RedsFest: to go or not to go, your opinions?

by Deaner on Dec 11, 2008 5:01 PM EST Comment 22 comments

My wife and I have been thinking about going to RedsFest this year but aren't totally sure yet. We've never been and I was wondering if I could get some input from you all on what to expect and whether or not it would be worth the 3-hour drive that it would take us to get to Cincy from our home in Toledo. Also, if we choose to go we will only be able to make the Saturday portion.

We normally catch a stop on the Reds winter caravan. Those, however, are free of charge - RedsFest isn't. So is it worth the money and the drive?

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I liked Redsfest last time I went

but then I lived 10 minutes away. It depends on what you dig. If you like Reds paraphernalia, seeing players up close, watching some interviews and “game shows” and hanging out with Reds fans – it’s a good scene for you. But if you are more a fan of the games and don’t get all into that other stuff, I’m not sure if you’d have fun.

If you are one to get involved with the events they put on, then you’ll probably have fun. If you are just one to walk around and “check things out.” I’m not sure it’s worth the 6-hour round trip.

We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches

by Slyde on Dec 11, 2008 6:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

but...but...

if enough folks make the 6 hour round trip, the Reds can afford ANOTHER Arthur Rhodes!

I remember reading on RedsZone a bit back about how the Reds big drawing problem was that they represent a huge geographical area. Indiana to Alabama to West Virginia is all Reds Nation, in theory. Its an interesting geographical thought, but the point is, um…I won’t be going to RedsFest either.

I haven’t been sleeping so much lately, I apologize.

...because there's already someone posing as Jacob Brumfield

by Cy Schourek on Dec 11, 2008 6:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

so the Reds having a large fanbase hurts their attendance?

to me the Reds should have a following in the these metropolitan area’s… Indianapolis (maybe less now that it has been 10 years since their AAA team was there, and the Cubs have really encroached on the Reds), Columbus (the Indians success and Reds failure have hurt the Reds in Columbus), Dayton, Louisville, and Lexington.

I’m surprised by the disproportionate number of Indians fans compared to Reds fans in Lima. The Reds are a shorter drive, being just two hours down I-75, compared to the 3 and a half hour drive it is from here to Cleveland. I guess state lines are important, because despite Detroit being just two hours to the north there are no Tigers fans.

"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack

by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 7:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

state lines and fans

Interesting… I would have thought that Lima had more Reds fans. I probably has a lot to do with the cultural divide between northern and southern Ohio. Here in Toledo, I would say that Tiger fans are the majority, then Indians. There aren’t a lot of Reds fans although we do get the Reds games on our cable system (in addition to Indians and Tigers). Since Toledo is basically on the Michigan border I guess that state lines don’t mean as much. Also, it doesn’t hurt that the Mud Hens are the Tigers’ Triple-A club.

Just a little note about traveling… one year, while I was living in Kansas, I drive all the way to Indianapolis for one of the Reds winter caravan stops. It was about a 10-hour drive, one way.

by Deaner on Dec 11, 2008 10:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i'm making an assumption based on 3+ years in Ada, OH

I am from southwestern Ohio, but I am a student at Ohio Northern University. Wal-Mart and Meijer’s sells and the Applebea’s features both Reds and Indians paraphernalia, but I have seen a lot more Indians hats and t-shirts than Reds hats and T-shirts. Some of that could also be that since 1995 the Indians have had a winning record, been to the playoff’s multiple times, went to the World Series twice, completely blew up the “90’s team” and rebuilt and retooled and went to the playoffs ALCS. In the same time the Reds only made the playoff’s in 1995 and came close the to the playoffs once, unless you count 2006 as coming close (which I like to do, because it helps me sleep at night). It may have a lot to do with the Indians being more marketable because they are successful.

Non-baseball question; doesn’t it suck to live in northwest Ohio? Like Toledo is a shithole, i’ve been there twice, both times to see the Mudhens, there is just nothing else in Toledo that compels me to live Ada to see. The weather is cold and windy. Northwest Ohio brings nothing to the table. You know we went to war with Michigan over Toledo and Lake Erie? Like both states activated their militias? Glad we did that…. Toledo was so worth it. To be fair at the time because of its position in the Great Lakes, many people thought Toledo would grow to be one of the biggest cities in the country. Jokes on us.

"It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word."-Andy Jack

by justin007000 on Dec 11, 2008 11:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

nothing like militia dudes

I’ve always assumed Northwest OH has a high militia density. I picture residence perimeters that are secured and compounds littered with partially buried schoolbuses.

Lake Erie has a couple of hip spots, most notably Vomit Island.

by obc2 on Dec 12, 2008 10:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This may sound odd but...

I like Toledo. It has a lot of character. I like the mixture of flat, open cornfields and rust-belt industry.

I grew up in the coalfields of southern West Virginia, and have lived in southeastern Ohio and central Kansas before moving to Toledo. To be honest, Toledo is the most “happening” place that I’ve ever lived… I realize that I could be the only person on Earth to have ever made that statement.

by Deaner on Dec 12, 2008 10:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs