15 years for Camden Yards
Written: May 21 '06
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Pros: Location, baseball feel, tour, view, no corporate name
Cons: Small club bathrooms, prices, small leg room, small monitor, Cheese steak
The Bottom Line: See the innovator, the one which every ball park is designed after. Where Cal Ripken played, and a game ticket won't cost you a whole paycheck.
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| arenafanatic's Full Review: Oriole Park at Camden Yards |
Last year in July I had the privilege of attending my first game at Camden Yards which had now changed it's name to Oriole Park at Camden Yards. It was also my first ever road game as a Red Sox fan. The outcome wasn't what I wanted and I ran into trouble outside with O's fans but the park was great. My review was vague however and I deleted it now with another chance to visit the park and see the Park at night I took advantage of the Red Sox being in town for a series as I attended the May 15th game.
The park itself
Before Camden Yards there was Memorial Stadium. It was the Orioles stadium and served the Baltimore Colts as a home stadium. Sadly the place started to decay and was only used by the Ravens for a few games before being torn down. Oriole Park then just plane Camden Yards was finished in 1991 and built right next to an abandoned where house which has since been built into several company offices as well as serving as Orioles office. If you have never been to a game here or you have and think you have seen it all I highly recommend the Camden Yards tour. For $7 you will get a view of just about everything, a walk across the platform, get inside the where house, walk behind home plate, see the dug out, and get an education in Baltimore Orioles baseball and parts of Baltimore itself, and so much more. Just note these tickets are hard to get on the day of the game or time of tour so order them in advance.
The design has been made famous and many of the same ballparks are built by HOK which designed Camden. It is an originator and there is nothing like it especially at night. The 2006 season marks the fifteenth season for the Orioles at Camden Yards no wonder it is still around.
Getting there
I live in New York City and as always take Grey Hound. However the fare had gone up and even with the Grey Hound NY deal went from $35 to $48 none the less it is still a great deal and beats gassing up plus paying $10 for parking. Plus the Grey Hound station is located not too far from the Camden sports complex which is made up of M&T Bank Stadium, & Oriole Park at Camden Yards with the Baltimore Convention Center across the way. You can easily see M&T Bank in the distance so you'll know where to walk. There are cabs there though most won't take you since the fare is about $4
The area
My last visit this place was a disaster. There were no businesses anywhere although that has somewhat changed. There is a Holiday Inn a walk away from the bus depot, there is a car shop further up, and a Staples just across from M&T Bank plus the bars and you can also walk around and find the Babe Ruth museum. Just follow the baseballs, just make sure you go into the Sports museum at Camden Yards and buy a ticket which is $10 or $9 if you have an Orioles ticket stub for that day's game. There are bars around, and until 3pm you can walk around Eutaw street.
You can also use this link http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/sports/orioles/
if you'd prefer public transportation.
Tickets
I found Tickets to be priced cheaply. $55 is the most expensive and I had a club seat. Now most club seats are expensive and have three digits yet I paid the same $55 and got an awesome view. I ordered via Orioles.com which is taken care of by Ticketmaster.com so prepare for the fees, order processing and other fees. I had left them at Will call which requires a credit card and ID which you place into a slider draw inside the window which the staffer takes. I ran into a delay in getting my ticket but they were professional and apologized for the delay. As a recommendation for buying SRO or Standing room only seating go for the picnic area. You are right above the bullpens and can get an awesome view of the field where as with the Eutaw you have a better shot at a HR ball but need to be tall to see over the wall & scoreboard.
Parking
The earlier you arrive and park the better off you will be. There is parking available at M&T Bank Stadium and Camden Yards though the later fills up quickly.
Getting in
Eutaw Street opens up at 5pm on the dot for those with tickets. If carrying a bag make sure to have it open and ensure you show you have nothing dangerous inside. Your ticket will be scanned and you will be waived on through. You are now on Eutaw Street which has the Eutaw street Grille, there is the Eutaw Irish pub which is on the other side just through the "Home of the Orioles" sign, there is the Orioles wall of fame, and so much more. Gates that allow you inside the park open at 5:30pm
Merchandise/Food
There is plenty to do and plenty to buy. From the Orioles team shop which has genuine merchandise such as autographed memorabilia, game used uniforms, as well as baseball holders which were $4 there is as I mentioned the Eutaw Street grille which comes to my first complaint. Last year a Philly Cheese Steak was $5.75 this year it has gone up to $7 the picture makes it look like a real Philly Cheese steak yet what you get is two slices of Provolone cheese, underneath chopped up and I mean chopped up cubes of meat. Didn't like it too much, plus it was over greasy. There are plenty of picnic tables to sit at. Boardwalk fries were $4.25 a collector's soda was $4.25, a Camden Yards baseball was priced at $12 which is a $4 increase from what I paid last year and I'll get more into the prices on my mention of the club level.
Club level
Finding the club level is easy. Once inside look for an escalator. There is a sign which points to club & suite level ticket holders only. An usher will check your ticket and make sure you are in the right spot. Once I was OK'ed I went up the escalator, where another usher awaits at the top. He checked my ticket and told me my section was straight ahead. Sections 204-226 are to your right sections 228 and beyond to your left. The usher in my section was friendly, cleaned my seat and was very helpful. A Note for all of you; there are nine rows in the club section. AA-II you also get an orange menu which when you waive it will have someone take your order, they will give you a ticket, and you give that ticket back to the person who brings your food.
Club level is just below the suites level and nicely decorated with rug inside, and plenty of corporate sponsored hangouts such as the Bacardi 0 Bar. You get a great view of the field, although there is aside from row AA no leg room at all. So this is an area that need to be improved maybe even eliminating one row would help the situation. The bathrooms here are tiny as tiny can get. You go through a door and right next to you is the sink, then two steps after are three urinals, and one stall across. I nearly hit someone when I came in and had the same done. Club level should have bigger bathrooms no excuses.
Food selection in Club level
You have a Philly cheese steak with fries for $6.75, hot cocoa for $2.75, Deer Park Spring water for $4.25 a Draft beer for $5 and the most expensive is a crab cake sandwich for $10.50 there are a lot more items but that is just an sample of what they have.
Regular seating
On the mainlevel rows start AAA-CCC then go AA-YY and on the level above go from A-M
Atmosphere
Fans here are quiet and won't bother you for wearing the wrong jersey and when there team is losing it won't matter. That night I felt like I was at Fenway with so many Red Sox fans at the game and yet only 25,000+ was the total attendance. The national anthem is a joke with the ridiculous "O" or "O's" thrown in and the seventh inning stretch put me to sleep but tradition is tradition.
Exiting
I found the staff very friendly as I was exiting. The escalators which brought you up will now bring you down. I recommend going through Eutaw street unless you have plans. The Red Sox won the game 11-1 and it was a way better experience than my first visit and I knew how to get around.
Recommended:
Yes
Parking Availability: Busy But Manageable
Seat Location: Mid Level
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Epinions.com ID:
arenafanatic
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Member: Thomas
Location: Bronx, NY USA
Reviews written: 15
Trusted by: 0 members
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