Reds 2023 Opening Day Festivities - Thursday, March 30
March 24th, 2023
The 147th Opening Day in Cincinnati is Thursday, March 30 when the Cincinnati Reds take on the Pittsburgh Pirates at 4:10 p.m. at Great American Ball Park. Gates will open to the public at 2:10 p.m., with pregame ceremonies starting at 3:30 p.m.
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Reds Community Fund Charity Block Party
- Free pregame Opening Day Block Party kicks off at 11 a.m. on Joe Nuxhall Way, Freedom Way and Walnut Street.
- Food and beverages will be available for purchase from Anheuser Busch, Coca-Cola, LaRosa’s, Graeter’s Ice Cream, Boone County Distilling 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: 2023 Reds Hall of Fame inductees Bronson Arroyo and Danny Graves will serve as the Grand Marshals of the 104th Findlay Market Opening Day Parade.
2:10 p.m. – Gates open to Great American Ball Park
- Reds Magnetic Schedule: Fans will receive a 2023 Reds magnetic schedule and car magnet, presented by PNC Bank, while supplies last.
3:30 p.m. – Pregame Ceremonies Begin
- Ceremonial First Pitch: Former Reds third baseman Todd Frazier will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
- Game Ball Delivery: Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval will deliver the Official Game Ball.
- Honorary Captain: Hamilton County Commissioner Alicia Reece will serve as the Honorary Captain of the Game.
- In Memoriam: A Moment of Remembrance prior to the Anthem to honor the lives of former Reds players, coaches and staff who have passed away since last year’s Opening Day, including a special tribute to Reds Hall of Famer Tom Browning.
- National Anthem: Marlana VanHoose from Denver, Ky. will perform the National Anthem.
- Flyover: The pregame flyover will be performed by two F-16 Fighting Falcons of the 112th Fighter Squadron “Stingers” from the 180th Fighter Wing Ohio Air National Guard Base in Toledo, Ohio.
- 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 Department.
- 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 Pirates manager Derek Shelton.
- 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. – 147th Opening Day game – Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
- TV: Bally Sports Ohio and Local12 WKRC TV (John Sadak, Barry Larkin & Jim Day)
- Radio: 700WLW and stations on the Reds Radio Network (Tommy Thrall & Jeff Brantley)
- Scheduled Starting Pitchers: Reds RHP Hunter Greene vs. Pirates RHP Mitch Keller
- Kroger First Responder: Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge will be recognized as the Kroger First Responder of the game during the middle of the first inning.
- God Bless America: Retired Technical Sergeant Felita LaRock will perform “God Bless America” during the 7th inning stretch.