucky University Bookstore, Highland Heights.
Or, for an extra $4.09 in service charges, handling fees and taxes, you can buy tickets by phone from Ticketmaster, 421-7337 or (800) 829-5353.
For more information on tickets and how to get them, call the Reds, 421-4510, Ext. 4300.
Souvenirs
Batting practice jersey, $50.
Golf shirt, $45.
Twill cap, $10 to $20.
Cotton T-shirt, adult, $15.
Cotton T-shirt, youth, $12.
Coffee mug, $12.
Glass beer mug, $12.
Bobble-head doll, $12.
Autographed (whole team) baseball, $8.
Baseball cards, $5.
Logo key chain, $3.
Pennants, $3.
For more information on these and other souvenirs sold at the games and the Dugout gift shop, call or visit the store, at the Westin Hotel, downtown, 241-0947. Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-game time Sunday.
Concessions
Eating, as always, is part of the overall baseball experience. Selected 1998 prices at Cinergy Field, according to Sportservice Corp. (621-1555):
Hot dog, $1.50
Mett, $2.50
Cheeseburger, $2.50
Large popcorn, $2.50
24-ounce draft beer, $4.75
16-ounce bottle beer, $4.25
Pizza slice, $3
16-ounce soft drink, $1.75
Peanuts, $2.50
Pretzel, $3.25
Coping with construction
Here are some of the best bets for coping with Paul Brown Stadium construction, west of Cinergy Field, and the rebuilding of Fort Washington Way through downtown:
Approaching Cinergy from the west: Follow Mehring Way to Central Avenue. Turn left on Central to Pete Rose Way, then right on Pete Rose Way to the stadium.
Departing Cinergy to the east: The ramp at Broadway and Pete Rose Way to Columbia Parkway is closed. Go farther east on Pete Rose Way, turn left on Eggleston Avenue, and immediately right on the Third Street ramp to Columbia Parkway. Or go north on Broadway, right on Fifth Street, left on Sentinel Street, right on Eggleston Avenue, and left onto the Third Street ramp.
Beginning in early July, seven ramps to and from Fort Washington Way will be closed for reconstruction. Alternate routes are being developed.
Miscellaneous
So you've got your tickets and you still don't have the answers to all your questions. Some of them might be here:
Gates open about an hour and a half before game time Monday through Friday; two hours before the game Saturday, Sunday.
Will-call window, near Gate 13 on the west (Suspension Bridge) side of the building, will hold tickets ordered by phone. Be sure to show up with your photo ID. The Reds will not mail tickets within five days of the game date.
Children 33 inches tall or taller must have tickets.
For wheelchair-access information, call 421-4510, Ext. 4300.
Smoking is prohibited in seats and concession areas.
No cans, glass containers or alcoholic beverages are allowed in the stadium. Coolers must be small enough to fit under your seat.
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Parking
The Cinergy Field garage costs $6 and outside lots are $5. Tailgate partiers with recreational vehicles will be charged $20. Information: 352-5432.
Private lots and garages, offering a wide range of prices, are available downtown and in Covington.
Group prices
Group rates vary, depending on the dates, the seats and the team matchups, but groups of 50 or more can get red seats for as little as $2 each. Better, more expensive seats are available for larger groups.
Here's a deal you might not know about: Haul a group of 300 or more to a Monday-through-Thursday game or take 400-plus to a Friday, Saturday or Sunday game and one of you gets to sing the National Anthem, throw a ceremonial first pitch or direct a marching band before the game.
Want your group name flashed on the scoreboard? Get a group of 30 to buy tickets, then watch the board during the game.
Two free tickets come with every 50 tickets sold, but group sales are subject to return limits.
Information: 421-4510, Ext. 4350.
Promotional prices
Certain game dates add extra value. All tickets must be purchased in advance:
Teen night, May 22: Teens can get box and reserve seat tickets for half price; opponent: Colorado.
Senior citizen specials: Fans 60 and older can buy box and reserve seats at half price for the following games: April 29 vs. Philadelphia; May 12 vs. Atlanta; May 27 vs. San Francisco; June 18 vs. Arizona; June 23 vs. Kansas City; July 2 vs. Minnesota; July 30 vs. Atlanta; Aug. 16 vs. Montreal; Aug. 26 vs. Chicago Cubs; Sept. 16 vs. Milwaukee, and Sept. 26 vs. Pittsburgh.
Family days: Head of the household pays full price and the rest of the family gets box and reserve seats for half price on April 5 vs. Los Angeles; April 19 vs. New York; May 23 vs. Colorado; June 12 vs. Houston; July 19 vs. San Diego; Aug. 15 vs. Montreal; and Sept. 13 vs. Arizona.
College night, Sept. 25: College students and their dates get box and reserve seats at half price; opponent, Pitsburgh.
Other special game days, often designated by corporate sponsors, offer Reds souvenirs and related premiums to early arrivals.
Season tickets
If you're a frequent buyer of Reds tickets, and if hunting for new seats every time you go is more than you can handle, you might consider season tickets:
Choose from six packages that range from $78 for 13 weekend games in red seats to $1,135 for 81 games in the blues. In case you wondered, more than 70 percent of season ticket packages go to corporate buyers.
Information: 421-4510, Ext. 4320.
Secondary market
If you're picky about where you sit, and the baseball ticket supply is dwindling, you might want to consider the secondary market, where you'll find almost-like-new, previously owned tickets.
Local brokers buy unused tickets from season or group ticket customers, then resell them on the open market "at face value or a little above," says Jeff McDonald, director of public relations at Riverfront Choice Tickets, 114 W. Third St., downtown.
Information: Riverfront Choice, 241-8687.
Or cruise the streets and sidewalks near the stadium for individuals selling a variety of tickets for a variety of prices. Remember that in Cincinnati, "scalpers" are supposed to have a vendor's license, issued by the city, and are not allowed on the stadium plaza.
Scoreboard messages
For a little extra fun, Reds fans can announce birthdays, anniversaries and other little secrets on lighted message boards in the stadium by calling ahead and forking over $30 per line (maximum 35 characters per line).
"We've had people spend as much as $200 on messages," says Reds spokeswoman Kathy Schwab.
Deadlines: noon the day of the game for weekday night games; noon the day before for weekday day games; and noon Friday for all weekend games. Information: 421-4510, Ext. 4100.
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Maybe you're an occasional fan who's tired of relying on your company or friend to pay your way into the game and are ready to buy your own tickets.