This week, the blog sent some questions to Greg Bader – Director of Communications of the Baltimore Orioles – as a follow-up to a Q&A we did in mid-January.
The topics touched upon in this Q&A include thoughts on the Orioles first Spring Training in Sarasota, a little bit on what fans should expect at Camden Yards on Opening Day, ballpark improvements, promotions and fan perception.
Now that Spring training for the Orioles in Florida has come to an end, what was the reception and feedback like in Sarasota with the locals? As well, what’s in store for fans at Ed Smith Stadium in years to come?
Our first spring in Sarasota exceeded all of our expectations, in terms of not only attendance figures, but the way in which the entire community — its citizens and business and political leaders — embraced the club as its “home” team. We set an all-time attendance record for the Orioles in our Grapefruit League facility (over 102,000 fans) and this was also the 2nd highest attendance ever in Sarasota, which demonstrates it was the combination of team and community which helped achieve these results. We believe this first year is just the beginning of what will be a mutually beneficial 30-year relationship.
We are hopeful that beginning in the next month construction will begin on the renovations we have planned for the complex. If that happens, the new facility will be ready in time for Spring Training 2011. Artist renderings of the changes are available at Orioles.com if you wish to take a look. The new facility will provide all of the modern amenities fans expect at an MLB game along with the charm of spring training baseball.
Have there been improvements made to Camden Yards during the off-season? Are there any new places, features or things for fans to be informed of heading into Opening Day and 2010?
The major changes involve several maintenance issues that the Maryland Stadium Authority tackled as part of their deferred maintenance program this offseason. One such item was that all of the seats in the lower level from foul pole to foul pole were replaced, with all seats having a high back and cupholders, and seats between the bases having cushioned seats as well.
Several concessions changes have taken place, including the arrival of one of Baltimore’s favorites, Attman’s Deli, to replace Pastimes Cafe in the Warehouse. Other local businesses such as the Greene Turtle, Hightopps and Pickles Pub will also be featured at various locations inside the park.
On the club level, there was a significant change to the entrance behind home plate, where a large trophy case was installed in the concierge area that will display the various awards and trophies the team has won over the years. Nearby we are opening a market-style dining food option called the All-Star Cafe (where Diamond Bistro used to be).
On that note, Opening Day from what I know is completely sold out. What should fans be looking forward to that day before the game?
Yes, we are sold out and we’re looking forward to a packed house to not only cheer on the 2010 team, but also to give our first-pitch honorees, Brooks Robinson and Boog Powell, a huge ovation. We suggest that fans are in their seats by 2:30 for the approximately twenty-five minute ceremony which will include the traditional centerfield orange carpet entrance for the team. We will also pay special tribute to the 15 members of the Orioles family who passed away since Opening Day last year, including Mike Cuellar.
What new promotions or plans do the Orioles have in store for us? On that note, are there any promotions or events have been directly influenced by the actions (emails, calls, etc) of fans?
We have a few Matt Wieters promotions this year, including his first T-shirt Tuesday coming up on April 13. Later this year, we have a Wieters bobblehead and even a Wieters chest protector backback for kids.
Several fans have requested a bobblehead set of some kind, so we put together a mini-bobblehead set of our three starting outfielders (Reimold, Jones and Markakis) that will take place on three dates this summer. 2110 Eutaw Street is back for 5 games, and this year a lucky fan can win a Southwest Airlines round trip ticket if Nick or Adam hit a homerun into the Eutaw Street Bleachers on one of those 5 dates.
I’m especially excited about our Brooks Robinson figurine, which is only available to season plan holders (including 13-game plan holders). The figurine features Brooks’ glove dipped in 14 karat gold, and we’ve had a lot of new season ticket holders and a particularly high renewal rate, due in part to this promotion.
Finally, what are some things you feel that the Orioles do a very good job with but the fans just don’t seem to recognize? In other words: what makes you say, “If they only knew what we were doing…”
I think an overwhelming majority of fans fully understand the commitment the club is making day in and day out to provide a premium entertainment experience at a very affordable price. I also believe this majority realizes the commitment the club makes to the community and the many lives we touch each and every day.
We very rarely hear from folks who we think do not recognize our good intentions, and when we do, we simply try to explain our position and why we made the decision we did. Our fans should know that all of us in the Warehouse are constantly trying to improve the experience through special programs, promotions and events. After all, we are in this business for them.
