It's official: Reds Opening Day is a holiday

CINCINNATI - It was an easy home run for Cincinnati City Council.

They voted unanimously to make Reds Opening Day forever a city holiday.

"Those of us who are Reds fans, and there are many of us," said councilmember Wendell Young, "I think that we believe that this is a long overdue recognition."

For those who are also familiar with the definition of 'holiday' Young made a clarification.

"This is not the kind of holiday where you have to close your business, where you have to pay overtime, where you have to let people off from work," he said.

Then he added, "We will love it if you will."

That's not something Northside's Jared Thompson can afford.

"I'd love to take the day off," he said. "But, I gotta make money."

Young said the city is in the same boat.

"We fully recognize that we have budget issues here."

So even for Cincinnati employees, a Reds holiday really isn't.

The city calls it 'ceremonial'. Ergo, even the parking meters will still be enforced.

When asked if calling it a holiday actually affects anything, Cincinnati City Solicitor John Curp says, "No. Other than city council expressing their support for the Cincinnati Reds and the great baseball tradition in our town."

Reds fan David Frey said the idea is spot on. "I think it would be good for the city...(to) have something to celebrate and be happy about."

And something to look forward to.

Major League Baseball hasn't yet announced when the Reds' Opening Day will be.