It will be the Big Red Machine's turn to bid farewell to Cinergy Field a day after this year's team says goodbye with a sold-out game against Philadelphia.

        An all-star softball game - being billed as "Farewell to Riverfront/Cinergy Field" - is set for Sept. 23, along with a home run derby and other events to be announced.

        Former Reds stars Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Joe Morgan and George Foster have signed on for the game. The former Reds will play an all-star team from the same era: Mike Schmidt, Ozzie Smith and Steve Garvey have agreed to play, said promoter Marty Garafalo.

        Mr. Rose and, possibly, Mr. Foster will attend a press conference today1 announcing the event.

        The game will not be affiliated with Major League Baseball, which has placed a lifetime ban on Mr. Rose for gambling.

        Mr. Garafalo, president of Dream Events, said there was some consideration of making the event a hardball game.

        "But that's too tough for the pitchers," Mr. Garafalo said. "And I think a softball game will be better for the fans. They'll get to see more of the players."

        Terry Evans, Hamilton County's assistant director of stadiums, said the contract has yet to be signed but that only minor issues remain.

        He said the county will receive $30,000 in rent plus $1 from each ticket sold up to $55,000.

        The cost of tickets has not been determined.

        The softball game could be the last public event in the 32-year-old stadium, unless the Reds make the playoffs. Picking a date was one of the toughest parts of organizing the event, Mr. Evans said. The Reds final regular season home game is Sept. 22. Then the team finishes its season on the road.

        "That's why it's a Monday night and that's why it's taken so long to get to this point,” Mr. Evans said. "We've got construction, demolition, baseball schedules and postseason play maybe. All those things had to be (considered) to pick a date that worked for everybody."

        Commissioner Todd Portune, who has been the driving force in bringing the event to the county-owned stadium, said the all-star softball game will be a fitting send-off for Cinergy Field.

        "It'll be a great event that will give the fans an opportunity to say thank you to all those legends," Mr. Portune said. "And it'll give the legends a chance to throw the ball around inside the old yard."

        Mr. Portune said there is one more detail to work out.

        "We need to make sure the game doesn't end in a tie,” he said.

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