Reds Fan Zone

Hit a home run at tonight’s game.
Sat in the champions club seats. Very much enjoyed that. We love free food and the padded seats were a bonus.
Our view couldn’t have been more perfect! To the left we could see the beautiful Great American building with the crown, and to the right we could see the river. and, in the center, we had the Reds.
It was a perfect night and the Reds won!

The Red’s Fan Zone is a nice area for children to play before, even during a game. There is a playground, slide, a stage for live music (no music when we were there,) a mini whiffle ball/​baseball diamond, cutouts to take pictures with, and batting cages. The batting cages are downstairs and cost a fee, the other activities are free. There are also some places to eat. This is also where kids who are Reds Heads members go to got their membership card stamped. Around the corner there is a Snoopy themed digging game for smaller kids. I’m not sure if it is considered still part of the Fan Zone.
My children love playing in this area before games. Before we are in the park they are already asking if they may play. It lets them get a little energy out before having to sit for the next couple of hours.
Something to keep in mind is that not all ballparks have areas like this. It was very generous of the Reds to designate this amount of space to free activities. While much of it is corporate sponsored, the Reds are still responsible for staffing and general maintenance.
My only complaint is that there is no shade by the playground. The adults are baking while the kids play. It would be great if the Reds teamed up with an awning company. It would be a win win. The company could display their wears and the adults could have shade.

This place is just a nice area to meet up with other friends that are at the game. This is certainly one place to visit before any game as it seems to be where there will be outside vendor swag (if any). The food and beer nearby are also top notch!

***Reds Fan Zone is an okay though not particularly special spot to hang out before a game; they had live music when I went and this area (near the outfield) features several popular Cincinnati area eateries like Skyline Chili and United Dairy Farmers; this also seems to be an area for promotional giveaways – Charmin was handing out complimentary travel packets of tissues when I visited; this area could be improved with more seating options though***
Reds Fan Zone is located past the ticket gates so it is only available for Reds game attendees. There are several nearby parking options including structures and lots; parking is expensive.

Decent place to wait before the start of a game — lots of concessions and often there is no line so if you’re eating at the park this is a good place to do it. They hold special fan events here and there is a stage. Bands and DJ’s play here on occasion. It’s a nice edition to the ballpark especially for events and can serve as a good meeting place for large groups.

Great place to hang out before or during the ball game.
There’s lots of stuff for kids in the Fan Zone. I say kids, but I’ve seen many adults also test their running and vertical jump. You can get your picture taken with the Big Red Machine, sample local favorites like Skyline and Larosa’s.
I’ve seen events there as well. Live music before the games, wing-​eating contests, mystery date and even a singles mixer, I believe.
My favorite part about the Reds Fan Zone is the new smokehouse. I made the mistake of walking by it at one game and not sampling the food. Next time I walked clear from the other end of the ballpark for a pulled pork sandwich. That’s the only thing I’ve sampled there, but I’ve heard from other sources that anything from there is yummy.

Among the many unique features at Great American Ball Park is the Fan Zone. The Fan Zone, located along the first base line, is a great place for Reds fans to hang out before the first pitch, as well as during the game. The Fan Zone is just to the right of the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum and is across from many great concession stands including Cincinnati favorites Skyline Chili, Larosa’s Pizzeria, and United Dairy Farmers.
Three to seven times a month, some of the top local bands take to the Bud Select Stage in what is known as the Reds Concert Series. I was in the Fan Zone before the Reds-​Red Sox last Saturday and the music from The Muckrakers was a nice addition to the pre-​game atmosphere. Whether or not a band is playing, there are plenty of opportunities for fun both before and during games.
Test your arm at the «High Heat» booth, or try the «Swing Away» hitting game. See what its like to run a Major League-​length base path at «Run It Out,» or test your vertical leap and see how you might fair trying to catch a ball in the outfield. There is also a playground for younger kids, plenty of picnic benches, and photo walls that are perfect for a quick pic. Not far around the corner are three misting fans, which are great during the hot summer games.
While Great American Ball Park should be your Cincinnati destination for baseball, it isn’t limited to just watching, thanks to the Fan Zone.