Metsfest

CINCINNATI (Nov. 2, 2009) – Tickets for FOX Sports Ohio Redsfest presented by Kahn’s go on sale today at reds.com, by phone at (513) 381-REDS, at all area Meijer stores and at Great American Ball Park administrative offices. Proceeds from Redsfest benefit the baseball-themed outreach programs of the Reds Community Fund.

The popular fan festival will be held at the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown Cincinnati on Friday, Dec. 4 from 4 to 11 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 5 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

One-day tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for fans 12 and under, while two-day tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for kids.

With admission, fans will have access to autograph and photo booths featuring current and former Reds players, interactive games for kids of all ages, hard-to-find memorabilia and much more.

“Redsfest is the crown jewel of fan festivals throughout baseball,” said Reds President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Castellini. “Redsfest is when we celebrate greatness by honoring all Reds players including veterans from the past, stars of today and the future Reds of tomorrow.”

Over 50 current and former Reds players are expected to attend including Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, Bronson Arroyo, Dusty Baker and 2010 Reds Hall of Fame inductees Chris Sabo and Pedro Borbon.

A special 20th anniversary tribute to the 1990 World Series Champions will include Sabo, Joe Oliver, Eric Davis, Ron Oester, Hal Morris, skipper Lou Piniella and many more.

All current and former players in attendance will be introduced live on stage at 6:30 p.m. on Friday night.

The first 10,000 fans attending Redsfest each day will receive a free drawstring backpack and a Reds winter ski cap.

The Redsfest Main Stage will feature popular activities such as kids-only press conferences involving players, a Reds Idol karaoke contest, a wing eating contest and the Reds Hot Stove Report with GM Walt Jocketty and manager Dusty Baker.

Local band The Rusty Griswolds will perform a concert for the fans Friday night from 9 to 11 p.m. on the Main Stage.

A celebrity Wiffleball home run contest will be held on Friday evening featuring former Reds players, upcoming prospects and media personalities. The home run contest will kick off the weekend of programming on the 10,000 square foot Gorilla Glue Field of Dreams, that will also include the Chipotle Wiffleball Tournament finals.

New this year, fans 16 and younger can compete for a chance to face off against Reds first baseman Joey Votto in Sony PlayStation’s “Fan Versus Votto” contest. One lucky fan will get to appear on-stage with Votto on Saturday afternoon and compete in a home run contest on a Sony PlayStation. Kids can register for the contest starting Saturday at 11 a.m.

Another new feature will be a Goodyear area that highlights the Reds new spring training home in Arizona. Travel and tourism reps will be on-site to discuss what the city has to offer Reds fans. Tickets for 2010 Spring Training will be on sale.

Fans will get to meet members of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, who will return to Cincinnati for two performances at U.S. Bank Arena on Dec. 30.

The annual Reds Community Fund Celebrity Poker Tournament takes place on Saturday. Registration and side games begin at 3:30 p.m. with the tournament starting at 5 p.m. This is the region’s largest celebrity Texas Hold‘em poker event with more than 500 participants in 2008. Knock out a Reds player or coach and win the jersey off their back. Prizes for the top 20 finishers includes a guaranteed $10,000 first prize. Registration is $150 per player in advance ($200 after Nov. 20) or $1,500 per table. Fans must be 18 years of age or older. Sign-up today at www.reds.com/poker or call (513) 765-7240. At the 2008 tournament, Reds prospect Todd Frazier won the $10,000 first-place prize and donated it back to the Reds Community Fund.

Redsfest will be the first chance to get a Reds Heads Kids Club membership for 2010 season. The ‘10 Reds Heads merchandise kit makes a great holiday gift for children ages 14 and younger for only $20, which includes four tickets to a 2010 Reds home game. Plus, the first 1,000 Reds Heads members who sign up at Redsfest will receive an exclusive Mr. Redlegs inflatable toy.

Fans can register online for the Redsfest VIP Sweepstakes on reds.com/redsfest. Four lucky fans will win a special prize package for this year’s event that includes: Four two-day passes to Redsfest, meet and greet with Reds players and coaches at Redsfest for winner and three guests, one personalized bat and one personalized Reds jersey. Please see contest rules at reds.com/redsfest for entry guidelines.

For the second year in a row, fans can bid on reds.com/redsfest on “Autograph Fast Passes” that allow the holder to move to the front of any two autograph lines during each day of the event. 45 passes will be sold with bids starting at $50 per pass. The pass will be limited to only the holder – no friends or family members can accompany the holder in the autograph line. Passes are not valid for admission to the event. Kids-only autograph lines rules apply to this pass. The holder may only use this pass in the kids-only autograph line if they are ages 12 or younger.