History
Built after League Park's grandstand burned in 1900, the Palace of the Fans opened on April 17, 1902, when about 10,000 fans watched the Reds lose 6–1 to Chicago. Its grandstand had 19 'fashion boxes', and it was the second park after Baker Bowl built largely of concrete. A night exhibition under George F. Cahill's temporary lights was played on June 19, 1909.
The Reds' last game there was on October 12, 1911. The park was demolished and Redland Field, later Crosley Field, opened on the site in 1912.
Why it matters: It was an early use of concrete in ballpark construction and the site of a 1909 night-baseball experiment.
Timeline
- April 17, 1902Opening day[2]
About 10,000 watched the Reds lose 6–1 to Chicago.
- June 19, 1909Night exhibition[2]
An exhibition game was played under temporary lighting developed by George F. Cahill.
- 1911Demolished[2]
The park was demolished after the 1911 season to make way for Redland Field.
- October 12, 1911Last game[2]
The Reds played their last game there, against the Cubs.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped[2] |
|---|---|
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
We have not verified what occupies the site today. Know? Tell us, with a source.
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| Cincinnati Reds | National League · 1902–1911 |
|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bearcats football | 1904–1909 · tenant |
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Other names | Palace of the Fans; League Park III; Fans' Palace |
|---|---|
| Location | Findlay Street & McLean Avenue (block bounded by Findlay, Western Avenue, York and McLean), Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Venue type | Ballpark |
| Sports | Baseball |
| Level | MLB, College |
| Opened | April 17, 1902[1,2] |
| Last used for sports | October 12, 1911[1,2] |
| Demolished | 1911[2] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Original capacity | 12,000[2] |
| Capacity notes | Infobox capacity 12,000; the text describes a 3,000-seat grandstand with standing room for 640 in 'Rooter's Row'. |
| Closure | Replaced by the larger Redland Field on the same site. |
Documented details
Connected venues
Sources
- Baseball Data Hub ballpark index, Baseball Data Hub. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, opened
- Palace of the Fans, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: capacity, closed, coordinates, demolished, events, opened, teams
Research confidence
Key facts on this page (opening, closing, status and location) are each supported by sources, with key dates corroborated by at least two independent sources. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (2)
- Wikipedia's infobox gives the closing date as October 6, 1911; its text says the last game was October 12, 1911.
- Capacity: 12,000 (infobox) vs. a 3,000-seat grandstand plus 640 standing (text).
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.