Reds Opening Day 2022: Everything you need to know (2024)

The Reds 2022 home opener is Tuesday and while the MLB lockout pushed things back a bit, Cincinnati is still doing it up big for Opening Day.WLWT will bring you live coverage of the parade as well as coverage all day long starting at 5 a.m. on air and streaming online.The Cincinnati Reds home opener will be on April 12 at 4:10 p.m. against the Cleveland Guardians.FIRST, LET'S TALK BASEBALLThe Reds have had a promising start, winning their season opener and making it 2-2 to split the series with world series champions Atlanta Braves. It's a better start than what some may have been expecting after off season moves, losing players including Jesse Winker, Nick Castellanos, Sonny Gray, and Eugenio Suarez.But the Reds still have guys that can hit like Joey Votto, Tyler Stevenson, Jonathon India who are looking to give Cincinnati a big opening day at home. Reds' pitcher Hunter Greene also made his MLB debut Sunday. During Greene's debut, he threw 92 pitches in five innings, allowed four hits, three runs, two walks and seven strikeouts, bringing his current ERA (earned run average) to a 5.40.FINDLAY MARKET OPENING DAY PARADE The block party kicks off at 11 a.m. and then the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade will start at noon and snake around the city in front of thousands of Reds fans.Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin will be the 2022 Reds Opening Day Parade grand marshal.Born and raised in Cincinnati, Larkin played shortstop for the Reds from 1986 to 2004. One of the best players of his era, Larkin holds nine Silver Slugger awards, three Gold Glove awards and the 1995 National League Most Valuable Player Award. Larkin previously joined the broadcast team for FOX Sports Ohio serving as a color analyst. Larkin will rotate with returning analysts Chris Welsh and Jeff Brantley.Larkin won't be the only Hall of Famer in the parade, officials said Marty Brennaman and Anthony Munoz will also be in the parade.There will be a Bengals float featuring Jim Breech, Louis Breeden, James Brooks, Tom Dinkel, David Fulcher, Joe Kelly, Anthony Munoz and Ickey Woods.There will also be an Olympian float featuring Lawrenceburg native Nick Goepper, who won a silver medal in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.It will also feature Olympians Joe Hudepohl, David Payne, George Wilson and Mary Wineberg.The Findlay Market Opening Day Parade will kick off at noon on April 12 and snake around the city in front of thousands of Reds fans.FIRST PITCH, NATIONAL ANTHEM, FLYOVERS & MOREIf you have tickets to the game, the gates open at 2:10 p.m. and pregame ceremonies begin at 3:30 p.m. Ceremonial First Pitch: Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will be throwing the Opening Day pitch while Zac Taylor will be the first pitch catcher. The first pitch will be thrown at 4:10 p.m.Rookie of the year award: Ja'Marr Chase will also be in attendance as he will be presenting the 2021 National League Rookie of the Year award to Reds second baseman Jonathan India.National Anthem: Marlana VanHoose from Denver, Kentucky will sing the National Anthem. A giant 150’ by 300’ American flag will be unfurled in the outfield during the singing of the National Anthem by members of the Cincinnati Fire Department.Flyover: The pregame flyover will be performed by four UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the U.S. Army Reserves 8-229th Assault Helicopter Battalion out of Fort Knox, Kentucky Rosie Reds: Representatives from the Rosie Reds organization will make the traditional presentation of Opening Day plaques to Reds manager David Bell and Guardians manager Terry Francona. WHAT'S NEW AT THE BALLPARK?A new season means new eats and treats around Great American Ballpark.The Cincinnati Reds debuted new specialty food items in an event to the media which includes some fan-favorite local names and more than a few twists on some classics.Notable food dishes include the Bar-B Cone, a Montgomery Inn pulled pork, white cheddar mac& cheese, coleslaw and Montgomery Inn Barbecue sauce served in a waffle cone.There's also new vegetarian options like a vegetarian hot dog. CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE NEW FOOD ITEMSAs for drinks, GAPB is debuting new items like BLOX, alcohol and fruit-infused ice cubes made in Cincinnati. Frosthaus is also coming to GAPB this season, featuring its frozen drinks and frosty blends.CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE NEW DRINK OPTIONSWHAT'S THE WEATHER LOOKING LIKE?There is at least the potential for some passing showers, mainly during the afternoon but it won't ruin the fun by any means. It should be mostly dry for the parade with temperatures in the mid 60s for the first pitch. The high for the day should be near 70 degrees. Great weather for being at the ballpark!NOT GOING TO THE GAME?There's plenty of options at The Banks to watch the home opener. Holy Grail Tavern & Grille, directly across from Great American Ball Park, will be the site of WLW's live broadcasts - with special guests - all day.Moerlein Lager House is celebrating on the event lawn and in its new beer garden. Plus, Q102 will be onsite, along with live music., hourly trivia and interactive games with prizes.Gamble 'n Fin Larger Than Live will broadcast live with special opening day guests.E&O Kitchen will feature $6 Rhinegeist Hustles, and a live broadcast from 1-4 p.m. with JonJon on KISS 107.The Stretch opens at 10am with giveaways, DJs before and after the game, and a live broadcast of the Reds game on its 120" projection screen starting at 4:10 p.m.Tin Roof Cincinnati's stage will be rocking throughout the day, featuring live entertainment from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.ROAD CLOSURES The Opening Day Parade will begin at noon on Race Street near Findlay Market and proceed toward 5th Street.The parade procession will then turn left on 5th Street and travel past Fountain Square, ending at the Taft Theatre.Multiple roads will be closed Tuesday starting at 8 a.m. to accommodate for Opening Day.Race and Elm Streets will be closed between Liberty and McMicken Streets.Findlay Street will also be closed between Central Parkway and Vine Street. See below for the full list of Opening Day 8 a.m. road closures.Race Street between Liberty Street and McMicken StreetElm Street between Liberty Street and McMicken StreetFindlay Street between Central Parkway and Vine StreetElder Street between Central Parkway and Vine StreetGreen Street between Vine Street and Logan StreetHenry Street between Race Street and Dunlap StreetDunlap Street between Findlay Street and McMicken StreetLogan Street between Liberty Street and Findlay StreetMore road closures will take affect at 11:00 a.m. in preparation for the parade. See below for a full list of Opening Day Parade road closures.Liberty Street between Vine Street and Central ParkwayCentral Parkway between Vine Street and Elm StreetRace Street between Liberty Street and Fourth StreetFifth Street between Elm Street and Sentinel StreetFifteenth Street between Republic Street and Elm StreetFourteenth Street between Elm Street and Republic StreetThirteenth Street between Race Street and Vine StreetTwelfth Street between Elm Street and Vine StreetCourt Street between Elm Street and Vine StreetNinth Street between Elm Street and Vine StreetEighth Street between Elm Street and Vine StreetSeventh Street between Elm Street and Vine StreetSixth Street between Elm Street and Vine StreetVine Street between Fourth Street and Sixth StreetWalnut Street between Fourth Street and Sixth StreetMain Street between Fourth Street and Sixth StreetSycamore Street between Fourth Street and Sixth StreetBroadway Street between Fourth Street and Sixth StreetThe City of Cincinnati says roads will remain closed until the parade passes and they are determined safe to reopen. Streetcar service will also resume at the conclusion of the parade.