Riverfront Stadium

Home of the Big Red Machine and the Jungle.

Riverfront Stadium, also known as Cinergy Field from 1996 to 2002, was a multi-purpose stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was the home of the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1970 through 2002 and the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL) from 1970 to 1999.

Quick Facts

Nickname: "The Home of the Big Red Machine"; "The Jungle"
Former names: Riverfront Stadium (1970–1996); Cinergy Field (1996–2002)
Location: 201 East Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati 45202
Groundbreaking: February 1, 1968
Opened: June 30, 1970
Closed: September 22, 2002
Demolished: December 29, 2002
Owner: City of Cincinnati

Lore & Background

Riverfront was a multi-purpose, circular 'cookie-cutter' stadium, one of many built in the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was often confused with fellow Ohio River cookie-cutter Three Rivers Stadium. One feature that distinguished it was that the field level seats for baseball were divided in half directly behind home plate; for football, the third-base side stands were wheeled around clockwise on a track. The stadium's scoreboard was designed by American Sign and Indicator, and was upgraded in the 1980s with an adjacent Sony JumboTron. The playing field was originally illuminated by 1,648 thousand-watt GTE Sylvania Metalarc lamps. The site originally included the 2nd Street tenement, birthplace of Roy Rogers.

Reader's Guide

Riverfront Stadium was located on the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati. Construction began on February 1, 1968, and was completed at a cost of less than $50 million. Its grand opening was on June 30, 1970. In September 1996, it was renamed Cinergy Field. In 2001, much of the outfield seating was removed and capacity reduced to 39,000. The stadium was demolished by implosion on December 29, 2002.

Did You Know?

Hank Aaron hit the first home run in Riverfront's history, a two-run shot in the first inning on opening day.
Riverfront hosted the MLB All-Star Game twice: in 1970 and 1988.
The 1981 AFC Championship Game at Riverfront, known as the Freezer Bowl, had an air temperature of -9 °F and wind chill of -37 °F.
During the 1988 season, Riverfront Stadium was nicknamed the Jungle as the Bengals went a perfect 10–0 at home during the regular season and playoffs.