Visited Great American Ballpark this afternoon in Cincinnati. The Reds beat the Marlins 10-6 in the tightest of pitcher’s duels. But much like every ballpark we go to, I love walking around and seeing what it has to offer. We’ve been to Cincinnati before, but that was Riverfront Stadium in the summer of 2001, and this ballpark was just being built that year.

A charming park, but showing its age a bit. It took me a bit to realize they were modeling the structure after the bridges along the Ohio River near the stadium. Our own Truist Park looks newer (probably because it is) and a bit more polished. I’m sure it benefits from seeing all of these other newer parks.

Anyway, there is an old time charm that greets you as you walk the corridors under the stands. The Reds lean into the fact that they are the oldest baseball club in the country. Their mascot looks like Mr. Met meets a baseball fan from the 1910’s, complete with mustache. And the “retail row” vendor huts look like an old downtown facade.

Like I said, charming.

But like every ballpark, the higher you go in the seating, the more it’s just a basic baseball stadium. Nothing wrong with that, mind you, but it’s a fact. Cheap seats and basic ballpark fare is universal, apparently!