Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati "will have its name on the revamped Riverfront Club down the right-field line in the upper deck" at Great American Ball Park, according to Steve Watkins of the CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER. The newly redone space "will be called the Handlebar at the Riverfront Club presented by Horseshoe Cincinnati." The Reds "renovated that space to create outdoor seating areas in groups of four and an indoor bar/gathering place." Horseshoe "will get a 30-second ad on the Reds video board during games," but with MLB's restrictions on gambling, it is "limited in what it can show in the ad." Horseshoe "can’t show people gambling, so it’ll likely highlight people having fun and enjoying restaurants and events in the casino without hitting the craps tables." Reds VP/Corporate Sales Bill Reinberger did not disclose the sponsorship costs, but he said, “That was one of our biggest deals of the offseason.” Watkins notes the Reds "added another key naming-rights sponsorship with Ole Smoky Moonshine." The Tennessee-based company "will add its name to the party space next to Mr. Red’s Smokehouse down the right-field line on the main concourse level." That space "will be called the Ole Smoky Party Barn." Reinberger said that these two deals "contributed to the Reds boosting sponsorship sales" by 7% over last year. The Reds brought in $3.2M in new business this season and increased "the number of million-dollar sponsors from six to seven." Reinberger said that any sponsor "with a sign in fair territory at GABP will be able to keep its sign up during the All-Star Game and surrounding festivities." Watkins notes sponsor signage in foul territory "will be covered up and replaced" with MLB sponsors, which "caused some sponsors to increase their Reds spending this year" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 3/30).
MAKING MOMMA HAPPY: ESPN.com's Darren Rovell reported Great American Ball Park now includes a "nursing center" that was built by Cincinnati-based Fischer Homes and sponsored by Pampers. The site "will have five gliders that will give the female fan the comfort of home while at the ballpark." The space "can be used for breast- or bottle-feeding and diaper changing." Areas include "private restrooms, a kitchenette, refrigerator and lockers to store items during the game." Reds COO Phil Castellini said, "We'll also have flat screen TVs so that they won't miss the game, and there will be toys to play with if the 3-year-old has to come with them." Rovell noted the nursing center is "another example of teams catering more to female fans" (ESPN.com, 3/30). In Cincinnati, Steigerwald & Campbell note the nursing center is one of nine "cool things you'll see" at GABP this season after the Reds' $5M in offseason upgrades. Castellini said, "It may not be the only nursing room in a baseball stadium, but it's definitely the nicest" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 3/31).
