With the no-shows outnumbering the Reds players who are going to be at Redsfest this weekend, the annual event is in jeopardy for next season.

        The only dates available at the Albert B. Sabin Cincinnati Convention Center for the next Redsfest are in early December 2001, which the Reds think would lead to as many player scheduling conflicts as this year. All that could mean canceling Redsfest.

        “That's a possibility,” Reds marketing director Cal Levy said. “It's always been a year-to-year proposition. We have to see how it goes this year. We have to be able to get guys here.”

WHO WON'T BE THERE

Reds players who won't be at this weekend's RedsFest:   • Ken Griffey Jr.: Sponsor commitment   • Barry Larkin: Alex Ochoa's wedding   • Sean Casey: Wedding   • Pokey Reese: Contract dispute   • Pete Harnisch: Family commitment   • Scott Sullivan: Family commitment   • Mark Wohlers: Family commitment   • Dmitri Young: Family commitment   • Alex Ochoa: Getting married

WHO WILL BE THERE

Reds players who will be at this weekend's RedsFest:   • Aaron Boone   • Danny Graves   • Jason LaRue   • Rob Bell   • Michael Tucker   • Chris Sexton   • John Riedling   • Scott Williamson

IF YOU GO

Redsfest schedule

        Only two of the eight starting position players — third baseman Aaron Boone and catcher Jason LaRue — are scheduled to attend the fest Friday and Saturday. In 2000, seven of eight attended.

        Only seven players on the final 25-man roster will be at this Redsfest. Last year, 18 of the 25 showed up, in addition to a big group of players from the 1990 and 1975 world championship teams.

        Scheduling conflicts are the reason several players — such as Sean Casey, Barry Larkin and Ken Griffey Jr. — won't be there this weekend.

        The Reds prefer to have Redsfest in January because it's closer to spring training and the 40-man roster is closer to being set.

        A mid-January date and a good list of players made Redsfest 2000 a huge success. It drew more than 12,000 fans and was the first one to break even financially.

        The Reds tried to lock in a January date for every year, but the convention center could not do so.

        “We don't guarantee local events more than 14 months in advance,” convention center general manager Dale Lewis said. “Our priority is out-of-town conventions. There aren't enough dates or space to accommodate everyone.”

        Levy said no other venues have been considered.

        “Nothing's big enough,” he said. “I don't want to turn this into a card show.”

        Other than Pokey Reese, who pulled out of Redsfest because of a contract dispute, the Reds are satisfied the players who aren't coming this year have legitimate excuses.

        Alex Ochoa is getting married Saturday, and Larkin is an usher in the wedding. Casey is an usher in another wedding. Griffey has three commitments for appearances at the Super Bowl.

        “It's just one of those things,” Levy said. “We had the dates 14 months ago. Junior wasn't even in the equation then. Then Alex Ochoa had his wedding date set ... ”No matter what the date is, the Reds are at the mercy of players' schedules.

        “Obviously, there's nothing we can do to make them be there,” Reds chief operating officer John Allen said. “We want them to help us sell the Reds and help sell baseball. But we have no leeway to force them to be here.”

        Having the top players there is a huge draw for autograph collectors, but Allen and Levy said Redsfest is a lot more than getting autographs.

        “From Day 1, we didn't want this to be an autograph show,” Allen said. “That's not what it's about. We do things that no other team in baseball does. Fans have a chance to grill myself and (general manager) Jim Bowden about what's going on with the team. It's a good chance to interact.”

        Levy said advance ticket sales are down from last year, but he added that may be because the Reds haven't sold tickets through Ticketmaster this year.

        “It's always a day-of-the-show event,” Levy said. “If people have something better to do, they won't come. If they don't have something better to do, they will.”

        Redsfest is from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for children under 12.
       

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