If you are in the mood for drama, a bit of history and fingertip-to-fingertip goose bumps, Cinergy Field is the place to be tonight.

SET AS WALLPAPER Click on right width for your monitor, then right click to Set As Wallpaper

Cinergy Field lights cast a magical glow on the Ohio River Thursday. (Michael E. Keating photo) 640 | 800 | 1024

        7:05 p.m. marks the start of the Reds' three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies — and the end of 32 years of baseball at Cinergy Field, born as Riverfront Stadium.

        Tonight's game will launch a weekend of farewell festivities that culminate Monday with an all-star softball game between Reds old-timers and retired major-leaguers. That game, billed as “Farewell to Riverfront/Cinergy Field,” will be the last event held at the stadium, which is to be demolished Dec. 29. The team moves into the new Great American Ball Park next season.

        Both Saturday's and Sunday's games with the Phillies are sold out, but about 3,100 tickets were still available as of 3 p.m. Thursday for tonight's match-up.

        More than 1,000 extra tickets for Monday's softball game featuring Reds legend Pete Rose sold out in 30 minutes Thursday. The event sold out (about 40,000 tickets) in hours when tickets went on sale in July.

DOWNTOWN PARKING

• PDF Map of parking areas and routes in and out of town

TIPS ON GETTING AROUND

Here are some tips for getting around downtown this weekend:    Leave early and plan ahead. Officials say to expect delays and problems finding parking, adding that leaving even two hours ahead of time may not be enough. They advise mapping out alternate routes, and not committing to one road into town, especially because the following streets will be closed at some point during the weekend:    Fifth Street between Race and Broadway.    Vine Street between Fourth and Sixth.    Main Street between Fourth and Sixth.    Sycamore Street between Fourth and Sixth.    Use public transportation. Metro is planning shuttles from the following locations: Western Hills Plaza; Forest Park park & ride (1160 Kemper Meadow Drive off Winton Road); Raymond Walters College (9555 Plainfield Road); and Anderson Township park & ride (Beechmont Avenue behind the Municipal Building). The shuttle will be available 11 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. Fare is $1.50 each way.    On Saturday, Metro will also offer a shuttle from the University of Cincinnati to the Transit Center for the football game. Fare for the football shuttle is $3 round-trip and parking is free at UC.    In addition, TANK will increase the frequency of its Southbank shuttle between Covington, Newport and downtown Cincinnati to every 15 minutes.    Call or check ahead. ARTIMIS operates a 24-hour traffic update line, which can be reached by dialing 511. In addition, travelers can get more information at www.cincyusa.com, www.tankbus.org and www.sorta.com.

        Promoter Marty Garafalo said 1,500 more standing-room-only tickets would go on sale Monday at 8 a.m. at the stadium. The tickets are $30 each. Everyone who buys a ticket will get a Pete Rose bobblehead doll.

        Jeff McDonald, director of public relations for Riverfront Choice, a downtown ticket broker, said he received more than 10,000 phone calls Thursday requesting tickets for this weekend's events. Mr. McDonald said request for softball tickets outnumbered requests for any other event this weekend three-to-one, including the Reds closer on Sunday.

        “The demand has been unbelievable,” Mr. McDonald said. “People want to be a part of history. They want to be able to say there were at the last game at Cinergy.

        “And to think, they've sold this many tickets for a softball game?” he said. “It's unbelievable how tried and true the people of Cincinnati are to Pete Rose.”

        The Reds have been planning the team's finale since April and spent months researching how other Major League teams, such as the Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers, have handled similar events in recent years.

        “The atmosphere is going to be positively electric,” said Cal Levy, director of marketing for the Reds. “We have a lot of history that we are very proud of, and we want to share that with our fans.

        “We think people will walk away from this weekend feeling very good about what they saw and experienced. We want this to be a first-class event.”

        Tonight, fans will be treated to a 20-minute post-game fireworks show choreographed by Joel Moss, who provides musical choreography for Riverfest. Mr. Levy said the pyrotechnics display would be like none ever seen before at the stadium and will incorporate snippets of radio highlights and big moments at Cinergy/Riverfront.

        Saturday will be much lower-key, Mr. Levy said, but all fans in attendance will receive a miniature replica of Cinergy Field.

        Sunday promises to be the showcase of the weekend's events, as the Reds will say goodbye to Cinergy during a ceremony after the final game, which starts at 1:15 p.m.

        The ceremony will include the introduction of former Reds players, video tributes and the transfer of home plate from Cinergy Field to Great American Ball Park.

        Reds officials confirmed Thursday that the postgame ceremonies will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Net and WCPO-TV (Channel 9).

Health shock: Cost of benefits shoots up
Cinergy farewell begins tonight
City's been swept and dusted
Ky.'s CATS measures thinking skill
CATS Performance Levels at a Glance
Latonia to get special state aid
Parents' questions about school testing in Ky.
Preparation paid off for high-achieving Ludlow
Three Kenton schools slide on tests
Writing remains weak area, tests show
Wrongly convicted given hope
Tristate innocence projects
Bank robbery suspects caught in Latonia
Black lawyers honor several
Class focus: War scenarios
CPS launches quest for $480M in bonds
Implant to improve vision being tried here
'Smart growth' group sounds alarm
Tristate A.M. Report
UC doctor's research links gene, colon cancer
BRONSON: Officer Jorg
SMITH AMOS: Officer Roach's trial
WELLS: The next assistant chief
Apartment residents say violence must end
Balloons give first-graders flying lessons
Lawmakers answer Vail students' questions
Rumpke driver charged in crash
Lawyer must testify about Erica Baker
Ohio colleges want $765M more
Ohio workers' comp suits may become $50M liability
Cincinnati lawyer to defend Patton