Celebrating Selections

I had no plans to stop in the MLS SuperDraft, even though it is just across the street.  But a conversation with a Red Bull fan in line at Subway changed my mind.

He was part of a bus caravan that left Harrison at about 6:00 this morning.  This soccer fanatic even brought a date to the festivities.

Anyway, after he described the fan groups, the funny hats, drums, chants, and flags, I decided I had to go.  I'm glad I did. I hadn't seen this much ruckus since the 1980 Republican Convention.

Those pictured here are one of the three Red Bull fan groups.  They seem to have something to do with Vikings.  I don't get the connection, but since there was a band of them present, it must have some deep significance.  Perhaps it's some reaction to drinking the product.

These folks are part of the Philadelphia Union delegation.  I'm not sure what the sombreros were about, but it likewise seems to have some deep meaning to the faithful.  They were the loudest contingent when I was there, taking up one whole section of the ballroom.

Most energetic, however, had to be the aforementioned Red Bulls.  They were singing, chanting, beating the drum and waving the flag almost the whole time I was there.

While they were outnumbered by DC United partisans, I noticed the ranks of the Red and Black were diminishing during my visit.  I knew their bus wasn't due to leave for a few hours, so I went outside to look for them.

The second floor of the Convention Center was teeming with activity as thousands of soccer coaches were arriving for their annual conference.  This display was part of the welcome.

I noticed a stream of United scarves heading towards Pratt Street.  Not just the street, but what was across it.  If any of the out of towners wondered where they were assembling to honor thei new team members, this certainly would have guided them to the ale house.

I decided to check it out.  Sure enough, it was jammed with DC United stalwarts, getting ready for the end of the day celebration.

(Not to be outdone, the Philadelphia squadron STARTED their day in a pub, warming up before their march to the Convention Center.

So it looks like this week of soccer is going to be a grand success -- for the sport, the Convention Center, and certainly the hospitality trade on the periphery.

Can't help but wonder, though.  Think those Vikings might get a little rowdy after a few tankards of mead?

The View OF Bin 400

While I sometimes write about the view from Bin 400, Warehouse B,  (which is much quieter and more pleasant since the jackhammers moved on) this is the first time you get to see a view of  Bin 400. 

The 3 x 5 foot tribute went up last night during the snow storm.  It glows in the dark, thanks to a black light and custom mixed Day Glo paint.  (I didn't go through the 60's for nothing.)

This exercise was more fun than painting psychodelic designs on my dorm room walls.  (and I don't have to forfeit a security deposit, either)

You'll see signs of appreciation for our field general and his troops all around the Baltimore area this week.  The fans are psyched, and supremely proud of the home team.  Purple passion is everywhere.  And hopefully it will keep us in the game all the way to Dallas.

SuperDraft Spectacle

I was hoofing to work this morning when the new vertical banners on Pratt Street caught my eye.  They proclaimed the upcoming MLS SuperDraft, which will take place tomorrow at noon at the Convention Center.

As mentioned previously, the league meetings and their annual draft take place in conjunction with the Coaches Association convention.  It is part of what makes this a national celebration of the entire soccer culture, from rec leagues to scholastic, collegiate and pro teams.

But I didn't realize that entire fan groups make pilgramages to this event and celebrate its outcome with the teams and new prospects.  This is a picture taken at least year's draft in Philadelphia, where adoring fans on the Union greeted their top pick.

I did a little checking around and learned that at least three MLS teams are ralling their fan base to trek to Baltimore for the ritual.  (In the soccer culture, draftees are draped in a team scarf instead of a ballcap or jersey. Likewise, you will recognize fans by their distinctive scarves.  It's de rigueur winter attire.)

If you want to watch the proceedings, it is free and open to the public.  If you're like me, you might want to watch the fans watching the draft and join in their celebration.  It sounds even more entertaining.  Here are some particulars:

Philadelphia Union devotees will be assembling at 10:30 at a bar called Tir Na Nog (near the Convention Center) and marching over at noon

New England fans are planning a bus trip, leaving Gillette Stadium at 1:00 am. and not leaving Baltimore until 5:00 PM. 

United fans are carpooling and busing.  They are meeting at RFK and will convoy up the parkway.  United fans will also march into the ballroom from their bus, and adjourn to the Pratt Street Ale House afterwards.

ESPN 2 will broadcast the first round live.  Subsequent rounds will be carried live on MLSsoccer.com.

It sounds like a good time, and a great kickoff for the soccer convention later in the week.  We'll get to watch some of the fun (like the parade of fans) from here in the Warehouse, but I'm beginning to think this scene might be well worth checking out for its spectator appeal. 

If there was one thing we learned during the World Cup chase, these fans are passionate and devoted.  And that's worth watching.

$port$ $upport$

Anyone in the hospitality industry will tell you that January is pretty grim.  Not too many vacationers, home games, or even socializing when the days are short and nights are cold. 

So it was indeed encouraging to pass some visitors stepping off the light rail, headed for the Hilton, as I was leaving work last night.  Even more gratifying when they stopped to admire our display of purple passion shining from the clock tower over Camden Station.  These out of towners knew immediately they were in a sports-loving town.

As it turns out, that's one reason why they're here.  Terry reminded me that the National Field Hockey Coaches Association was holding their annual convention at the Hilton, bringing 500 coaches and officials from all over the country for three days of meetings.  And that is just the first of three national sports conventions this month, representing nearly 13,000 room nights in Baltimore hotels and over six million dollars in direct spending.

In addition to the conferences and lectures, the nfhca is also staging a SNEAK PEEK  Sunday at the Baltimore Convention Center.  SNEAK PEEK is for aspiring scholastic athletes,  an opportunity to participate in game play, skill stations and clinics with and in front of Division I, II and III coaches from across the nation. With all the coaching power in attendance, SNEAK PEEK offers the opportunity to learn from clinicians while providing significant exposure to college coaches.

From January 11-13, Major League Soccer will be in town for their annual draft.  This event is held in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

The actual convention begins on the 13th, although there is overlap between the two.  This compound event is the soccer summit of the year, and will attract about 8,000 attendees over the course of the week.  Because Maryland is such a hotbed of soccer players and programs, there will be many people who come just for the day, so the actual attendance could be much higher.

The following weekend, Baltimore-based US Lacrosse, governing body of the sport, will host their annual convention here.  This event, which includes the popular, open to the public Fan Fest, is considered the official opening of the lacrosse season.  The trade show alone has 300 vendors, so every new innovation in the sport is represented.

As exciting as all this is, I can't help but wonder (and I know all you Marylanders are with me on this) how truly grand it would be if our Ravens beat the Chiefs and Steelers and the Jets bump off Indy and New England.  (Work with me on this.) 

With that scenario, Baltimore would host the AFC Championships right here in Camden Yards.  Wouldn't that make a heck of a January for our hospitality industry? 

Wouldn't hurt the Stadium Authority, either. That would keep us in purple gels for the Camden Station clock tower for at least another year.

Round Up at the Car Club Corral

I was rather puzzled when first viewing the animated map of the Baltimore Grand Prix.  I noted there was something called a paddock in Lot B here at Camden Yards and,  immediately next to it in Lot C, a corral.

To the uninitiated, it sounded more like a layout at the Preakness (or the Ponderosa.)  But now that details of the American Le Mans Series part of the Labor Day extravaganza are coming out, I better understand why Camden Yards will be the center of so much of the Grand Prix action.

The American Le Mans Series involves cars made by various manufacturers, such as Porsche, Corvette, BMW, Ferrari, Ford, Jaguar, Aston Martin, Mazda, and Acura.

These brands have their devotees -- many of whom participate in road course driving themselves.  As has been noted previously in this blog, road course driving is exceedingly popular in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region.  A number of our regional stadiums are used for these amateur meets.

Other events -- such as the Polish Mountain Hill Climb sponsored by the National Road Autosport Club in Cumberland -- have an avid following for their annual open road challenge up the mountain.

In short, Maryland is a motor sports state, from tracks and strips in Allegany, Washington and Frederick Counties to road course driving and rallies in the central region to more tracks, strips and courses on the Eastern Shore and St. Mary's County.

And with this culture comes car clubs -- like-minded folks who share a passion for a particular discipline or vehicle model.

Traditionially, when there are major racing events, there are also car club corrals, where these interest groups can bring their prize steeds, brag, and hang out together while enjoying the sights, sounds and smells that go with the sport.

(I'm not sure if tailgating is a part of this experience or not.  While at Polish Mountain, I saw activities that look suspiciously like grilling, but this may not have been a sanctioned activity.)

In any case, the Baltimore Grand Prix, by popular demand, is featuring a Car Club Corral for member groups.

Among the benefits for Car Club attendees are premier parking in Lot C (next to the track between turns on Lee Street, adjacent to the ALMS paddock,) a dedicated grandstand seat between turns 10 and 12, and various hospitality options (which could mean tents or rallies in the Warehouse.)

These car club functions sometimes include seminars and sessions with manufacturer reps.  And BGP is even promising an on-track parade!

(Note:  there will be personally guided tours of Bin 400, Warehouse B, offered with the Lamborghini club hospitality package.)

So while the Junquemobile may feel slighted that there are no rallies for vintage Quest mini-vans, I have to admit the idea of sharing the Camden Yards complex with a fleet of hot cars does sound appealing.

This event just keeps getting better and better . . . .!

In Pursuit of Purple Passion

Other than Anne Boleyn, I don't know anyone who dreaded a trip to the tower more than this acrophobe. But with the Ravens in the playoff hunt, Camden Yards needs to put on our brightest purple face.  Or faces.

That's right -- when the sun goes down tonight, the clock tower of Camden Station will be beaming purple in all four directions.

This is the third straight year we've made the trip to the tower, armed with violet gels, and this is the highest I've ever made it.  Admittedly, the hatch on the roof is a sissy place to stop, but it did give me a good vantage point to snap our electricians as they made their way to the clock tower. 

(Special thanks to Ray Winfrey, on the left, and Donendo Bryant on the right. John Waters, who led the mission, is already scaling up the inside.)



Yesterday was Paint the Town Purple Day, and the most visible sign is this Ravens logo on War Memorial Plaza at City Hall.  This year, Ravens fans went on a stealth recon mission, hitting the streets of Baltimore under the cover of darkness to spray washable lavender chalk paint onto Raven head stencils with WIN  -- What's Important Now -- in black under them.

(Lest you think we are encouraging tagging, fear not. This graffiti is legit because the chalk washes off in the rain.)

So join in the fun and mark your territory for the home team.

These stencils and supplies are available for $10 through the Ravens Store at the Sports Legends Museum, where you can get Ravens gear and other spirit merchandise.

You won't have any trouble finding Sports Legends Museum here at Camden Yards.  Just look for the clock tower with the four purple faces as your beacon.

 

As the World Watches . . .

We got word yesterday that American Le Mans action will be seen this season on ESPN and ABC.

That is great news for Baltimore and Maryland because American Le Mans is a featured performer in the Baltimore Grand Prix this coming September.


ALMS competes on North America’s premier road courses such as Sebring International Raceway. ALMS includes multiple classes of cars – Prototype and Grand Touring – which race on the track at the same time to create compelling race action and constant passing.

According to ALMS and ESPN, all ALMS races will be carried live in their entirety and fully produced on ESPN3.com, with ESPN2 and ABC providing televised coverage on a delayed basis.

The combination of two premier race series (IndyCar and LeMans) in one location on the same weekend is a great opportunity for race fans. This has contributed greatly to the success of the events in Long Beach and St. Petersburg.


More fans, more network coverage -- what's not to love?

That means aerial shots of the harbor, great views of the Convention Center crowds, some action on Pit Row (where the cacaphony continues under my window) and visits to the ALMS paddock here in Camden Yards.

Here's the best part -- the 2011 ESPN telecast package also includes a two-hour documentary-style broadcast from our inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix, to be produced by Intersport, an award winning media and marketing agency. 

In other words, a freebie travelog on the best of Baltimore, from all angles, with non-stop excitement, appearing on a premier sports platform.


This event keeps getting better and better.  And we still have eight months to go before the checkered flags fall.