Your guide to opening day

TABARI MCCOY | CIN WEEKLY

Lee Kinzer, the manager of Willie's Sports Cafe, sits in "Clifford," Willie’s red bus, which will transport fans from the restaurant to Great American Ball Park and back on Opening Day. (Photo by Leigh Patton/CiN Weekly)

OPENING DAY
• Play ball!
• The hot ticket
• Your guide to opening day
• Reds Museum and Hall of Fame

OPENING DAY
BY THE NUMBERS

58-60-1
The Reds' all-time record on Opening Day

937-962
The Reds' all-time record vs. the Chicago Cubs, this year's Opening Day opponent

9
The Reds' largest margin of victory on Opening Day (10-1 vs. Chicago on April 27, 1893, 10-1 vs. Chicago on April 14, 1914, and 9-0 vs. Atlanta on April 9, 1980)

1
Number of Reds pitchers on current roster with an Opening Day win (Danny Graves, 5-4 vs. Chicago on April 1, 2002)

55,596
The biggest crowd to attend a game on Opening Day (April 3, 2000 vs.
Milwaukee)

DID YOU KNOW?
The first professional baseball game and the first Reds Opening Day was June 1, 1869, vs. the Mansfield Independents. The Reds won 48-14. The Reds did not lose a game until the following season on June 14, 1870, vs. Brooklyn Atlantics, breaking a 130-game winning streak.

HALL OF FAME
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WHAT: Cincinnati Reds Opening Day

WHEN: 2:10 p.m., Monday, April 5 vs. the Chicago Cubs

WHERE: Great American Ball Park, 100 Main Street, downtown

PRICE: Tickets are sold out but can still be found by calling secondary market vendors or checking the Internet.

PARKING: Several lots are available along Second Street, Ted Berry Way and Mehring Way; some spots may be reserved for season-ticket holders. For more information, call Central Parking System at (513) 946-8100.

CONTACT: (513) 765-7000 or www.cincinnatireds.com

BRAODCAST INFORMATION: Fox Sports Net Ohio will carry the game live on satellite and Time Warner Cable channel 43; ESPN's coverage of the game will be blacked out in both Cincinnati and Chicago. Broadcasts of the game will also be available on WLW-AM (700) radio and via the Internet at www.mlb.com

Etc.: Newlyweds star and Cincinnati native Nick Lachey will sing the national anthem while platinum RCA Records country star Sara Evans will sing "God Bless America." The anthem will be highlighted by a flyover of F-18 jets from the U.S. Marines Squadron 121 of San Diego. Sam, one of only two trained flying bald eagles in the United States, will also be in attendance courtesy of the Cincinnati Zoo. The Reds will air video tributes to former owner Marge Schott and deceased outfielder Dernell Stenson.

TAKE A BUS

Metro buses run regular routes downtown within a few blocks of Great American Ball Park, including Government Square area along Fourth and Fifth streets. Metro also has 24 "Park & Ride" locations spread throughout the region, all of which can be found online (www.sorta.com/news/2004/nr010.html).

For more information on bus schedules, times and fares, call the MetroCenter at (513) 621-4455.

TANK will offer its "Southbank Shuttle" service with a drop off point on Second Street between Vine and Walnut streets, two blocks from the ballpark. Riders can park their cars in one of several lots in Covington; the Southbank Shuttle will stop at the lots at Fifth and Bakewell, the Kenton County Garage at Third and Madison, Covington landing between the Embassy and Marriott hotels and Willie's Sports Cafe.

TANK will also pick up riders in Newport at the Port of Entry along Riverboat Row at Newport on the Levee and the World Peace Bell. The Southbank Shuttle stops at specially marked spots along the riverfront every 15 minutes with extended hours for extra inning games. Cost for the service is $1.

For more information on TANK schedules, routes and times, visit www.tankbus.org or call (859) 331-TANK (8265).

WATCH A PARADE

The annual Findlay Market Opening Day Parade will kickoff at 11:30 a.m. at the corner of the market at Race and Green streets downtown. The parade will continue down Race Street before turning left on Fifth and ending in front of the Taft Theatre at Fifth and Broadway.

Several streets will be closed for most of the day (see box). Taxis will be available on Race Street in front of the Hilton. Access to downtown hotels within the parade route will be maintained; motorists should seek the assistance of police officers.

Metro will maintain delayed service due to the parade; motorists are urged to use alternate routes into downtown. All the streets will remain closed until it is determined safe to open, approximately 4 p.m.

STREET CLOSURES

7 a.m.

- Race and Elm streets between McMicken and Liberty streets

- Findlay and Elder streets between Vine Street and Central Parkway

- Green Street between Vine and Logan streets

- Henry Street between Race and Dunlap streets

- Dunlap Street between McMicken and Findlay streets

- Logan Street between Findlay and Liberty streets

11 a.m.

Race Street between Liberty and Fifth streets

Fifth Street between Elm Street and Columbia Parkway

GRAB A MEAL

Willie's Sports Cafe
401 Crescent Ave., Covington
(859) 581-1500
www.williesonline.com

* Happy hour will run from 1 to 7 p.m. at Willie's. "Clifford," the restaurant's red sports bus, will transport fans to and from the game. While the cost is $2, fans will be reimbursed with "Williebucks" gift certificates. Bus service to Great American Ball Park will begin at approximately 11:30 a.m. and is available on a first-come, first served basis.

Head First Sports Cafe
218 W. Third St., downtown
Phone: (513) 721-3767

Montgomery Inn Boathouse
925 Eastern Ave., East End
(513) 721-7427
www.montgomeryinn.com

Tickets Sports Cafe
100 W. Sixth St., Covington
(859) 431-1839

READING FOR ROOKIES

Opening Day: Celebrating Cincinnati's Baseball Holiday
by John Erardi and Greg Rhodes ($35, 2004 RoadWest Publishing)

* The only book dedicated solely to topic of the annual start of the Reds' baseball season, it is a must-read for any fan or person unfamiliar with how Opening Day became a local phenomenon. For more information, visit www.roadwestpublishing.com or call (800) 431-1579.