Let's Road Trip Cubs 2025: Trip #6 - From South Beach to the Ohio River

Miami Marlins - May 19-21
loanDepot Park - Capacity 37,442
2024 Attendance: 1,087,453 (Averaged 13,425 - ranked 15th out of 15 NL teams, 29th overall MLB)

The Cubs took two out of three down in South Beach in August of 2024.  In the 40 games that the Cubs have played in Miami since 2012, the Cubs have won 18 and lost 22. The neutral site aspect of Miami's struggle with attendance means that loanDepot Field looks more like Wrigley with the away fans outnumbering the home crowd.

The stadium's first season of use was in 2012 (Marlins Park), and it was renamed loanDepot Park in 2021. It has a retractable roof so the games are guaranteed to occur, which is a must for anyone making that long of a trip to catch a ballgame! The in-stadium nightclub may have closed, and the neighborhood around LoanDepot looks more like a residential zone, but the ballpark itself is beautiful outside and inside. The best part? A visiting fan can usually get 30-dollar prime area seating. I mean, it's all for sale...and no one's buying. Cubs fans rejoice, but the stadium employees and Marlins players aren't too impressed. The World Basic Classic proved that both the stadium and the community can get excited when the product on the field is competitive, but Marlins ownership isn't too keen on that being the goal.

This "communidad 305" thing looks interesting. BYOInstruments? Soccer atmosphere? The fun probably can still occur if your team has a strong representation in the stands. Their bobblehead museum contains 400 of the old owner Jeffrey Loria's collection, but its almost hidden behind a back outfield stairwell, so you might have to explore to find it.

LoanDepot Park sits in the southern part of the city, just west of Biscayne Bay.  If the roof is open, sightlines from the back of the first-base line is the place to be.  If closed...go party and play instruments I guess! At 85 degrees and sunny, its hard to complain. Enjoy it, but don't get too used to it Cubbies...pack a light jacket and head back North to Cincinnati to take on the young NL Central upstarts.

Cincinnati Reds – May 23-25
Great American Ballpark - Capacity 43,500
2024 Attendance: 2,024,178 (Averaged 24,989 - ranked 12th out of 15 NL teams, 21st overall MLB)

Chicago's trips to the Great American Ballpark in 2024 proved to be a Great American Disappointment. The Cubs went 2-5 against their upstart divisional rivals.  In general, the Cubs' road trips to Cincinnati have not been beneficial to their seasonal standings. They have only won 85 and lost 97 on this particular journey since 2003. The last season series win for the Cubs on the road at the Great American Ballpark came in 2020, without fans to root against them.

Home to baseball’s oldest franchise (going strong since 1882!), Great American Ball Park celebrates its 20th year of hosting the Reds in 2023. With a list of legendary players behind it, the team boasts a history of success, and has a Hall of Fame of its own to prove it. Like many teams, however, that history seems to stop in the 90’s. Built on the shores of the Ohio River, Great American Ball Park offers contemporary fans a baseball specific venue with waterfront views and quirky vibes. The higher up you sit, the better the view of both game and area. With wide concourses, and five levels of seating, finding a place to enjoy the game shouldn’t be an issue.

When in town, cultural highlights include the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and the Cincinnati Art Museum. Findlay Market’s beer gardens open on gameday, and riverboat cruises offer a unique way to spend the time between games.

Following this week-long road trip the Cubs return home for two series against the Colorado Rockies and these same Cincinnati Reds. Will the Cubs come home on a roll? Or will they be looking for revenge after a disappointing road trip?