On Time, On Budget

For the people I work with, it's more than a mantra.  On time, on budget is a promise made and kept.

While I've always admired the work ethic that comes that commitment, this is the first time I've lived with it.  In this case, it means heavy construction projects with a tight schedule.  Under my window.  It's an eye opener rather than earache, though.  It shows just how skillfully our professionals plan things.

Because Camden Yards operates 365 days a year as an office complex, visitor attraction, and transit center as well as sports complex, our engineers coordinate work around those functions.  Their juggling is worthy of Cirque du Soleil.

Right now, it is well below freezing with high winds making the chill factor much lower.  But work began on the Pit Lane improvements long before I arrived this morning.  Like the widening of Lee Street by the City, construction had to begin as soon as the Orioles season ended, and completed before their return in the spring.

That's a pretty narrow window, and doesn't leave much wiggle room for bad weather or anything else.  And yes, there is some discomfort for Ravens home games, but that will be more than compensated by improved traffic flow and some additional parking when the project is complete.

Pit Row is not the only project that has battled the elements.  Here is a picture of the work on the seating bowl that continued during the February blizzards earlier this year.  Again, the new seats and drainage trenches had to be installed by Opening Day.  Neither rain, nor snow, nor other meterological surprises could stop the work.

And it didn't.  Additional work on the seating bowl has continued this off season, and we can guarantee you, it will be finished no matter what Mother Nature throws at us this year.  (Hard to top last year, Mom.)

So while we all look forward to the wonderful experiences we have at Camden Yards, (and will have at the Baltimore Grand Prix over Labor Day,)  take a moment to appreciate what goes into keeping our facilities the best of the best. 

Even if it occasionally sounds like a woodpecker on steroids outside your window.

Win-Win-Win

Hard to believe, but nine months from now the inaugural 2011 Baltimore Grand Prix will highlight a "Festival of Speed" over Labor Day weekend.  This includes Indy Car and American Le Mans races through the streets of downtown, along with numerous family-oriented activities and attractions in the race village within the course.

Like most highly anticipated births, this blessed event comes with some pains early in its gestation.  Instead of morning sickness and heartburn, we're dealing with road construction during rush hour and utility replacement in pedestrian thoroughfares.

Here in Camden Yards, the epicenter of race activities, this translates into closed parking lots, redirected traffic, disappearing curbs, and a lot of jackhammers.  

But the momentary discomfort is forgotten when weighed against all the improvements this project brings to our facility.  The result will be a win-win-win for many years to come.

First, the aesthetics.  Camden Yards has changed greatly over the past twenty years, evolving from a gritty industrial park into a vibrant entertainment complex, visitor attraction and transit center.  However, the east side of the Warehouse -- corridor to the Inner Harbor -- has experienced very little since it was surrounded by a sea of asphalt in 1992.  Since then, the expanded Convention Center borders us on the northeast, the Hilton Baltimore looms over our north, Camden Station has developed into a museum site and popular catering facility, and the light rail/MARC station has more than doubled in use. Thousands of visitors enter Baltimore via this route every week.

What was once the back door to the ballpark is now a major gateway, and it could use more than a little makeover.  Cosmetic surgery is neither painless nor cheap (take it from one who knows) but the cost of this facelift is more than offset by its contributions to our complex.

From this course diagram you can the focus on the east approach to the Warehouse, where cars will enter after zooming down Conway.  After crossing Howard they will either turn left and continue to the end of the Warehouse, or turn right to pull into Pit Row alongside it.

This is a rendering of how the course alongside the Warehouse will look, with Pit Row being the lane closest to the building.  The barriers are temporary structures that will be removed after the race so it can be reclaimed for parking duties.  One of the benefits of this reconstruction is having the entire stretch resurfaced.  It will also be reconfigured to give an extra lane for bus parking during major events.

But the real aesthetic and environmental improvements to our campus can be seen in this rendering, which gives a panoramic view of the entrance.  Notice the pedestrian plaza, with its planters, trees, benches and lighting.  This is complemented by the planters edging the Warehouse and inside the two new traffic circles that will facilite vehicular flow.  This represents a major improvement to the sports complex and also the MARC and light rail stations. 

The large concrete recepticle being unloaded by the crane in the top picture will hold 7,000 gallons of water, which will be captured from stormwater runoff and reused to irrigate the new planters.

So out of our involvement with the Baltimore Grand Prix, we get a new look for our east entrance, hundreds of trees, shrubs and flowers, a resurfaced parking facility, and a highly profitable event showcasing our facility to visitors and viewers all over the world.

Win-Win-Win.  For this, we can listen to a chorus of jackhammers a little longer.

A New View from Bin 400

I was just asked about the horrible racket in the background during a telephone conversation.  Horrible racket, indeed!!  What he was hearing was the sweet sound of jobs and a major event in the making.

Behold the view from Bin 400, Warehouse B.  That's the future Pit Row of the 2011 Baltimore Grand Prix under construction.  (What looks like rubble in the lower right corner is actually granite window sill.  MOSHA doesn't allow me to lean any farther.)

The large rectangular pit in the foreground will be the site of an underground reservoir that will capture stormwater runoff and allow it to be reused for irrigation.  That's supposed to arrive next week.

The oval area at the top, which is where the race cars will enter from Conway Street, will be levelled and transformed into a pedestrian mall with portable trees, planters, streetlights and benches that can be moved to accommodate the race.

In less than a year, the east side of the Warehouse will be one of the most exciting stretchs of the internationally covered race, as cars zip down Conway Street and spin into the pit or veer left to take the corner at Lee Street.  As for now, a little jackhammering just helps us keep alert.

Competitive Tailgating

Everyone in the state knew the Maryland-Navy game was going to be hard-fought and thrilling with a stadium full of vocal partisans.  Yes, it was that -- and more.

What I didn't know is that another equally intense, nationally-ranked competition took place hours before, just outside M&T.

While strolling among the revelers many hours before the game, I encountered this fortress in Lot J.  It consisted of a van, large trailer, several tents and matching golf cart.  From at least a block away I could see Jay Bush and Duke the talking dog beaming from the side panels, and a team of color coordinated cuties running around with scorepads.

Yes, the Gurus of Grillin' Beans were judging tailgates.  I'm not sure what criteria they used to measure school spirit and culinary prowess, but they seemed to be having a wonderful time at this off-site, intrastate rivalry.  Just as the teams were pulling out all the stops, so were the party heartiers.

Right next to the bastion of beans was yet another competition, involving busloads of students, a long table covered in cups filled with an unknown liquid, and ping pong balls.   This spectator seemed to be one of the officials.

The Terp tribe also had some kind of frisbee fling and a spirited game of cornhole taking place at the same time.  An interesting type of triathlon, but I didn't see any grills set up, so I'm not sure if they qualified by Bush standards. (They were using generic beans in their bags, so that must have disqualified them.)

They certainly seemed to be having a good time, though.

On the other side of Camden Yards, a mega tailgate was taking place, involving 4,000 Midshipmen, a country western band, and real food (but no ping pong balls.)  The entire Brigade, plus a few friends and family, enjoyed a barbeque buffet on Eutaw Street before mustering for the march to the stadium.  Entertainment was provided by Montgomery Gentry and everyone seemed to have a good time. 

(Too bad Babe couldn't enjoy some of that pulled pork and cole slaw like the Mids clustered around him.)

Most of the alumni ordered their tickets and parking well in advance, so their tailgates were assembled in the lots between the stadiums.  As you can guess, no one looking for the USNA Class of '89 had trouble finding where their shipmates were gathered. 

This picture was taken a full five hours before kickoff, and you can see how many cars were already in Lot B.

On the east side of the complex, this Terp Tent entertained a multi generational family of Maryland fans.

Although the tailgating festivities alone could have made the day a complete success (at least for the professional partiers in the bean truck) there were other rituals transpiring before kickoff. 

Lined up on the south side of Oriole Park with a brigade of their own was the University of Maryland Marching Band.  To give you an idea of just how much brass they brazened, this is the saxophone section alone. 

The Maryland band marched up the promenade and into the stadium before the Brigade of Midshipmen.  Interestingly, there were just as many Maryland fans who came to watch the parade as there were Navy parents and friends.  

It's always an impressive sight.  While we've hosted the Brigade for other football games (Army, Notre Dame) it is usally when they're in their winter blues.  The crisp white uniforms they wore on this late summer provided an even greater contrast to the sea of red on the opposite side of the stadium.

I learned much later that the winner of the tailgate competition is a resident of Takoma Park (I'm guessing a Maryland alumna) and the Terps prevailed on the field.

But ultimately the biggest winner was the State of Maryland and the many people who attended and enjoyed this amazing day of activities.  I watched part of the broadcast on ESPN and was proud of how beautifully Camden Yards, Baltimore, and the intensity of the competition was conveyed to millions of viewers.

It is something we look forward to experiencing again in the near future.

Them again . . .

I had to stop by the Warehouse on my way to Annapolis this morning.  At 8:30 AM, I wasn't expecting to encounter a gauntlet of Sox fans hovering around the entrance.  But there they were, pens and baseballs in hand, waiting for the chance to snag autographs from their heroes.

Miss Katherine, the O's faithful game day gatekeeper, said they were there when she'd arrived at  7:45.

I was told later they'd actually been keeping vigil since before 7:00.

I can't say I yet understand this kind of devotion.  I do know, however, there were more than 40,000 fans in the stands last night and many (if not most) were attired like those above.

These fellows were all here for the weekend, staying at a nearby hotel.  They were likely eating at restaurants and celebrating in our local pubs.

I can understand why O's players and fans find them annoying.  The "Fenway South" mentality in which they consider Camden Yards home territory is particularly grating.

But they love their team, don't mind spending time and money in pursuit of their passion, and do help us pay the bills.

Just wish we could win one this home stand so they don't gloat all the way to Beantown tonight.

Another Shade of Blue

Somewhere between the deep indigo of Navy and the periwinkle of  Blue Jays you find another shade of blue.  It won't be in pinstripes, but it will be here.  The big bad Yankees are in town.

I'm surprised their minions aren't lurking around the Warehouse.  Usually by now they'd be clustered around Babe or hovering around the entrances. 

(Red Sox fans frequently get here earlier than we do in the morning.  Yankee faithful prefer to stroll the Harbor, like these folks wandering around Pier 6)

However, the season is young and kids are still in school.  We may not see as many road warriors so early in the day.  But by the time Boog fires up the grill, they'll be clamoring to get in.

It's a gorgeous day here at Camden Yards and we're happy to have our Birds back for the next week.  After the Yankees, it will be the aforementioned Bosox over the weekend.  I'll be taking my boys on Sunday.  Can't think of a better way to celebrate an early Mother's Day than with my family in Camden Yards.

Olympians Among the Numbers

A magical event taking place at Camden Yards tonight.  Sports Legends is hosting a reception for more than 300 members of the United States Winter Olympic Team!

Team USA athletes, coaches and administrators are visiting Baltimore prior to their meeting in Washington, DC with President Barack Obama.  Naturally, there is no more appropriate place to gather for a celebration of sports than Legends.

Preparations have been very low key, which is we haven't mentioned it earlier.  However, with the media advisory being released about an hour ago, we can show how the gala event is being staged in Edward Bennett Williams plaza.  You'll note the Hall of Fame numbers and planters provide a nice accent to the table decorations. 

(Yes, I know this isn't the society page so I won't dwell on the splendid decor and appointments.  But it is a clever use of the space and a wonderful setting to recognize the contribution of our Olympic athletes.)

The guest list is very limited, so I plan to acquire some party pictures by cleverly disguising myself as working press. With a little luck (and an MSA badge) I'll hopefully be able to sidle in for some candid shots to share with you (and the Annual Report.)

Look for us on the news tonight, and here tomorrow.  This is certain to be a star-studded event.

Opening Day

“Time begins on Opening Day . . . (when) we know that something fine, almost wonderful, is about to (happen).”
                                 Thomas Boswell

The Washington Post's gifted columnist (and great fan of Camden Yards) penned this many years ago, using the lead as a title for his book of essays about baseball.

The sentiment applies to  Opening Day in every baseball stadium, but I like to think he had us in mind.  There's nothing like Opening Day at Camden Yards.

It's a family reunion, celebration of spring, and the chance to let hopes soar with the prospects of a new season and fresh state.  For some, it's playing hooky from work for a few hours.  For others,  (like those assembled on Washington Boulevard) it's an all-day festival.  For all, it's magical.

Since this blog focuses on the economic contributions of sports in Maryland, let's convey it in those terms -- a bonanza.

This year, Opening Day attendance set a new record of 48,891 -- breaking last year's previous high of 48,607.  The numbers at the turnstiles and concession stands are only part of the story, though.  Local watering holes opened for breakfast at 6:00 AM.  Some didn't close until 2:00AM.  Street vendors, parking lots, hotels, restaurants, and charter companies all shared the largess.

We hear from visitors throughout the country who tell us visiting the ballpark at Camden Yards is the highlight of their summer.   On Opening Day, Marylanders are the ones who celebrate this beautiful complex, its downtown ambiance, and all the local color that makes us the envy of the league.

If you missed Opening Day, you can still enjoy the best fan experience Major League Baseball has to offer.  The season has just begun and there is a lot more to come.  Check out the schedule here:

Of Coral and Carnelian

There's a wonderful scene in "Blind Side" where Leigh Anne Tuohy emotionally tells Michael Oher that she loves him and will support him and be there for every single one of his games if he chooses to attend loathsomeTennessee.  But she draws the line at wearing orange.  "It just isn't in my color wheel," she protests.  Fortunately, Michael chooses Ole Miss, so she is spared that indignity.

Believe me, I can relate.  While I love our O's ever bit as much as the Ravens, I have a real problem wearing the colors.  Reminds me of what some old Dodger fan said about the San Franciso Giants, who share our pallet.  "We hate orange and black so much, we don't even celebrate Halloween."

Around the Warehouse, it's customary for us to dress in team colors.  It's kind of a tradition.  Not every day, but the True Believers definitely wave the sartoral flag for home stands.  And Opening Day is a must.  No peach or dreamsickle allowed -- you gotta wear orange.

I've tried to adapt accordingly, but learned a few years ago that jewelry can make the transition work while accommodating theWarehouse dress code.  So when the Birds fly home, I break out the coral and carnelian.  Thanks to eBay, there are enough beaded baubles to get me through the summer.  It isn't amethyst or charolite, but it covers the bases.

I can't help but think Leigh Anne must have been relieved when the Ravens drafted Michael Oher.  Purple is definitely in her color wheel (and we certainly know how good it looks on HIM.)

Birds on the Wing

It was still daylight when I left the Warehouse last night.  A welcome harbinger of spring that makes those grimy slosh piles a distant memory.

An even more cogent reminder greeted me in Mount Vernon.  I often hear honking at the busy intersection, but this was coming from overhead.  Several battalions of Canadian geese, flying in v-shaped formations, were heading north.  I've never quite understood why they squawk like an Aflac commerical (it's supposed to have something to do with cheering the flock leader) but for as long as I can remember, it signaled the changing of the seasons.

When I lived in Annapolis, I marvelled at the osprey couple who were my closest neighbors.  They always returned from wintering in South America between the Ides of March and St. Patrick's Day.  First came the male, who tidied up the nest, and then the female a few days later.  I don't know if they vacation separately, or she stays behind to close the nest in Rio, but be assured -- in several days you'll be seeing ospreys in and around the Chesapeake Bay.

Which brings me to our other migrating birds -- the ones currently in Sarasota, tuning up for another spring and summer here at Camden Yards. They'll be here a few weeks after the ospreys, but they can be assured that we've been spending the winter tidying up their nest, too. 

While they've been basking in the Florida sun, we've been replacing the seats in the lower bowl, (even during the blizzard,) upgrading the clubhouses, touching up paint, repairing concrete damage, installing a new energy efficient climate control system, developing a sustainable landscaping plan, and generally getting the place in tip-top shape for their triumphant return next month.

When the weather is as beautiful as it's been today, spring is in the air.  Very soon, our birds will fly north to spend another summer with us.

Babe's Belated Birthday Bash

Having your birthday party postposed for two weeks is a tragedy when you're five, but when the candles number 115, a fortnight is not too much longer to wait for the kind of bash Babe received last night.

Celebrating Babe's birthday is a tradition for Sports Legends, our neighbor here at the Yards.  It's always a fun occasion to revisit the popular museum devoted to Maryland sports, because you will invariably run into old friends and relive those magical moments in Maryland sports history through the exhibits and activities.

Terry is always deluged with questions when he makes a public appearance anywhere around Camden Yards. He gets buttonholed from Pickles to Pigtown. Everyone wants to know about the status of the Indy Race and another summer soccer match. Answer is the same -- you'll know around March 1st.


So nice to see our former board member, Howard Stevens.  (Howard has to be the only person we know who couldn't lose watching the Super Bowl, having played for both the Colts and the Saints in his NFL career.)

If you haven't been to Sports Legends, or the Babe Ruth birthplace museum,  you should take the time.  It's not only a slice of Maryland history, but a dynamic place to experience the ongoing Maryland sports scene.

Being (and Having) Good Neighbors

There are still many people who believe the only purpose for stadium complexes is to host games and create traffic at public expense.  One of the few benefits of the Blizzard of a Lifetime was demonstrating how an agency like MSA and a complex like Camden Yards are franchise players when it comes to tackling Mother Nature.

Because we (MSA) are responsible for maintaining our facilities in top condition, we have a staff of dedicated professionals who go to any length to achieve our standards despite any challenge.  That was demonstrated clearly when the first blast of the season hit us right before Christmas and the last Ravens home game.  The snow was a formidable opponent, but (like the Bears) it was no match for the home team here at the Yards.

It was this second wallop, the one-two punch we sustained over the past week, where city and state agencies really relied on the stadium complex and our team for services.  It's probably something you'll never see or hear about (our guys don't brag,) so I'll tell you.

Camden Yards is a transit center for accessing buses, trains, light rail, downtown offices, and even the airport.  Our lots have to be clear so the public can use these important connectors and drive as little as possible.

We also provide the parking for major events held at the Convention Center.  This weekend was the annual auto show and the Bridal Showcase.  I don't know if the elements detered the car fans, but I can bet it did nothing to discourage the June brides. (I can only imagine the ugly scene if the Bridezillas, bridesmaids and mothers couldn't get to that pageant.)

Convention Center activities are a significant economic factor, and we are important to their success.  You can bet the lots were clear and safe for the bridal parties and tire kickers.

In the case of a major snow, where narrow streets are impossible to plow with residents parked on them, we provide free parking for our neighbors.  The email tree we maintain with community associations let them know which lots were available to them and how best to access.

Two of the larger lots -- G and H on the southeast side of the complex -- were cleared for a crucial function in the digout process.  This is where snow removal equipment from private contractors was unloaded and dispatched.  When I visited Friday morning, it was stacked with bobcats (including a full flatbed carpooling from out of state,) bulldozers, front end loaders and dump trucks.  Most had out of state tags.   Jim Slusser, our director of security, made sure all the entrances were opened and plowed to accommodate the incoming cavalry.  When we left, a dispatcher said a convoy from Tennessee was just an hour away and they needed more room.  With City and MSA operatives working together, we were able to provide it.

(Tennessee's convoy arrived in the early afternoon. There must have been something wrong with their GPS, because they kept circling Pickles.)

Finally, there is one more, less glamorous service MSA provides -- a dumping ground for stacks of snow.  Yesterday morning, Lot J was beginning to resemble the Swiss Alps (and that was before Tennessee arrived with their heavy loaders.)  The snow had to go someplace, and the harbor was not convenient for everyone.  If you live in South Baltimore, chances are the stuff from your street is now part of the MSA Matterhorn.

We'd like to thank everyone who worked together to bring relief to the City of Baltimore.  I know our staff is exhausted.  Many have been working 12 hour shifts for over a week now.  As with the December snow, several supervisors hunkered down in the stadium club level to spend the night.

The good news is that Babe has shrugged off his winter coat and has his nice bronze glow back.  Feet are still a little snowy, but he looks like the wistful 18 year old we all know and love.

In a few minutes, I'm going down to M&T to explore a rumor about a makeshift snow melter our very ingenious staff has devised.   More as it happens . . . .

Babe in the Blizzard

Not too many folks around the Warehouse today.  (Would have been one fewer if I'd bothered to read the state's website.)

We can always rely on Babe to hold down the fort, though.  (Unlike the still-missing "8", he doesn't do road trips.)  He may look like the Abominable Snowman, but he's a reliable sentry for Camden Yards and he's always on duty, reminding our guests that it's still his neighborhood.

I'm sure, like the rest of us, he's counting the hours til Opening Day.  It's only two months away, so while you're watching the snow swirl outside your window like a scene from "Dr. Zhivago," remember that spring is almost upon us.

(As I kept reminding myself while hoofing up Howard towards home. Where's a troika when you really need one?)

A Traveler’s Tribute

About 3:00 PM yesterday the munchies hit. The kind that requires an Oreo fix. That means a trip to the Warehouse basement machine, which is a nice afternoon break anyway. In the basement, the Warehouse really looks like a warehouse. It still has the coal shafts that fed the furnaces back in the day. Great old building.

On the way to the basement, the elevator was intercepted at the ground floor. A security guard held it and told me I’d have to wait a few moments. From the look of the swarming Sox fans, whoever they were holding hostage was going to be there signing autographs a while. Swell, I thought. I should have stopped by MASN to see if Marlene would slip me something from her stash instead of braving the Beantown invasion.

After a few minutes, a tall lanky guy with more than a few gray hairs made his way to the elevator. When he saw me inside with that look of Oreo desperation, he apologized for making me wait, completely disarming me with a smile.

I remarked that it seemed like more predatory Sox fans than usual (I don’t think I said it quite like that, but you get the drift.)

“They love coming here,” he replied with genuine appreciation. “It’s hard to get tickets in Boston because the stadium is so small. So when we play here, families can come for a game and have a good time in a great city.”

The elevator opened, and he headed for the clubhouse as I stopped at the machine. “Thanks for waiting,” he said. As he walked away, he turned around and said “This is a great baseball town.”

I was still munching on the Oreos in the office when I found who the gracious, goateed guy in the elevator was. Didn’t need to Google. His picture was on the front of the Sox website because he was slated to start that night.

I see the O’s weren’t overly hospitable to John Smoltz, tagging him for five runs including two homers. But he took the win last night, so I’m guessing he still thinks Baltimore is a great town.

Those Innovative Soxsters

As expected, the Soxs fans arrived early yesterday. My fave bartender said three were already perched on the stoop at Pickles when he arrived for work. Guess they wanted a cold one before beginning the vigil at Home Plate Plaza.

Sox fans lead the league in lurking. By noon on game day you see clusters of them stationed on the steps at Schaefer Circle, waiting for the players to arrive. Seasoned autograph-seeking veterans know which entrance certain players favor and when they are likely to arrive. (Some enter via the stadium, others prefer the Warehouse)

The real pros are prepared for all contingencies, as I learned this afternoon. On my way to lunch at Pastimes, I passed an encampment in front of the Warehouse. Couple of costumed Sox fans accompanied by bikes (must have been tough pedaling down I-95) were guarding their stash of memorabilia. Not just a few pictures and magazines, but boxes of baseball cards and a golf bag full of baseball bats. I was about to ask what this road show was all about (Soxsters always have good stories) when a cell phone rang. One of the guys answered the phone, grabbed a particular bat from the bag, hopped on a bike and sped in the direction of the stadium.

Seems they had a satellite camp over there, along with a sentry who called just as soon as a player was sighted. These guys are so slick I’m guessing they have it loaded on their Iphones and listed on ebay before the game even starts.

I asked if they do this drill at other stadiums. No, one of them told me. There’s no place like Baltimore. These trips are the highlight of our summer.

Ironic or not, it makes you proud to know people plan their summers around a trip to your ballpark. Particularly when it's a couple hundred miles away and they travel by bicycle.

The Red Sox are coming, the Red Sox are coming !!

I may get flamed for this, but hear me out. The times I most enjoy hanging around Camden Yards is when the Red Sox play. The team plays Monday night, but the fans will start lurking around the Warehouse about noon.

I know this is heresy to those who resent having Oriole Park taken over by a sizable (and highly vocal) contingent of opposing fans, particularly when they all come in costumes and sit together. They do seem to take over the place. But they also bring enough energy to light south Baltimore, and demonstrate a real appreciation for the game.

That’s not all they appreciate. I’ve spent a lot of time talking to them – on Eutaw Street and in my favorite haunt, Pickles Pub – and what I hear repeatedly is how much these folks from New England enjoy coming to Camden Yards. For many, the trip to Baltimore is a family vacation, a weekend with the guys, or even a romantic getaway. (No kidding!) For some, it is the only chance they get to see their favorite team in person since Fenway Park tickets are so scarce (and expensive.) As one group of guys told me (while swilling at Pickles) it’s cheaper to catch an AirTran out of Boston or Southwest out of Providence, get a hotel at the airport and light rail to the stadium, than it is to pay for tickets and parking in Boston. At Pickles, you can’t have a conversation without comparing StubHub steals.

In fact, said one, they enjoy coming here so much they call it “Fenway South” (I don’t think I’ll share that with Mr. Angelos anytime soon.) When one shouts across the bar to another “I'll catch you at Boog’s” you know it isn’t their first time here. For some, it’s an annual migration.

So while many O’s faithful (and probably the Birds themselves) resent the highly partisan Sox fans in their roost, look at it from an economic standpoint. Not only do the interlopers stay in hotels, eat in restaurants, visit attractions, and drink in bars (particularly the latter) but they also buy concessions and souvenirs at the stadium. With the hospitality industry hit particularly hard by a soft economy, these free spenders from the north are a welcome bump for the local economy.

That isn’t the reason I like the Sox visits the most, though. It’s the genuine admiration they express for Camden Yards and the experience they have when visiting here. Anyone who appreciates what a special place we Marylanders have is OK with me.

Don’t let the Beantowners have all the fun. Come to a game and spend the day or evening around the park. Be a tourist in your own state and see what we have that is the pride of the Major Leagues. Oriole tickets are available here:
baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/ticketing/index.jsp?c_id=bal