The simple answer is no, Kroger does not directly sell Cincinnati Reds tickets. Kroger is a popular grocery store chain, while the Cincinnati Reds are a professional baseball team in Major League Baseball. The Reds play their home games at the Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.
More Details on Kroger and the Cincinnati Reds
Kroger operates over 2,700 grocery stores across 35 states under a variety of banner names like Kroger, Ralphs, Dillons, and more. The company is one of the largest supermarket chains in the United States. However, Kroger does not operate any sporting venues or sell tickets to sporting events.
The Cincinnati Reds are one of the oldest professional baseball teams, dating back to 1881. They have won 5 World Series championships and 9 National League pennants over their storied history. The team plays in the competitive National League Central division. While the Reds enjoy a loyal fanbase in the Cincinnati area, Kroger does not directly sell tickets to Reds games.
Where Fans Can Purchase Cincinnati Reds Tickets
There are a few primary options for fans looking to purchase Cincinnati Reds tickets for home games at Great American Ball Park:
- The Cincinnati Reds official website – This is the easiest and most direct way to buy tickets. Fans can purchase single game tickets, mini plans, season tickets, and more on Reds.com.
- Third party ticket marketplace sites – Stubhub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek and other resale sites frequently sell Reds tickets, often at variable prices based on demand.
- Ticketmaster – The MLB’s preferred ticketing partner, Reds fans can buy home game tickets here too.
- Box office at Great American Ballpark – Fans can walk up and buy tickets directly before home games depending on availability.
- Ballpark ticket kiosks – There are dedicated Reds ticket kiosks around Cincinnati, including some locations like Kroger, where fans can conveniently purchase tickets.
Kroger’s Limited Role in Reds Ticketing
While Kroger supermarkets do not directly market or sell Cincinnati Reds tickets, some Kroger locations do have Reds ticketing kiosks inside the store for added customer convenience. These kiosk machines allow shoppers to quickly purchase Reds single game tickets and other ticket packages on the spot. However, the ticketing kiosks are operated by the Cincinnati Reds organization, not Kroger itself.
Kroger’s role is simply providing space for the Reds-operated kiosks in select store locations as a customer service. The ticketing kiosks provide Kroger shoppers who are baseball fans with quick ticket access in the grocery store. But ultimately, the Cincinnati Reds organization owns and operates the ticketing kiosks.
Other Ways Kroger Supports the Reds
Though not directly selling Reds tickets, Kroger engages with the Cincinnati Reds and their fans in a few other ways:
- In-store promotions – Kroger may run exclusive fan promotions or discounts in coordination with the Reds for things like food discounts or collectible giveaways.
- Kroger Plus Card discounts – Kroger Plus Card members occasionally get special discounted offers on Reds tickets when purchased via the Reds website.
- Sponsorship activations – Kroger sponsors the Reds Community Fund to support baseball and softball programs for youth in Cincinnati.
- Broadcast sponsorship – Kroger sponsors TV and radio coverage for Reds games on local Cincinnati stations.
So while Kroger does not directly sell Reds ticketing, they find other creative ways to engage with Cincinnati baseball fans and support the hometown team.
Other Places That Don’t Sell Reds Tickets
Since supermarkets like Kroger don’t directly sell tickets to Cincinnati Reds games, there are many other places fans can’t purchase Reds tickets either, such as:
- Department stores like Macy’s or Nordstrom
- Home improvement stores like Home Depot or Lowes
- Pet supply shops like PetSmart or Petco
- Office supply stores like Staples or Office Depot
- Drug stores like CVS, Walgreens or Rite Aid
- Big box stores like Target, Costco or Sam’s Club
The easiest way to buy Reds tickets is directly through the team’s website or ticket partners. Otherwise, fans will have to seek out the limited number of Reds ticketing kiosks located inside local retailers like Kroger.
When and Where the Reds Play
The Cincinnati Reds regular season spans from April to September annually. Here is an overview of when and where the Reds play their home and away games:
- Home Games: Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio – April to September
- Away Games: NL Central opponent ballparks – April to September
- Spring Training: Goodyear Ballpark in Arizona – February to March
- Postseason Playoffs: If qualified, October at neutral NL ballparks
- World Series: If qualified, October at neutral AL or NL ballpark
The regular season consists of 162 total games, with 81 home and 81 away. The Reds chapter of passionate fans supports the team both at Great American Ballpark and on the road.
Prices for Reds Tickets
Reds ticket prices can vary greatly depending on factors like:
- Opponent – Premium opponents like the Cardinals or Cubs raise demand.
- Day and time – Weekend and night games are most expensive.
- Seating location – Field level seats or behind home plate cost more.
- Single game vs season package – Season tickets are cheaper per game.
- Primary or resale market – Resale prices fluctuate with demand.
To demonstrate Reds ticketing costs, here is a table with sample average ticket prices across a season:
Seating Zone | Average Price Range* |
---|---|
Field Box Seats | $125+ per ticket |
Infield Box Seats | $80 – $150 per ticket |
Lower Deck Outfield | $40 – $75 per ticket |
View Level | $20 – $40 per ticket |
Upper Deck | $15 – $30 per ticket |
*Based on 2022 Reds season average ticket prices on primary and secondary market. Playoff and premium games not factored in.
Conclusion
In summary, while grocery chain Kroger does not directly sell tickets to see the hometown Cincinnati Reds play, they still engage with fans in other ways like in-store promotions and ticketing kiosks. Fans can easily buy Reds tickets through the team’s website, Ticketmaster, or third-party marketplaces – not grocery stores. Great American Ball Park hosts Reds games from April through September annually, with tickets ranging in price based on seat location and demand. With so much ticketing information covered, hopefully this fully answers the original question “Does Kroger sell Cincinnati Reds tickets?” – and the answer remains no, but they still support their hometown team in other ways.