What: Redsfest
Where: Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Cincinnati.
When: Friday, 3 p.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Tickets: On sale at reds.com, by phone at (513) 381-REDS, at the Great American Ball Park box office and at select Kroger stores with Ticketmaster retail outlets. Two-day tickets cost $25 for adults and $12 for kids 12 and younger. One-day tickets are $17 for adults and $7 for kids. Children 3 and under are admitted free. With paid two-day admission, fans receive one free View Level ticket to the Reds vs. Angels Opening Night game on April 3 at Great American Ball Park.
New this year: Reds Heads Fun Zone of interactive attractions for children; "Reds Connect Zone" with expanded space for fans to see Reds on Radio network affiliates and bloggers Jamie Ramsey ("Better Off Red") and Dallas Latos ("So I Married a Baseball Player").
Fans will have their chance to greet the pitcher expected to be the Reds' 2013 closer during the team's annual fan festival known as Redsfest on Friday and Saturday at the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown Cincinnati.
Jonathan Broxton, who was acquired from Kansas City in a mid-season trade and then signed a $21 million, three-year contract as a free agent on Wednesday, will be among current Reds players and coaches signing autographs, posing for pictures and participating in several programs during the event.
Broxton isn’t the only new wrinkle at this year’s Redsfest. The team has expanded the event to an upper floor, where a children-oriented Reds Heads Fun Zone will be located, featuring a photo opportunity with Santa Claus, arcade games, inflatables, player story time sessions, live music and circus performers.
The purpose wasn’t just to make the event more family friendly, said Charley Frank, executive director of the Reds Community Fund, the beneficiary of Redsfest proceeds. Another goal was to make it easier for fans to make their way around the main floor, which has become a problem as the crowds continue to grow. Last year’s Redsfest drew a record 23,737 fans, including a record 11,020 on Friday night.
“It was important, as attendance continues to climb, to figure out how to create a way to move some of the traffic flow,” Frank said. “Each year, the decision is made for easier access, but when you get to heart of it, it’s still going to be packed. You can see the fatigue in the parents’ faces. It can wear you out, especially on Saturday.”
This year’s Redsfest is Friday from 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The seventh annual Texas Hold ‘Em tournament, in which fans can play poker with players and literally win the autographed jerseys off their backs, is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. on Saturday. It already is sold out.
The convention center is located on Elm Street between Fifth and Sixth streets.
More than 50 current and former Reds players are expected to attend. Right fielder Jay Bruce, who will be on his honeymoon, and shortstop Didi Gregorius, who will be out of the country, won't be on hand. Rookie sensation Todd Frazier and 2010 National League Most Valuable Player Joey Votto will be there only on Friday.
“We’re going to continue to have a lot of activities on the main stage,” Frank said. “We’ll continue to have the memorabilia pieces. We know there’s going to be a record number of players, and the Texas Hold ‘Em is going to be the biggest and best yet.”
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