Great American Ball Park is the home of the National League's Cincinnati Reds. The park opened on March 28, 2003 with an exhibition game with the Cleveland Indians. The first regular season game, on March 31, 2003, saw the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Reds 10-1. The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by former President George H. W. Bush, who replaced his son, current president George W. Bush, who was scheduled, but unable to attend. The younger Bush eventually did get the opportunity to throw out the first pitch before the Reds' April 4, 2006 opening day game versus the Chicago Cubs.
While appearing to be a patriotic reference, Great American Ball Park is named after a business sponsor, the Great American Insurance Group, which is consistent with the norm in American professional sports. Great American is the insurance division of American Financial Group, Inc., the principal shareholder of which is former Cincinnati Reds majority owner Carl Lindner, Jr.

Location
In 1996, Hamilton County voters passed a one-half percent sales tax increase to fund the building of two new facilities for both the Cincinnati Reds and the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals. Previously, the teams shared occupancy of Cinergy Field, but complained that the aging multipurpose facility lacked modern amenities and other things necessary for small market teams to survive.
After much discussion and debate, the site that was eventually chosen became informally known as "the wedge," due to it being "wedged" between Cinergy Field and US Bank Arena. To accommodate construction on the small plot, Cinergy Field was partially demolished, although it remained in use until Great American Ball Park was ready. Cinergy Field, which opened midway through the 1970 season under its working name, Riverfront Stadium, was demolished on December 29, 2002.

Features

Main article: Gapper (mascot) "Gapper"

On October 31, 2004, President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush held a campaign rally in Great American Ball Park. Two Hall of Famers: former Reds catcher Johnny Bench and Reds announcer Marty Brennaman were in attendance. Statistics
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On April 3, 2006, President George W. Bush was the first sitting President to throw out a first pitch before a Reds game. His father, former President George H. W. Bush, helped inaugurate the ballpark by throwing a ceremonial first pitch April 2, 2003. The elder Bush also threw out the first pitch at Riverfront Stadium for the 1988 MLB All-Star Game.
Lance Berkman, of the Houston Astros, has hit 15 home runs at Great American Ballpark, which is the most by any visiting player.
Adam Dunn hit a home run into Kentucky (The majority of the Ohio River falls under the jurisdiction of Kentucky). He is the only MLB player to hit a home run to land in another state
The Hottest heat index at the beginning of a game at Great American Ballpark was 105 Degrees on August 7th, 2007 as the Reds faced the Los Angeles Dodgers.