In the lead up to Cincinnati Reds opening day, some of the city’s most legendary sports figures will pay a visit to BetMGM Sportsbook at Great American Ball Park for a special event. And fans can join them.
The “Legends of Cincy” event will be held on Saturday, March 25, featuring a meet & greet with Sean Casey, Kenyon Martin, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. NBA podcaster and media personality Trysta Krick will host a panel with the athletes.
The BetMGM Sportsbook at GABP opened its doors on Jan. 1, the first day of legal sports betting in Ohio.
BetMGM Sportsbook at GABP to host Reds, Bearcats, Bengals legends
Fans in attendance will enjoy food and drink specials from the Wings & Rings Machine Room, giveaways and more.
The free event is open to the public from 6-8 p.m., but space will be limited. Attendees must be 21 or older.
All guests will have a chance to win one of three pairs of Diamond Club tickets for the Opening Day game, or one of these other prizes up for grabs:
- A BetMGM-brand baseball bat signed by Casey, Houshmandzadeh, and Martin
- Ten $15 gift cards to the Wings & Rings Machine Room
- Reds memorabilia items
Casey, Kenyon, Houshmandzadeh kept the hope alive
Cincinnati sports fans know the sting of defeat all too well, but Casey, Martin, and Houshmandzadeh played for some of the best local squads of the past two decades. Each was a big-time player for their respective playoff-bound teams.
Sean Casey is a member of the Reds Hall of Fame who led the Reds to a 96-win season in 1999, his second year with the team. That was the most wins a Reds team had racked up since 1973. Over his eight years with the club, Casey was a National League All-Star three times.
Legendary Bearcats forward Kenyon Martin led UC to four straight NCAA Tournaments from 1997-2000. His final postseason, of course, was cut short after the consensus first-team All-American and national Player of the Year broke his ankle in the Conference-USA Tournament. The Bearcats were largely considered the NCAA Tournament favorites before his injury.
Still, Martin was drafted into the NBA with the first overall pick anyway. He still holds the Bearcats record for blocked shots. Martin went on to play in the NBA for 15 seasons for the New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks.
Wide receiver T.J. “Hoosh” Houshmandzadeh played nine seasons with the Bengals starting in 2001. With 44 career touchdowns with the team and recording at least 70 receptions and 900 yards for six straight seasons, Hoosh ranks in the top 10 in franchise history for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.
BetMGM Sportsbook at Great American Ball Park hours, specials
The BetMGM Sportsbook is located on the northeast corner of the stadium, but it is not accessible from within the ballpark. The second-floor sports bar and betting zone features a panoramic view along the third base line, over 50 screens for watching games, three betting windows and 15 betting kiosks.
Daily drink specials are available along with food from Wings & Rings. The sportsbook is open seven days a week.
Parking is available in the Central Riverfront Garage via Pete Rose Way on the east side of the stadium. Take the escalator or elevator up to the Mezzanine Level to find the Machine Room entrance.
On Thursday, March 30, the Reds host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the MLB season opener.
