Riverfront Stadium

Construction began on February 1, 1968, and was completed at a cost of less than $50 million. Riverfront's grand opening was held on June 30, 1970, an 8-2 Reds loss to the Atlanta Braves. Braves right fielder Hank Aaron hit the first home run in Riverfront's history, a two-run shot in the first inning. Two weeks later on July 14, 1970, Riverfront hosted the 1970 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, best remembered for the often-replayed collision at home plate between Reds star Pete Rose and catcher Ray Fosse of the Cleveland Indians. Riverfront was a multi-purpose, circular 'cookie-cutter' stadium, one of many built in the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s as communities sought to save money by having their football and baseball teams share the same facility. In September 1996, Riverfront Stadium was renamed 'Cinergy Field' in a sponsorship deal with Greater Cincinnati energy company Cinergy. In 2001, to make room for Great American Ball Park which was built right next to Riverfront Stadium, much of the outfield seating and elements were removed and the seating capacity at Cinergy Field was reduced to 39,000. There was a huge in-play wall in center field visible after the renovations, to serve as the batter's eye. The stadium was demolished by implosion on December 29, 2002.

Riverfront Stadium was nicknamed 'The Home of the Big Red Machine' and later 'The Jungle'. The stadium hosted the 1970 MLB All-Star Game, famous for the Pete Rose and Ray Fosse home plate collision. Hank Aaron hit the first home run in the stadium's history during its opening game. The stadium was one of the classic 'cookie-cutter' multi-purpose stadiums built in the late 1960s and early 1970s, alongside Veterans Stadium, Busch Memorial Stadium, Three Rivers Stadium, and Shea Stadium. The stadium used AstroTurf from 1970 to 2000 before switching to natural grass for its final two seasons. The Bengals moved to Paul Brown Stadium in 2000, while the Reds played their final season at Riverfront in 2002 before moving to Great American Ball Park.