FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                                                                                                                            Contact:

                                                                                                                                            Debra DeCourcy, APR    

                                                                                                                                            Dan Pinger Public Relations

                                                                                                                                            (513) 564-0700

Officials Team Up to Break Ground

For Great American Ball Park

Cincinnati - October 4, 2000 - The future site of home plate was the location for the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Great American Ball Park, which took place earlier today.

Cincinnati Reds officials and representatives from the Great American Insurance Company and its parent company, American Financial Group, Inc., joined members of the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners to break ground on the new home of the Cincinnati Reds. Dignitaries inserted a home plate marker in what will be the actual site of home plate in the new ball park. Fireworks marked the event in much the same way that fireworks signal each Cincinnati Reds home run and victory at Cinergy Field.

"This groundbreaking represents not just a ceremonial start of construction of the new ball park, but a very concrete continuation of the rebirth of our riverfront," said Bob Bedinghaus, president of the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners.

Ohio Governor Bob Taft and Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig also participated in the event, as did Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken. Construction on the ball park began in early August with the start of partial demolition of Cinergy Field and its plaza. The stadium must be torn down to make room for the new ball park, which will be located at Second and Main streets on the Cincinnati riverfront.

"As we stand in the shadow of Cinergy Field it reminds us of the milestones achieved there, including three World Series Championships, two All-Star games and the era of the Big Red Machine," said Commissioner Tom Neyer, Jr. "We expect that the Great American Ball Park will provide a link to this great past while leading us into an even more exciting future," added Commissioner John Dowlin.

John Allen, Reds chief operating officer, said, "It is great to finally see tangible evidence of our new home. During the final two seasons at Cinergy, we can watch Great American Ball Park become a reality. It is a very exciting time for the Reds."

The Great American Insurance Company purchased naming rights for the ball park, and in July 2000 the Cincinnati Reds announced the team's new home would be called "Great American Ball Park."

"We are excited to be involved in the development of Great American Ball Park," said Carl H. Lindner, III, American Financial Group, Inc. co-president and head of Great American's Property and Casualty Insurance Group. "It affords Great American an opportunity to continue building national brand image that will support growth in our insurance businesses through the enormous national exposure a major league sports franchise provides."

Parsons Brinckerhoff is the project manager for the Great American Ball Park. HOK Sport is designing the new ball park and the Hunt Construction Group is handling construction management. Highlights of the new park will include:

§ Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame - This year-round facility will have room for a wide variety of permanent and traveling exhibits.

§ Seating Bowl - The unique design will allow for many different seating options including field club seat and reserve and family seating, including bleachers.

§ Open Concourse - The concourse will provide field views from a variety of locations throughout the ball park.

§ The Crosley Terrace - The main entrance of the ball park was inspired by the Terrace of the old Crosley Field (the home of the Reds prior to the opening of Riverfront Stadium.)

The Great American Ball Park is expected to be open in April 2003.

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