Cincinnati, May 21, 2002 – On Thursday, May 23, between 11:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Hamilton County is inviting the general public to visit Cinergy Field Plaza and sign a piece of Great American Ball Park’s structural steel.  The event coincides with the Reds vs. the Florida Marlins game which begins at 12:35 p.m., and the public can stop by and sign the steel before, during or after the game.

“Signing the steel on a construction project is a privilege usually enjoyed by just the project team and construction crew,” said Tom Neyer, Jr., president, Hamilton County Board of Commissioners.  “However, the Great American Ball Park is the community’s ball park and we think it is entirely appropriate that the community has the opportunity to enjoy this privilege as well.

The steel that the public will be signing is a triangular-shaped canopy truss that is 30 feet long, five feet wide at its widest part and weighs approximately 3,000 pounds.  It is the last canopy truss to be installed and will be placed on the southwest side of the ball park.  Although the truss is not the final piece of steel to be set in place at the ball park, it is one of the few remaining pieces.

The steel signing event will take place at the northwest corner of the Cinergy Field Plaza, behind the ATM machines. 

The construction of Great American Ball Park is on schedule.  This future home of the Cincinnati Reds is scheduled to open on Opening Day, 2003.