Sports Opinion: Cincinnati fans unite
While cities like Boston, New York and Los Angeles dominate the ESPN headlines, small market cities such as Cincinnati continue to do things their way. The sports tradition of Cincinnati is something as unique to the city as the beautiful taste of Skyline chili.
Cincinnati's sports roots go all the way back to 1869 when the Cincinnati Red Stockings became the first ever professional baseball team. Because of this distinction, Cincinnati has always been a baseball town and continues to be one to this day. People in Cincinnati love their Reds, and being a Reds fan is something that is passed down from generation to generation. Our grandparents talk about the days of Ted Kluszewski while our parents talk about the "Big Red Machine," and now it's our turn to talk about Joey Votto and Johnny Cueto.
History is a major theme in Cincinnati and Reds fans love their traditions. Every year the team opens the season at home, and tickets for opening day are hard to come by. It's a city holiday that is unique to Cincinnati and symbolizes the love of their team.
The Reds have a fan base that spreads from Indiana to West Virginia and all the way down to Kentucky and Tennessee. This group of fans may not have the convenience of seeing their team play all the time, but they're as passionate a group as any other team has.
It is true that Reds games are not as well attended as other teams, but for a small market team, having 2,347,000 fans come into the ballpark is a respectable number. The Reds finished just below the Braves in average attendance and no one ever doubts the passion of Atlanta fans. This number becomes even more impressive when you look at the size of each city and see that Cincinnati is just over half the size of Atlanta.
While the Reds are the face of Cincinnati sports, their downtown neighbors are still beloved by the city. The Bengals have only had three playoff appearances in the last 21 seasons, but the city still loves and roots for its team. Every year, Bengals fans still gather together on Sundays to watch their team. Even long distance fans text and call each other to discuss how the team is doing. Sure, Mike Brown is possibly the worst owner in all of sports and sure the team is referred to as "the bungals," but they are still a major part of the Cincinnati sports tradition.
In the late 1990s the Bengals threatened to leave the city if they did not have a new stadium built, which is a common threat in American sports. The city agreed to pay for almost the entire stadium with public funds in order to keep the hometown team. If the city did not care about the Bengals, would they have built Paul Brown Stadium?
So maybe the Reds and the Bengals are not the most successful teams in the country, and maybe their attendance is not at the level of New York or Boston. But these two teams are a part of the heart and soul of the city of Cincinnati, and their fans love them in good times and bad.
Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly
Recent The Xavier University Newswire News Articles
Discuss This Article
GET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
FOLLOW OUR NEWSPAPER
LATEST THE XAVIER UNIVERSITY NEWSWIRE
- Unknown Mortal Orchestra's II
- Bullet to the Head misses its target
- Casual Vacany leaves the reader feeling unfulfilled
- Songs in the Key of... "LOVE" : Players' new show to be annual event
- Respect yourself first
- The future of Xavier
- An inside look into an English professor's academic conferences and conventions
RECENT THE XAVIER UNIVERSITY NEWSWIRE CLASSIFIEDS
OUTSIDE THE LINES
- Moving Resources For Military Families
- Historic Agreement Signed By Red Cross and Armed Forces
- Salonpas® Brand Stands the Test of Time
- Tips to “Yard Your Way” This Spring
- Upgraded Upstate Power Grid Will Deliver a Smarter,...
- A Story To Sing About
- The Gap in Gum Care: Why Caring For Your Teeth’s F...
- Top Tips for Signature Scents and Better-Smelling Laundry
- A Dog Trainer’s Top Tips to Support Pets Through Life S...
- Clear the Air of Indoor Pollutants This Spring
FROM AROUND THE WEB
- Youth Apprenticeship Week Spotlights Opportunities
- New Expo Showcases AI Innovation
- Self-Care and Mental Health Tips for Caregivers
- Adventure Awaits: Discover the Playset that Brings...
- Need Auto Glass Repair? Don’t Despair
- Pioneering Fast and Affordable Broadband for the Underserved
- 7 Reasons Renting an RV Should Be On Every Family’s S...
- Don’t Let Diabetes Shortchange Your Golden Years
- No Child is Forgotten By Marine Toys for Tots
- Sweeten Your Springtime Salads With Healthy Chilean Grapes
COLLEGE PRESS RELEASES
- Guidenar Launches New Career Test for Gen Z
- GotIt! Education Offers MathGPT Free to All State & Community Colleges
- Shoff Promotions Comic Book & Sports Card Show
- Semiconductor Research Corp unveils 2024 Research Call, $13.8M Funding
- Charles River Associates Opens Second Scholarship Cycle, Expands to the UK