A capsule history of the place that opened as Riverfront Stadium but imploded Sunday as Cinergy Field:
July 1947: City planners suggest that the Cincinnati Reds should have a new riverfront home on the west side of the Roebling Suspension Bridge.
December 1966: Cincinnati Enquirer publisher Francis Dale purchases the Reds with a group of local partners and begins planning for a riverfront sports facility that could be used for both baseball and a future NFL franchise.
Feb. 1, 1968: Groundbreaking ceremonies take place for the new $44 million multi-use structure financed by city-issued bonds.
June 30, 1970: The Reds abandon their Crosley Field home in the West End for their first game at Riverfront Stadium. The Reds drop their debut, 8-2, to the Atlanta Braves.
July 14, 1970: With President Richard Nixon throwing out the first pitch, Riverfront Stadium hosts baseball's All-Star Game. It ends with hometown hero Pete Rose scoring the winning run for the National League in a bone-jarring home plate crash with catcher Ray Fosse.
Sept. 20, 1970: After spending their first two seasons in Nippert Stadium, the expansion Cincinnati Bengals play their first Riverfront game, defeating the Oakland Raiders 31-21.
Oct. 10, 1970: Riverfront hosts its first World Series, a 4-3 Reds' loss to the Baltimore Orioles. The World Series returns four more times - in 1972, 1975, 1976 and 1990.
Jan. 10, 1982: The Bengals win their first AFC championship, defeating the San Diego Chargers 27-7 in the "Freezer Bowl." The temperature at kick-off was nine degrees below zero, with a wind chill of 59 degrees below.
Sept. 17, 1983: Legendary catcher Johnny Bench ends his 16-year career with a towering home run on "Johnny Bench Night.''
Sept. 11, 1985: A full house at Riverfront Stadium witnesses history when player-manager Pete Rose lifts a single into left field for his 4,192nd base hit, breaking Ty Cobb's record.
Sept. 16, 1988: After a long rain delay, pitcher Tom Browning throws a perfect game against the Dodgers. It's the first and only perfect game in Reds history.
July 20, 1994: Bengals General Manager Mike Brown says Riverfront is outdated and does not generate enough money. His demand: "A new stadium and not a patchwork job at Riverfront Stadium."
March 19, 1996: Hamilton County voters approve a half-cent sales tax increase to finance a new Bengals stadium and a Reds ballpark.
Sept. 9, 1996: Cinergy, Cincinnati's electric utility company, pays $6 million to rename Riverfront Stadium. The red-and-blue "Cinergy Field'' signs go up that day.
July 1, 1998: Riverfront land west of the Roebling and between Cinergy and the Firstar Center (now U.S. Bank Arena) is designated as the site for a new Reds' ballpark. Skeptics call it "the Wedge."
May 21, 1999: The Reds and Hamilton County sign a 30-year lease for the new ballpark.
Dec. 12, 1999: The Bengals play their final game at Cinergy Field, a 44-28 win over the Cleveland Browns.
May 11, 2000: The Reds and Hamilton County officials unveil the architectural model of what will become Great American Ball Park.
April 2, 2001: Cinergy Field, with a 14,000 seat "bite'' taken out of it to accommodate construction of the new park, opens with a new grass playing surface.
Sept. 22, 2002: The last of the Reds' 2,572 games played over 32 seasons ends with a 4-3 loss to Philadelphia. Dozens of former Reds salute a sold-out Cinergy and take the field for an emotional ceremony.
Sept. 23, 2002: Cinergy's last event is a softball game featuring the starting lineup of the "Big Red Machine," including Pete Rose, who was banned from the previous day's ceremony. Nearly 42,000 fans bid farewell.
Oct. 7, 2002: O'Rourke Wrecking Co.'s demolition job begins with the razing of the plaza level and the parking garage.
Dec. 29, 2002: At 8 a.m., 1,400 pounds of explosives are detonated, sending Cinergy crashing to the ground. The 37-second implosion, broadcast live on Cincinnati TV stations, officially ends the stadium's life.
SEE CINERGY IMPLOSION
Animation from Enquirer photos
Video from WCPO 
Galleries: Implosion | Crowd | Aerial shots |
Views from Kentucky
CINERGY IMPLOSION STORIES
Cinergy Field down in 37 seconds
Cleanup begins today, will take months
No hitches, no errors
New skyline already earning praise
What's next for the Riverfront?
Partiers impressed by implosion
Fifty-five years that shaped Cincinnati's riverfront
BENGALS
Bengals reach new low in 27-9 loss to Bills
Bengals players, fans wait for Brown to act
Game statistics
Bengals Report Card
Bengals By The Numbers
Frustrated Spikes contemplating future
Bengals Notebook: Kitna misses $1.6M bonus
NFL
Browns make playoffs but lose Couch
Fans can say Browns are back
Jets in; Pats, Dolphins out
Sunday Night Game: Bucs 15, Bears 0
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After West's outburst, XU circles wagons
Xavier 84, Eastern Ky. 60
Creighton warms up for Xavier with 10th straight win
UC BEARCATS
UC 66, Miami 54
Fouls hurt RedHawks
UC-Miami Notebook: Hicks comes back
DAUGHERTY: What if UC had beaten Ohio State?
WOMEN'S CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT
UC women beat Xavier with defense
Ex-Bearcats, Pirtle say hello
OTHER COLLEGE BASKETBALL NEWS
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NKU finally loses a game
Kentucky's confidence shaken
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FIESTA BOWL
Miami: Buckeyes can't match our speed
All-American Wilhelm letting play do talking
Tough ticket may end OSU fans' streak of 335 straight games
OSU antsy after long vacation
OTHER COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
UK will introduce football coach today
Today's Bowl Games
PREP SPORTS
West's Maupin commits to Ohio State
High School Week Preview
LeBron James legend grows
Sunday's High School Results
High School Schedules
Prep sports home page
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