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2015 MLB ALL-STAR SUMMER EVENTSFriday, July 10 - Tuesday, July 14T-Mobile All-Star FanFest at Duke Energy Convention CenterFriday-Monday, 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. ETTuesday, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. ETSaturday, July 11The Color Run MLB All-Star 5K, Presented by Nike, 9:00 a.m. ETBudweiser MLB All-Star Concert, part of the Pepsi Music Series at Paul Brown Stadium, 8:00 p.m. ET0000017a-3b40-d913-abfe-bf44a54b0001Sunday, July 12All-Star Sunday at Great American Ball Park featuring:SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, 3:00 p.m. ETAll-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game(following Futures game)Sunday, July 12 - Tuesday, July 14MLB All-Star Summer Pepsi Block Party12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. ETEast Freedom Way (between Joe Nuxhall Way and Rosa Parks St)Monday, July 13Gatorade All-Star Workout Day at Great American Ball Parkfeaturing: Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders, 8:00 p.m. ETTuesday, July 14All-Star Game Red Carpet ShowPresented by Chevrolet, 1:00 p.m. ET86th MLB All-Star Game at Great American Ball Park, 7:00 p.m. ETAll times subject to changeMETRO FAN SHUTTLE Ride the free Metro Fan Shuttle for the most convenient way to enjoy festivities throughout Downtown and Over-the-Rhine, July 10-13.The Metro Fan Shuttle will provide free service to many of the events and activities taking place at Washington Park, Duke Energy Convention Center and Fountain Square during the four days leading up to the big game.The shuttle will run every 10 to 12 minutes according to the following schedule:• Friday, July 10: 7-10 p.m.• Saturday, July 11: noon – 10 p.m.• Sunday, July 12: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.• Monday, July 13: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 6-9 p.m.Look for specially marked bus stops at the following locations:• On 5th Street mid-block between Walnut and Main (Government Square Area E)• On Sycamore Street at 4th Street• On 4th Street at Race Street• On Elm Street at 6th Street• On Elm Street at 12th Street• On Race Street at 13th Street• On Race Street at 6th Street• On 5th Street at Elm Street DOWNTOWN STREET CLOSURESTuesday, July 149 a.m.The below streets will have restricted access, allowing cross traffic only. - 2nd Street- 3rd Street- Vine Street- Walnut Street11 a.m.The above streets will be closed completely - no cross traffic will be permitted. 4 p.m.All streets will reopen. Due to anticipated traffic, expect long delays. 0000017a-3b40-d913-abfe-bf44a54a0003 There are 20 Cincinnati baseball-inspired mustache statues around the city. Each mustache resembles the handlebar style sported by Reds mascot Mr. Redlegs, and measures 8 feet wide, 2.5 feet high and weighs approximately 850 pounds.ALL-STAR LEGENDS & CELEBRITY SOFTBALL GAME ON JULY 12THThe All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game is a six-inning softball event featuring celebrities from TV, movies, music and more, plus MLB legends competing together.Celebrities Scheduled to Appear:Entertainment icon Snoop Dogg; “The Hunger Games” franchise star Josh Hutcherson; comedic actor and lead in the Fox animated series Golan the Insatiable Rob Riggle; star of the upcoming “Fantastic Four” Miles Teller; co-host of EXTRA and Fox Sports Live Charissa Thompson; ACM winner and platinum-selling country chart-topper Justin Moore; Cincinnati native Nick Lachey; Macklemore; Olympic Softball Gold Medalist Jennie Finch; Grammy nominated, multi-platinum artist and actress Jordin Sparks; ACM’s New Artist of the Year Award winner Cole Swindell; star of Disney Channel’s I Didn’t Do It Olivia Holt; Cincinnati native and Emmy Award-winning actor and director Chad Lowe; Head Football Coach at The Ohio State University Urban Meyer; plus Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team players Tim Horton and Todd Reed; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton; and ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit.MLB Legends Scheduled to Appear:Cincinnati Reds legends Sean Casey, Paul O’Neill, Eric Davis and Aaron Boone; Baseball Hall of Famers Andre Dawson, Rollie Fingers and Ozzie Smith; and MLB legends Fred Lynn and Vlad Guerrero.Below is a brief, chronological schedule of MLB All-Star Week Community Activities:Wednesday, July 8th · 10:30 a.m. – Bank of America All-Star Youth Baseball Clinic with Boys & Girls Clubs at the P&G Cincinnati MLB Urban Youth Academy (Cincinnati, OH)· 3:00 p.m. – MLB Cincinnati Reds Howell All-Star Field (Dayton, OH)Thursday, July 9th · 12:00 p.m. – Queensgate All-Star Field Dedication with The Scotts Company (Cincinnati, OH)· 3:00 p.m. – P&G Cincinnati Zoo & Reds Community Fund Community Makeover: Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, P&G All-Star Park and Dyer All-Star Fields (Cincinnati, OH)Friday, July 10th · 11:00 a.m. – Ron Oester Field at Withrow All-Star Complex (Cincinnati, OH)· 3:30 p.m. – Miracle League Game (Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH)· 6:30 p.m. – Don Johnson All-Star Field Dedication at the P&G Cincinnati MLB Urban Youth Academy (Cincinnati, OH)o Additionally, this event will serve as the Opening Ceremonies of the Jr. RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) ClassicSaturday, July 11th · 9:00 a.m. – The Color Run MLB All-Star 5K presented by Nike (Downtown Cincinnati, OH)· 9:00 a.m. – TeamSmile Dental Screening Event, supported by Church & Dwight Co., Inc., maker of Arm & Hammer Dental Care products (U.S. Bank Boys & Girls Club)· 12:30 p.m. – Jr. RBI Classic Community Service Event/The Giving Fields (Melbourne, Kentucky)· 2:00 p.m. – TVCA Veteran In-Processing (VIP) and Welcome Center (CityLink Center, Cincinnati, OH)· 5:30 p.m. – Make-A-Wish Welcome Reception (Hilton Netherland, Cincinnati, OH)Sunday, July 12th · 2:00 p.m. – Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Waiting Room Unveil/Starlight Fun Center Donation (Cincinnati, OH)Monday, July 13th · 10:00 a.m. – MLB Cincinnati Meinken All-Star Field (Covington, KY)Tuesday, July 14th· 10:00 a.m. – Boys & Girls Club Activity Room Dedication, Sheakley Boys & Girls Club (Cincinnati, OH)

Cincinnati Aiming To Make Big National Impression During All-Star Week

Cincinnati Reds
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Cincinnati is preparing to host its fifth All-Star Game. While the Reds and Major League Baseball are in charge of all the official events, the city's organizing committee is making sure Cincinnati takes full advantage of being in the national spotlight.

Committee chair Melanie Chavez says the plan is to overwhelm visitors in a good way.

"We would love them to be inundated with so many activities that there's no lack of choice," says Chavez. "If they're here for five days or three days, we want there to be so much for them to do that when they leave they say, 'Man, I didn't get a chance to go to that restaurant. I didn't get a chance to go to that opening; to experience that band.'"

The goal, Chavez says, is to leave visitors wanting to return.

A second goal is making sure locals really feel like they're part of the fun and ensure they want to participate rather than avoid Downtown.

A traveling baseball is touring the region, much like an Olympic torch. All-Star greeters will be stationed in hotels, info kiosks, and at the airport. There will be pop-up events and performances scheduled all around town, and businesses that normally close on Monday's are being asked to open up during All Star week.

"We want to increase economic development with people having a great time in Cincinnati." - Randie Adam

The Reds and Major League Baseball are getting ready to install large-scale signage around the region, and possibly on some of the city's iconic buildings. Store front displays are being planned.  The team is playing up the Mr. Redlegs theme and plans to station mustached-shaped benches around the city. There will also be large scale All-Star Game picture frames in scenic locations for people to take group photos.

Randie Adam with the convention and visitors bureau says it has almost reached its goal of training 500 Certified Tourism Ambassadors. These are people who work the front lines in hotels, restaurants and other service industry jobs.

"What we're striving to do is educate them more on our region, educate them on customer service, and just have that result in great interactions with visitors," says Adam. "We want to increase economic development with people having a great time in Cincinnati."

Adam says certified tourism ambassadors go through four hours of training and must pass a test. They also wear special star pins so visitors can easily identify them.

Downtown Cincinnati Inc. is also getting ready to release an updated smartphone app. It's designed to help people find events, activities, dining and shopping recommendations, and navigate the city.
 

Senior Editor and reporter at WVXU with more than 20 years experience in public radio; formerly news and public affairs producer with WMUB. Would really like to meet your dog.