Fan Guide: Cincinnati Reds
01/30/2006
With the new energy expected from the new ownership regime of Bob Castellini, the Reds will be working out under the sun again this year in Sarasota, Fla., their Spring Training and Grapefruit League home since 1998.
Mainstays Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn and Jason LaRue are back to lead Cincinnati, which is hoping to break a string of five consecutive losing seasons. The organization's improving farm system is also finally showing signs of producing strong prospects, which make this year's camp even more intriguing for Reds fans.
After he went 46-46 upon taking the helm in June of 2005, manager Jerry Narron is back for his first full season. He has plenty of decisions to make as the team works to shape its 25-man roster before heading north in April.
As Reds fans prepare for their journey to Florida, here are some questions and answers that should help:
When do the Reds arrive at camp?Reds pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on Feb. 16, with the position players reporting on Feb. 21. The first full-squad workout is on Feb. 22.
When do games start?The Reds will host a Feb. 28 game against Kia, a Korean professional team, and will play an intrasquad game on March 1. They travel to Lakeland to begin the Grapefruit League schedule against the Tigers on March 2. Their first home game is March 3 in a split-squad game against Detroit.
How do I get tickets? Tickets for all Reds Spring Training games at Ed Smith Stadium are on sale now. For prices or to make a purchase, go to the Reds' Spring Training Tickets page.
The Ed Smith Stadium box office at 12th Street and Tuttle Avenue is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. Beginning Feb. 18, the box office will also be open Saturdays from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. Call (941) 954-4464 for more information. Single-game tickets can also be purchased at the Tickets.com phone center by calling (877) 647-REDS.
Ed Smith Stadium has a seating capacity of 7,500, with 6,500 armchair seats and 1,000 bleacher seats. The parking lot can hold up to 2,000 cars, but parking can be found on the street if you arrive early.
Where is Sarasota, and how do I get there? Sarasota is located on the Gulf Coast of Florida, and is serviced by non-stop flights from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport on Delta and Comair to Sarasota-Bradenton Airport. Reds fans can also fly into area airports at St. Pete/Clearwater and Tampa.
If you're driving to Sarasota and Ed Smith Stadium from the north, take I-75 South to Exit 213 at University Parkway. Go west on University to Tuttle, then turn left and head south on Tuttle. The stadium is located on the right at the intersection of 12th and Tuttle.
From the south, take I-75 North to exit 210 (Fruitville Road). Go west on Fruitville to Tuttle, then turn right on Tuttle to 12th. The stadium is on the left.
From Siesta Key, you should travel on Midnight Pass Road to Stickney Point Road. Take Stickney Point east to Swift Road, then turn left (north) on Swift. Swift Road will turn into Tuttle Avenue. Follow Tuttle Avenue north to the ballpark.
How can I watch the team work out? There is no charge to watch practice and workouts on the practice fields behind the home clubhouse on Tuttle and 12th. There are bleachers for fans to sit in while the action is going on. Most of the workouts are held in the mornings, usually going from 9 a.m. until around 1:30 p.m.
Where can I get some autographs? Players come and go from the clubhouse near the right-field corner. The visiting teams can be found near the dugout on the third-base side.
What else is there to do in Sarasota?CNN/Money magazine chose Sarasota as America's "Best Small City" and one of the nation's top eight "Best Places to Retire." Golfers can make good use of the Bobby Jones Golf Complex, which opened in 1927. The city also has two shopping malls, a bird sanctuary and botanical gardens. To get closer to the Gulf of Mexico, Siesta Key is nearby and offers plenty of activity and night life.
For more information, visit the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Web site: www.sarasotachamber.com
When do the Reds open the regular season? Per tradition as baseball's first professional team, the Reds open the 2006 regular season at home on April 3 with a 2:10 p.m. game against the Cubs at Great American Ball Park.
Source: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/
With the new energy expected from the new ownership regime of Bob Castellini, the Reds will be working out under the sun again this year in Sarasota, Fla., their Spring Training and Grapefruit League home since 1998.
Mainstays Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn and Jason LaRue are back to lead Cincinnati, which is hoping to break a string of five consecutive losing seasons. The organization's improving farm system is also finally showing signs of producing strong prospects, which make this year's camp even more intriguing for Reds fans.
After he went 46-46 upon taking the helm in June of 2005, manager Jerry Narron is back for his first full season. He has plenty of decisions to make as the team works to shape its 25-man roster before heading north in April.
As Reds fans prepare for their journey to Florida, here are some questions and answers that should help:
When do the Reds arrive at camp?Reds pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on Feb. 16, with the position players reporting on Feb. 21. The first full-squad workout is on Feb. 22.
When do games start?The Reds will host a Feb. 28 game against Kia, a Korean professional team, and will play an intrasquad game on March 1. They travel to Lakeland to begin the Grapefruit League schedule against the Tigers on March 2. Their first home game is March 3 in a split-squad game against Detroit.
How do I get tickets? Tickets for all Reds Spring Training games at Ed Smith Stadium are on sale now. For prices or to make a purchase, go to the Reds' Spring Training Tickets page.
The Ed Smith Stadium box office at 12th Street and Tuttle Avenue is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. Beginning Feb. 18, the box office will also be open Saturdays from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. Call (941) 954-4464 for more information. Single-game tickets can also be purchased at the Tickets.com phone center by calling (877) 647-REDS.
Ed Smith Stadium has a seating capacity of 7,500, with 6,500 armchair seats and 1,000 bleacher seats. The parking lot can hold up to 2,000 cars, but parking can be found on the street if you arrive early.
Where is Sarasota, and how do I get there? Sarasota is located on the Gulf Coast of Florida, and is serviced by non-stop flights from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport on Delta and Comair to Sarasota-Bradenton Airport. Reds fans can also fly into area airports at St. Pete/Clearwater and Tampa.
If you're driving to Sarasota and Ed Smith Stadium from the north, take I-75 South to Exit 213 at University Parkway. Go west on University to Tuttle, then turn left and head south on Tuttle. The stadium is located on the right at the intersection of 12th and Tuttle.
From the south, take I-75 North to exit 210 (Fruitville Road). Go west on Fruitville to Tuttle, then turn right on Tuttle to 12th. The stadium is on the left.
From Siesta Key, you should travel on Midnight Pass Road to Stickney Point Road. Take Stickney Point east to Swift Road, then turn left (north) on Swift. Swift Road will turn into Tuttle Avenue. Follow Tuttle Avenue north to the ballpark.
How can I watch the team work out? There is no charge to watch practice and workouts on the practice fields behind the home clubhouse on Tuttle and 12th. There are bleachers for fans to sit in while the action is going on. Most of the workouts are held in the mornings, usually going from 9 a.m. until around 1:30 p.m.
Where can I get some autographs? Players come and go from the clubhouse near the right-field corner. The visiting teams can be found near the dugout on the third-base side.
What else is there to do in Sarasota?CNN/Money magazine chose Sarasota as America's "Best Small City" and one of the nation's top eight "Best Places to Retire." Golfers can make good use of the Bobby Jones Golf Complex, which opened in 1927. The city also has two shopping malls, a bird sanctuary and botanical gardens. To get closer to the Gulf of Mexico, Siesta Key is nearby and offers plenty of activity and night life.
For more information, visit the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Web site: www.sarasotachamber.com
When do the Reds open the regular season? Per tradition as baseball's first professional team, the Reds open the 2006 regular season at home on April 3 with a 2:10 p.m. game against the Cubs at Great American Ball Park.
Source: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home