Performance vs. Pride

In Cincinnati, Opening Day isn’t just the start of a baseball season — it’s a civic ritual, a celebration that blends nostalgia with optimism, and one of the few moments each year when the city turns into the center of the baseball universe. It’s a parade, a party, a pilgrimage — all wrapped into one. And every year, without fail, fans show up by the thousands, the streets swell with excitement, and local businesses reap the rewards.

But here's the question that inevitably comes up, especially after another season with more valleys than peaks: Do the Reds still deserve all this fanfare? Given the team’s uneven track record over the past five years, the answer is understandably complicated. Still, when all factors are weighed — both the economic and emotional value — the verdict becomes clear: Yes, the Reds absolutely deserve it.

To understand why, one must first acknowledge the elephant on the field: performance. Since 2019, the Reds have produced only one winning season in a full 162-game stretch (2021, when they went 83–79 and missed the playoffs). There were flashes of potential — the 2020 COVID-shortened season saw a brief postseason appearance, and the 2023 squad surged late with a dynamic youth movement — but these moments were often swallowed by disappointment. The 2022 season, in particular, was an outright disaster, with a 3–22 start and an eventual 100-loss finish. Injuries, bullpen collapses, and ill-timed slumps became as much a part of the Reds’ identity as the wishbone C on their caps.

And then there’s the front office. Fans have endured whiplash-inducing changes in direction. Promising rosters have been gutted in what many saw as cost-cutting moves, with cornerstone players like Luis Castillo, Jesse Winker, Eugenio Suárez, and Sonny Gray shipped off just as contention felt near. Add in ownership's infamous “Where else are you gonna go?” comment in 2022 — a public relations blunder that still stings — and it's easy to understand why fan frustration hit a boiling point. Trust between the franchise and its fan base has been tested repeatedly.

Attendance mirrored that discontent. After drawing over 22,000 fans per game in 2019, the Reds saw a noticeable dip, hovering near the 17,000 mark in both 2021 and 2022. Even as young stars like Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, and Hunter Greene began to reignite hope in 2023, the relationship with fans remained fragile — enthusiastic, but cautious.

So how does all of this square with the pomp and circumstance of Reds Opening Day, when the city all but shuts down and every bar, restaurant, and sidewalk buzzes with energy? The answer lies in the data and the deeper significance of the day itself.

According to a recent economic impact study by Visit Cincy, meetNKY, and data partner Zartico, Opening Day is not just a baseball event — it’s an economic juggernaut. From March 26–30, 2024, visitor spending in Cincinnati spiked by 9.2% compared to the previous month. Restaurants saw a 24.3% surge in spending from out-of-town visitors, bars were up nearly 20%, and local retailers enjoyed a 22% bump. Hotel occupancy downtown soared to 89%, and entertainment districts like The Banks were alive with music, fan specials, and all-day festivities. In a city known for its strong regional draw, Opening Day became an engine that powered nearly every corner of the local economy.

This influx of energy and dollars is not to be dismissed. In an era where many cities struggle to justify public investments in sports franchises, the Reds — at least on Opening Day — provide a clear, measurable return. They draw people in. They get them spending. They remind the city of its unique role in baseball’s grand tapestry.

But the argument for Opening Day as a red-letter celebration isn’t purely financial. It’s also cultural. Cincinnati, after all, was the home of the first professional baseball team. Opening Day here carries a different weight. It’s a thread that connects generations — grandparents who grew up idolizing Bench and Morgan, parents who remember Larkin and Davis, kids now screaming for De La Cruz. It is one of the rare civic holidays where everyone, regardless of the standings, feels a part of something bigger.

Even when the Reds have disappointed — and they certainly have — Opening Day has remained a moment of hope, of possibility. And in a sport built on failure, where even the best teams lose 60 games and players fail 70% of the time at the plate, that hope is essential. It’s not about blindly celebrating a team that hasn’t delivered in the standings. It’s about recommitting to the belief that maybe this year is the year. Or, if not this year, that there are better days ahead.

To be fair, the Reds are showing signs that they’ve learned from past missteps. The farm system has been replenished, the 2023 season showcased a new core of exciting young talent, and there’s a renewed focus on building sustainably. While ownership still has plenty to prove — especially when it comes to spending — there’s at least a flicker of alignment between fan hope and front office action.

So yes, let the parade march. Let the city paint itself red. Let the ballpark be packed, the beers flow, and the bunting fly high. Because even if the past five years haven’t lived up to the promise, the spirit of Opening Day isn’t about the recent past — it’s about what baseball, and Cincinnati, might still become.