By Ryan Ernst
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Reds fans looking to score tickets for the team's 135th Opening Day - the first at Great American Ball Park - won't need to brave the cold, wind and rain today.

When tickets for the March 31 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates go on sale at 10 a.m. today, Reds fans will be jamming cyberspace and phone lines, not the concourse level of the new ballpark.

The reason is two-fold, according to Reds director of sales Jenny Gardner.

"The (ticket) windows are still a hard-hat area, so we really can't have people down here," Gardner said. "Plus, in years past with walk-ups, you get the first 20 people in line and they're scalpers."

Sandy Wilcox, president of the Rosie Reds, the organization's fan club, says the Reds' new policy is a step in the right direction.

"Fans should have an equal opportunity," Wilcox said. "It's a shame that you should have to buy from a scalper who might have means different than the average person."

Gardner expects last year's club-record sellout time of 26 minutes to be eclipsed - largely because of the increased efficiency of online and phone purchases, plus the smaller capacity of the new ballpark.

"I would expect that they'll go in at least 20 minutes or so," she said. "They're going to be snatched up pretty quick."

Tickets for remaining Reds games will be on sale next Saturday.

E-mail rernst@enquirer.com

Opening Day tickets

What: Tickets for the inaugural Opening Day at Great American Ball Park.

When: 10 a.m. today (Tickets are expected to sell out within 20 minutes.)

Where: Tickets will be available only at www.cincinnatireds.com or by phone at (513) 381-7337 and toll-free at (877) 647-7337.

Price: Tickets range from $10 to $35, a $5 per ticket surcharge over regular ticket prices.

Etc.: There is a limit of four tickets per phone or internet order.