On Wednesday, the Baltimore Orioles invited the local media and various dignitaries out to Camden Yards to preview the renovations, plus the new culinary offerings available Opening Day and beyond.
Camden Yards starting on Friday will feature ‘Dempsey’s Brew Pub and Restaurant’, which is named for former Oriole catcher and current MASN broadcaster, Rick Dempsey, who is a part-owner. As well, there will be a stand available now for Gino’s Burgers and Chicken, plus Stuggy’s.
The new offerings were spearheaded by Delaware North Companies Sportservice, who took over as the primary food vendor in 2011.
The most impressive addition that I saw to the park is the ‘Roof Deck’ which is in center field, where the cameras used to be stationed and next to the large scoreboard.
The area will be open to all ticket holders, and I have a feeling it will be pretty happening. Although the area was not quite done on Wednesday, it will feature an open bar and two rows of seating.
If you’ve ever been to Boston and sat on the Green Monster, the Roof Deck will remind you of that. The area also features an immaculate view of centerfield and you can also see the plaza where the new statues of the Orioles’ Hall of Famers will be placed.
Finally, the blog was able to get a number of interviews with some of the dignitaries who attended Wednesday’s event. I should have them all done this weekend, as I had a fairly busy day, plus the Opening Day report and pictures will take up a lot of my Friday.
The event had two local high schools – Frederick Douglass and Maritime — playing one another in the background.
This is a view from the right field wall that is now lower by four feet. It will be interesting to see how the park will play in that area.
Open bar on the ‘Roof Deck’
View from the ‘Roof Deck” facing center field
The media and various guests on the ‘Roof Deck’
View of the plaza from the ‘Roof Deck’
I drove by Camden Yards on Tuesday night. There was some work still being done, and frankly looked a bit messy; however, most of it was cleared by Wednesday. I took some images with my smartphone camera through the wrought iron fence from the third base side entrance, and close to Gate H.
Rendering of the ‘Roof Deck’
Rendering of Eutaw Street
Rendering of the plaza, statues, and roof deck area.
