Reds fans showed up in record numbers and now it’s ownership’s move

Cincinnati Reds fans made their choice this year by showing up. Great American Ball Park stayed loud from spring to fall, a crowd that felt like the best of the 2010s, only leaner, hungrier, and itching for what’s next.

The data matches the vibe: 26,967 fans per game over 80 dates, the club’s top average since 2015. That isn’t noise; it’s proof. People returned because belief returned, because the roster’s promise finally met a product worth paying to see.

Terry Francona’s arrival didn’t just tweak the style of play; it reset the standard. The results came immediately: Cincinnati posted its strongest season in more than a decade and reached the postseason for the first time in a full 162 since 2013. When the window starts to open, responsibility shifts upstairs. Fans delivered. Players delivered. Now it’s on ownership to lock in the momentum with smart, timely spending.

Reds attendance hits decade high, raising the stakes for ownership

The directive for Reds' ownership isn’t “spend recklessly.” It’s “spend like a contender that understands the cost of waiting.” This roster doesn’t need a luxury-tax overhaul to level up; it needs surgical upgrades. A middle-of-the-order bat that lengthens innings and punishes mistakes. One more high-leverage reliever to convert loud eighth innings into quiet ninths. These are attainable pieces that turn a promising club into a problem for the National League.

There’s also the long view that smart teams embrace before arbitration clocks start screaming: lock in the core early. The Elly De La Cruz window isn’t closed, but it’s already pricier; that’s the cost of waiting on a franchise-caliber talent. 

More practical near-term targets include Noelvi Marte, who’s shown defensive versatility and a reliable bat — plus pillars like Spencer Steer, and Andrew Abbott. And don’t ignore the pipeline piece: clarify Sal Stewart’s long-term role now so any extension or roster moves don’t box him out before he truly takes off.

Extensions aren’t just rewards; they’re cost certainty and culture signals. When cornerstone players see commitment, it reverberates through the clubhouse and the league. When fans see it, the turnstiles keep humming. Cincinnati has a homegrown nucleus built for a multi-year run — get ahead of the market and keep it intact.

And if ownership needs a final nudge, the gate tells the story. Momentum like that is fragile. It either compounds with credible offseason moves or stalls under the weight of “maybe next year.” The franchise can’t ask the city for patience after the city already showed up.

This winter is the chance to prove 2025 was the beginning, not the high-water mark. No more excuses. The crowd roared, the team responded, and the table is set. Now it’s ownership’s turn to pick up the check and keep the party going.