I personally think the the "Gap" is the most stupid F*cking thing I've ever seen in ballpark design. Wow, there's a big freaking hole in the stadium! Quick lets rush to see HOLE in the stadium!

I personally think they should erect a gaint statue of Pete Rose, place it in the "gap" and refer to it as the A-Hole.

The steamboat is almost as stupid as the train in Houston, but not quite.

It's a trap!

Big Red Machine (TM).

Any park with that stupid a name deserves what it gets. Gream American Ballpark? Gimme a break!

Um, question. Why did the architects review the ballpark after it was already completed?

Question #2: What's the best of the cookie-cutter parks? Kauffman? Busch? Riverfront?

I'll bet they love the place if Griffey hits 50 dongs and the starting pitching doesn't suck.

Olperfesser, Sorry, I think those goals are mutually exclusive. I don't think Griffey will ever launch 50 again unless he plays in a total bandbox. If the GAB plays like a bandbox, the starting pitching will get torched faster than Old Mrs. Murphy's cowshed.

Damn lack of editing tools. I won't be made a fool of, especially by you Dick!

Keith: It reads as if the HOK Sport architects / Reds advisors were control freaks. They're the ones who will be listed in the record books as the GAB designers, and the Cincinnati-based panel of architects were shut out of the design phase. Didn't see anywhere in the article where it says otherwise.

The panel's objections are partly to the design (the Wedge), but also to the implementation (inconsistency of building materials). Dumb things that never should have happened regardless of the design.

I think the Reds only cared about the unity/grandeur/prettiness of the GAB design to the extent that it made for a better mallpark. We'll see how happy the team is with their choices after the newness wears off.

"Great American Ballpark's too gaudy, architects say"

Naah, just gaudy enough.

It's a gap!

Durable:

Are you questioning the coolness of a "big non-descript hole," that "comes to life on game day." What the hell is the matter with you? Its a big non-descript hole for god sakes. Get with it man, this is going to revolutionize Reds baseball.

Has anyone noticed that the logo for Great American Ball Park appears to have Ken Griffey, Jr. on it (at least, the stance most looks like Junior's)-except the batter is right handed? Is there anything they did right?

Brian,

You have a chance to become a Primer hero. Become the first Primate to stand in the Gap and win the adulation of the masses.

They are also putting in a comedy club on the mezz. level called The Nyuks Hall.

Notice to all baseball teams and the world: HOK has not had an original design since Camden Yards. Everything else since, they've been mailing it in and taking your millions in consultation fees.

I think it'd be really cool if the Reds new park was a modern-sized replica of Crosley Field. Cards - Sportsman's Park, et cetera.

I understand the French are already calling it, "The Great Ugly American Ballpark"!!!