Reds 2024 Opening Day Festivities - Thursday, March 28
March 25th, 2024
The 148th Opening Day in Cincinnati presented by GE Aerospace is Thursday, March 28 when the Reds take on the Washington Nationals at 4:10 p.m. at Great American Ball Park. Gates open to the public at 2:10 p.m., with pregame ceremonies starting at 3:30 p.m.
11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Reds Community Fund Charity Block Party at The Banks presented by GE Aerospace
- Free pregame Opening Day Block Party kicks off at 11 a.m. at The Banks on Joe Nuxhall Way, Freedom Way and Walnut Street.
- Food and beverages will be available for purchase from Anheuser Busch, Coca-Cola, LaRosa’s, Boone County Distilling, Jim Beam and Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
- Live music and entertainment will be provided by Naked Karate Girls & dj etrayn.
- All proceeds benefit the baseball and softball outreach programs of the Reds Community Fund.
Noon – Findlay Market Opening Day Parade
- Grand Marshals: Reds greats Dmitri Young and Pokey Reese will serve as the Grand Marshals of the 105th Findlay Market Opening Day Parade.
2:10 p.m. – Gates open to Great American Ball Park
- Reds Magnetic Schedule: Fans will receive a 2024 Reds magnetic schedule and City Connect car magnet, presented by PNC, while supplies last.
3:30 p.m. – Pregame Ceremonies Begin
- Ceremonial First Pitch: Reds Hall of Famer Sean Casey will throw out the Ceremonial First Pitch.
- Game Ball Delivery: Reds Hall of Famer & 1977 NL MVP George Foster will deliver the Official Game Ball.
- Honorary Captain: Reds Hall of Famer Marty Brennaman will serve as the Honorary Captain of the Game, celebrating the 50th anniversary of his debut as a Reds broadcaster in 1974.
- National Anthem: Marlana VanHoose from Denver, Ky. will perform the National Anthem.
- Flyover presented by GE Aerospace: The pregame flyover will be performed by two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the U.S. Army Reserves 8-229th Assault Helicopter Battalion out of Fort Knox, Ky. The helicopters feature GE T700 Turboshaft engines.
- American Flag: A giant 300’ by 150’ American flag will be unfurled during the singing of our National Anthem by members of the Cincinnati Firefighters Local 48.
- Honor Guard: Members of the United States Marines Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, Army & Air Force will present colors in our traditional “Parade of Colors.”
- Rosie Reds: Representatives from the Rosie Reds organization will make the traditional presentation of Opening Day plaques to Reds manager David Bell and Nationals manager Dave Martinez.
- Findlay Market Basket: Representatives from Findlay Market will make their annual Findlay Market Basket presentation to Reds manager David Bell.
- Player Introductions: Rosters of both teams will be announced, and players will line the first and third base paths for introductions.
4:10 p.m. – 148th Opening Day game – Cincinnati Reds vs. Washington Nationals
- TV: Bally Sports Ohio and WLWT-TV 5 NBC (John Sadak, Barry Larkin & Jim Day)
- Radio: 700WLW and stations on the Reds Radio Network (Tommy Thrall & Jeff Brantley)
- Scheduled Starting Pitchers: Reds RHP Frankie Montas vs. Nationals RHP Josiah Gray
- Kroger First Responder: Cincinnati Police Officer Ben Williamson will be recognized as the Kroger First Responder of the game at the end of the first inning.
- altafiber Hometown Hero: US Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Jay Collars will be honored as the altafiber Hometown Hero of the game at the end of the second inning.
- God Bless America: Retired Cincinnati Firefighter John Winfrey will perform “God Bless America” during the 7th inning stretch.