2,000 Opening Day tickets on sale

From the Reds:

CINCINNATI (March 13, 2008) – Two-thousand Cincinnati Reds Opening Day tickets will go on sale at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 15 on Fountain Square!

The Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) is partnering with the Cincinnati Reds for a series of Reds-themed events planned on Fountain Square. The partnership will start with Saturday's Opening Day ticket sale for the general public and continue throughout the 2008 season with the new "Red Hot Weekends."

The Opening Day tickets include 1,000 “Standing Room Only” and 1,000 “View Level” tickets to the season opener vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ticket prices are $22 for Standing Room Only and $29 for View Level. There is a limit of four tickets per person. Cash and major credit cards accepted.

The “Red Hot Weekends” will start in May when the Cleveland Indians visit Cincinnati. They’ll run throughout the summer around select weekend home games at Great American Ball Park. The weekends will include music and Reds-themed activities on the Square geared toward local Reds fans and visitors in town for the games.

“We cannot think of a better way to mark the start of spring and the upcoming baseball season than with an Opening Day ticket event on Fountain Square,” said Steve Leeper, president & CEO of 3CDC. “We know how passionate the fans are across all of Reds Country, and we’re excited to host them on Fountain Square to kick-off what we know will be a fantastic Reds season.”

“Fountain Square is a Cincinnati icon, as are the Reds.” said Phil Castellini, Reds COO. “We believe our fans will have fun extending their time downtown on the Square as they enjoy the Red Hot Weekend activities we are developing.”

The original Cincinnati Red Stockings were baseball's first all-professional team in 1869. Fountain Square has been the symbolic center of Cincinnati since 1871.

Fountain Square Management Group will provide 24-hour security starting Thursday at 4 p.m. for fans interested in forming an advance line.