"Great American Ball Park" New Home of Great American Pastime
Great American Insurance - Executive Liability Division, one of the oldest insurance companies in the United States, and the Cincinnati Reds, America's first professional baseball team, are joining forces. At a press conference on last week, the two organizations announced a 30-year agreement under which the new home of the Reds will be named "Great American Ball Park." Great American joins Seattle's Safeco as a major insurer whose name adorns a professional ball field.
Carl Lindner, chairman of Great American's parent, AFG, and also CEO of the Cincinnati Reds, said, "This alliance supports our investment in the Reds and Major League Baseball and our commitment to the Cincinnati community that serves as our headquarters." Carl Lindner III, AFG's co-president and head of Great American's Property And Casualty Insurance Group, said, "We believe this is a great opportunity for Great American to continue building national brand image that will support growth of our insurance businesses through the enormous national exposure a major league sports franchise provides."
Under the stadium naming rights and marketing agreement, Great American will pay about $75 million over the life of the agreement, which expires in 2032. In addition, Great American will be entitled to enjoy prominent signage and certain marketing, advertising and merchandising opportunities in and around the stadium. A Cincinnati celebration was sponsored by Great American at the July 7th Cincinnati Reds-Cleveland Indians game, with a commemorative poster for all fans in attendance and a special fireworks display at the conclusion of the 7:35 pm home game.
John Allen, chief operating officer of the Cincinnati Reds said, "We are very pleased about teaming up with Great American and believe this is a great name for our new stadium. This is an exciting time for our city and the Reds and we commend Great American for its leadership in supporting our team and Cincinnati. We look forward to a long relationship with this fine organization."
The Great American name is associated with two major insurance groups. The Great American Property and Casualty Insurance Group offers primarily private passenger automobile insurance and a wide variety of specialized commercial insurance coverages. Great American Financial Resources offers retirement annuities, life, supplemental health and long-term care insurance through subsidiaries in 50 states and Puerto Rico.
The Lindners and Mr. Allen were joined at the announcement by Ohio Senate President Dick Finan, State Treasurer Joe Deters, Hamilton County Commissioner Bob Bedinghaus, Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken, Hamilton County Administrator David Krings, members of the Cincinnati Reds ownership group and other community leaders.
Construction of the new stadium is expected to begin in the Fall of 2000 and be completed in time for the 2003 season. Great American Ball Park will have 42,060 seats. It will be located overlooking the Ohio River and will include rich references of the past, reminiscent of the former Crosley Field era. The exterior façades of the stadium will be brick with a strong reference to the brick architecture of Cincinnati. It will have a grass playing field.
The architect for Great American Ball Park is Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum, Inc. (HOK) of Kansas City, Missouri, which has designed other major league facilities, including Enron Field in Houston, Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco, Cleveland's Jacobs Field, Coors Field in Denver and Baltimore's Oriole Park at Camden Yards.