Around the Yard

Oriole Park at Camden Yards | M&T Bank Stadium | Baltimore Orioles | Baltimore Ravens | Baltimore Grand Prix

A Classic Park Gets a Modern Twist

As the Orioles prepare to celebrate 20 years at Oriole Park at Camden Yards this season, the stadium is getting a bit of a makeover.  It was announced back in December that renovations would start taking place this off season to make the stadium into more of a year-round facility.  Subtle improvements to the stadium started prior to the 2011 season on the lower concourse.

In 2011, the Orioles and their new food vendor, Delaware North, upgraded the concessions on the main concourse. They also added Oriole-centric wall coverings and murals, and new flooring was installed in the area behind home plate.  The improved wall coverings and flooring will now be installed throughout the stadium, making for a more polished look found in modern stadiums. The aesthetics aren’t the only changes taking place.

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Garnishing Gateways

Governor O’Malley said it best at the dedication of the Brooks Robinson statue. The man who has always been a goodwill ambassador for his adopted hometown now stands at its gateway, welcoming visitors to Baltimore for years to come.

At Camden Yards, we take the gateway role very seriously. Our 85-acre complex sits on several main arteries at the city’s entrance. We’ve been working to improve the impression of guests as they arrive in Baltimore.

As it turns out, Brooks is not alone in this boulevard to Baltimore. Just before his ceremony, an unknown benefactor (a.k.a. The Tree Fairy) planted more than two dozen mature, red maples on the Russell Street median strips between M&T Bank Stadium and the space now known as Brooks Robinson Plaza.

The next week, another three magically appeared on the Howard Street median between Camden Yards and the Convention Center, creating an attractive traffic buffer near the I-395 ramps.

Lest you think red maples are reminiscent of our friends to the north, there are some located in the bullpen picnic area at Oriole Park that have been there for years. This “Autumn Blaze” species will grow fifty or sixty feet and have a mature spread of thirty to forty feet. You can see what a stunning presentation it makes, and imagine how the ones at our gateways will look next fall.

Despite calls to various city and state agencies to learn the identity of the Tree Fairy (and strangely, no one was claiming credit), it was weeks before a friend at City Hall fingered the Baltimore Department of Transportation as the benefactor. They installed them as part of their requirement to replace those removed in other projects.

So many thanks to BDOT. You couldn’t have found a better landmark to frame with a chlorophyll canopy than Camden Yards. We are very appreciative.

Johnny’s Extreme Makeover

In his remarks at the dedication of his statue at the gateway to Baltimore, Brooks Robinson paid touching tribute to his old friend, Johnny Unitas, relating what an honor it was to be stationed just a few hundred yards from the tribute to the neighbor he still missed so much.

While Brooks’ visage gleamed in the October sun, however, Johnny was a bit more subdued.  For after nearly ten years as the sentinel and good luck charm for Ravens fans visiting M&T Bank Stadium, the only thing shining on Johnny was the toe of the high tops the faithful rubbed before every game.

This was brought to the attention of the Stadium Authority, who immediately looked into the situation to determine cause and resolution.

After a once-over from a professional bronze restoration firm, it was determined that Johnny was suffering from oxidation – an environmental hazard of the elements upon the metal surface.  (Unlike some notables in other cities, Johnny has not suffered the indignity of pigeons roosting and relieving themselves on the Golden Arm.  Even the seagulls know better.)

The solution was both simple and complicated – Johnny’s surface needed a complete scrubbing to remove the surface detritus, and then a good waxing to preserve the patina.  Since Johnny is over 9 feet tall, this required some agile, energetic buffers.

You can see them here at work and the final product, which greatly pleased the sculptor, Fredrick Kail and Johnny’s family and many fans.

There’s only one problem — the restoration of the statue eliminated the brassy toe the faithful had bestowed on Johnny with their rubbings.  (And no, we aren’t going to blame the debacle in Seattle upon it, because we aren’t that superstitious.)

However, for those of you who are — remember to give Johnny a particularly good rub next Sunday so he can watch over us for the rest of the season.

Starting on the Finish Line

It’s just a month away, so let’s look in on one of the preparations for the Baltimore Marathon — a permanent finish line at Camden Yards.

For years, race organizers and Stadium Authority officials have talked about establishing a year-round reminder to all who travel the promenade between Oriole Park and M&T that this is the final leg of the perennial October event.  Now it is becoming a reality.  The handsome design (with those recognizable Maryland flags) will be complete by this weekend.

Keep your fingers crossed we don’t have any more rain delays.  We’ll post the finished version as we get closer to the race.

Sports Legends, Gearing Up For Grand Prix

It’s hard to get much past the prying eyes in Bin 400, but Sports Legends managed to do it with a special set of hot wheels.  They must have rolled it in during the dead of night, because it’s hard to miss this kind of spectacle.

Proof that something good does occasionally come out of Indianapolis, the sports museum managed to score some exhibits from the Indy 500 museum that will be on display through the Labor Day weekend — including this vintage race car.

Sports Legends manages to be au courant in their exhibit themes.  They are also celebrating the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, including the visit of Abraham Lincoln and the 1861 riot at Camden Station.

Sports Legends is the place to be during the Festival of Speed.  It is the gateway to the exclusive VIP pit row suites, a merchandising center, and a concession stand for all those attending the concert and other activities on Camden Street.  The museum will also be open.

Be sure to stop in the Gentlemen’s Waiting Room (that’s where Abe lingered on his way to Gettysburg) and see this paean to Indy Racing’s past.  It will get you revved up (even more than the earthquake) for the festivities to come.

Equal Time for East Entrance Enhancements

We can’t brag about the improvements to the southernmost entrance to the Camden complex without showcasing the upgrades to the eastern entrance on Conway Street.  What makes it especially nice is that it was financed by our new best friends, the Baltimore Grand Prix.

This corridor of crape myrtles greets visitors as soon as they cross the light rail tracks.  It is part of a pedestrian mall with new lighting and decorative planters with colorful flowers and grasses around the trees.

We’re taking the picture now because in a few days this treatment will be whisked away as the final touches are put on the Grand Prix track that courses through Camden Yards.  This on grade concrete landing is actually the turn lane to enter Pit Row, which runs the entire length of the Warehouse.  Cars will spin across the concrete, head to Camden Station and turn again to enter the lane.

Another improvement to both traffic flow and the Warehouse entrance is this circular planter.

It consists of four pie-shaped segments that assemble into a handy traffic circle that directs flow into the parking lots.  Like the other planters, it will be lifted out and stored elsewhere until the race course is dismantled.

For now, though, the portable planters make a stunning improvement to what was once the back door to Camden Yards.  And the price was definitely right.

A Hero’s Elevation

 Over the past weeks we’ve watched in fascination as the long-awaited tribute to Brooks  Robinson took shape on the pedestrian landing between the Turn Ten and Oriole Park.  As  a bronzed Brooks is being immortalized in Italy, the pedestal elevating him six feet above  Washington Boulevard at Camden Street is being secured and erected with concrete.

Next week, the foundation will be faced in granite, with steps engraved with milestones of  his illustrious Oriole career.  When the statue is in place and dedicated on October 22nd,  the likeness of Brooks, designed by Maryland sculptor Joseph Sheppard, will depict him the  way so many of us remember him — fielding a hard line drive for a certain out.
Appropriately, the statue is placed so Brooks is facing third base.

Brooks’ statue is more than a tribute to a genuinely great guy and his stellar career with our  home team.  It is an appropriate “Welcome to Baltimore” to all those entering the city via  the Parkway and Russell Street.

We look forward to having Brooks in place, joining us at Turn Ten.  But until then, we appreciate watching the hard work of the Whiting-Turner team who are not only the project managers of this site but major contributors to the foundation funding this tribute.  Like us, the project manager is a fan who grew up watching the acrobatic third baseman set the hot corner standard.  And, like us, he takes a hometown pride in this instant landmark, so representative of Baltimore and Maryland.

 Made in the Shade

Fanfest events were strategically setup under the overpasses.

There are a gazillion reasons for holding the NCAA lacrosse championships in Baltimore every year, and we’ve touted most of them.  Convenience, proximity, accessibility, demographic center, etc.  But Monday, we realized what might be the most compelling.

The shade.

That’s right – the overhead protection from the elements.  Lacrosse is a tailgating sport.  The NCAA finals are family affairs, with friends and teammates of all ages tagging along – heavily armed with sticks, balls, goals and whatever else is necessary to get a good game up pickup going. (We don’t have to mention the coolers, cornhole, beer pong or other activities necessary for a good gathering.)

This is where Baltimore’s Camden Yards Complex shines, because not only do we have the exit ramps, parking lots, bus stops and light rail stations running through our complex, we have what they bring with them. Shade.  Lots and lots of shade.

I-395 passes overhead Lots G and H, with an exit ramp coursing through B and C.  The double tracked light railed passes over lots G, H, and everything south of Ostend. Then there is the Warehouse, the longest building on the East Coast.  After 12:00 PM, it provides 1,016 feet of shaded sidewalk and adjacent parking.

It won’t always be 80+ degrees on Memorial Day, but it is a good bet it will be hot and very sunny.  And as the lacrosse ritual generally requires several hours of playing and tailgating outside the stadium, it is priceless to have all that protection, plus the breezes that comes in off the water.

You already have the good times and turnout.    Do it for the shade.

Transportation to the Yard is More Convenient, Less Expensive than Ever Before

One of the three light rail stations at the complex.

Ironically, it was  U2 that asked us to assemble this information.  The environmentally-conscious Irish rockers want venues where they perform to minimize traffic and parking congestion by encouraging the use of public transit and non-motorized means of access.

This is a good time to talk about why Camden Yards leads the league in convenience and accessibility for those traveling from near or far. In the past few years more travel options have become available.

First, consider the light rail system – a vestige of an old inter-urban line connecting downtown with the northern and southern suburbs.  Light rail not only extends from Hunt Valley to Glen Burnie, it stops at both BWI International Airport (with a plethora of hotels along the route) and Amtrak’s Penn Station.  For visitors flying in or traveling the Northeast Corridor, not even a cab is required.  Depending on which part of the 85-acre complex you are visiting, there are three light rail stops just a few steps away.

O's pitcher Jeremy Guthrie rides his bike to work!

For Baltimore’s fast-growing bicycle community (and yes, we see a lot of cyclists coming to the stadium – including a few Orioles,) the Gwynns Falls Trail passes right through the complex.  Bicycle racks are provided by the Stadium Authority in secured areas, so ridership to events (and also light rail) has been increasing.

With gas prices now hovering around $4.00 a gallon, more residents and visitors have come to appreciate the convenience of taking the bus.  It is here Camden Yards shines with the establishment of the **FREE** Charm City Circulator in 2010.  The Orange Line, extending from the University of Maryland Biopark to Harbor East along Pratt Street, stops just a block north of Oriole Park.  The North-South Purple line travels through the heart of the City a few blocks west on Charles Street.  So if you live downtown or you want to visit after an event at the Yards, CCC is for you.  And you can’t beat the price.

If you’re coming in from the ‘burbs, the MTA has a number of available options, particularly on game days.

But the most recent addition (and this one we’re really excited about) has been at the City-owned bus depot just below M&T Bank Stadium.  At the beginning of May, national carriers Greyhound and Peter Pan announced they were increasing regular service between Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York to at least five times a day.  This economic option is a boon for producing youth and collegiate events at the stadium complex, and a major selling point as we bid for new opportunities.

And for those of us who want to pursue the cheapest and healthiest form of transportation, Camden Yards is only two feet away (to quote Visit Baltimore) from many of the City’s major attractions, transit stops, and neighborhoods.  With safe pedestrian passages, walking is just about the most pleasant way to maneuver around the complex.

We’ll be posting links to all these transportation options at the request of U2.  But we’ll also be leaving this information up on our “Yards” site, because it is a good reminder of how much more convenient it is to get here than ever before.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards_______________________________________________________

Oriole Park at Camden Yards has been the home of the Baltimore Orioles since 1992.  It was the first stadium to incorporate a retro design and is considered one of the premier parks in the country.

For everything related to Oriole Park at Camden Yards click here.

M&T Bank Stadium___________________________________________________________________

M&T Bank Stadium is the home of the Baltimore Ravens. The stadium opened in 1998 under the name Ravens Stadium at Camden Yards.  Besides football, the stadium has hosted concerts, international soccer matches and NCAA lacrosse championships.

For everything related to M&T Bank Stadium click here.

Baltimore Orioles____________________________________________________________________

The Orioles have called Baltimore home since 1954 when the team moved from St. Louis.  They are members of the American League East Division. The team has three World Series titles (1966, 1970 & 1983).  They currently play at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

For everything related to the Baltimore Orioles click here.

Baltimore Ravens_____________________________________________________________________

The Ravens have played in Baltimore since 1996.  The team played at Memorial Stadium for its first two seasons before moving to what is now M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV in January, 2001.  They play in the AFC North Division of the NFL.

For everything related to the Baltimore Ravens click here.

Baltimore Grand Prix_______________________________________________________________

The Baltimore Grand Prix is a three-day “festival of speed” in downtown Baltimore, taking place September 2-4, 2011. It will be part of the 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series schedule and the 2011 American Le Mans Series schedule. This is the inaugural year for the race.

For everything related to the Baltimore Grand Prix click here.