Camden Yards
10 Oriole Park At Camden Yards Food Options 2024
Posted by Kurt Smith
It’s baseball season! If you’re planning a trip to Baltimore for an Orioles game, you’re probably interested in the Camden Yards food menu. At the very least, you would want to know what Baltimore local favorites are in the concession stands.
I’m here to help…below I’ve listed ten of my favorite Oriole Park at Camden Yards food choices. I included some new food offerings for 2024. And of course, some tasty pictures!
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We’ll start with five picks that can arguably be “only in Baltimore”…
We owe a great debt of gratitude to Boog Powell for single-handedly making ballpark food spectacular.
Camden Yards Food, Tip #1) Boog’s BBQ.
Topping the list, of course, is Boog’s BBQ, named for the star first baseman of the early 1970s teams. Boog Powell still occasionally meets and greets with fans, although he’s not there as often as he used to be.
Given that it’s survived for 30+ seasons, and that the lines still get long, I’d say Orioles fans still think that Boog’s BBQ sandwiches and platters are the best of the Oriole Park food options. It’s not technically a regional food, but it doesn’t get more Baltimore than a plate of Boog’s BBQ at Camden Yards.
Boog told me he liked my tie.
It’s truly amazing grub…pit beef, turkey or brisket sandwiches, or platters that include beans and Old Bay chips, with an above average station of condiment choices nearby.
It’s easy to find Boog’s; it’s the central attraction of Eutaw Street and you can sometimes see smoke wafting from the place. Again, lines get long early on game day, so if you want to try it without missing the rest of the ballpark, get there when the gates open if you can.
I had an Orioles employee share a great pro tip with me…bring your own roll, and ask for your sandwich “naked” to get more meat on your plate. I love people who baseball fan right.
If this is making your mouth water, I am succeeding in my mission.
Camden Yards Food, Tip #2) Stuggy’s Crab Mac and Cheese Dogs.
This is one local joint that thankfully the Orioles kept around. Stuggy’s is your place to get unusual hot dogs Baltimore-style. The restaurant itself is a Fells Point institution in the city, and they’re known for hot dogs with wacky toppings. You could take a trip there and try some of their fancier offerings; Fells Point isn’t far from the Yard.
At Camden Yards though their signature Maryland thing stands out…the crab mac and cheese dog. Check out the pic; enough said. Pretty much all of the food stuffs you need for a Baltimore baseball meal, including Old Bay seasoning.
Incidentally, Stuggy’s dogs are a challenge to keep on a plate; I would sit down with a fork and napkins to eat one.
I’ll take them all, please. My family can get something else.
Camden Yards Food, Tip #3) Jimmy’s Famous Seafood Sandwiches.
Jimmy’s Famous Seafood is a Baltimore restaurant whose Maryland-style crab cakes (is there any other style?) have been featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” and “Beat Bobby Flay”, so a TV network dedicated to food likes their stuff.
Their stand in the left field corner features crab cake sandwiches, shrimp rolls, Mo Gabba’s fried shrimp and a crab cake egg roll. All with bay sauce of course. Oh, and crabby fries to go with.
April through November is peak Maryland blue crab season, so your Jimmy’s sandwich will rock even if in the unlikely event that the Orioles make the World Series. You can try Jimmy’s food outside of the ballpark, even if you don’t live in the area; just order it on their website.
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Tacos + margaritas + Orioles baseball = Living at its best.
Camden Yards Food, Tip #4) Vida Taco Bar.
The Vida Taco Bar, near home plate on the first base side of the lower concourse, is another local establishment with a few locations in the region, although they’ve closed their outpost at the Inner Harbor.
At Oriole Park they have chicken, beef or pork tacos…and for vegetarian sorts, they have a sweet potato hash vegetarian taco. You can get chicken or beef loaded nachos and street corn dipped in queso dip here too. It’s the best place here to get your Mexican food fix on.
Vida sources their ingredients locally and fresh squeezes their juices daily, as any taco provider should. So it’s above average tacos. They claim their soup of the day is always Tequila – and you can get a margarita here. As of 2024, you can order their nachos on Eutaw Street too.
I’ll be happy to mash this one with my teeth. (photo courtesy of Fuzzie’s Burgers)
Camden Yards Food, Tip #5) Fuzzie’s Burgers.
Nothing against Baseline Burgers, but Camden Yards needed to rep a local burger joint too, and in 2024 they did that with Fuzzie’s Burgers. Fuzzie’s is a handcrafted, dry-aged, Angus beef burger, which you can watch them actually smash at the ballpark. They even locally source their buns, produce and cheese.
Fuzzie’s started as a pop-up turned food truck during the pandemic, and soon opened a stationary location on 30th Street. They already have a cult following…think Shake Shack for Baltimoreans.
At their new outpost in the City Connect corner of the Yard, there’s multiple burger offerings, including the “Hot Fuzz”…double burger with fruitwood bacon, pimento cheese, hot pepper jelly and sweet fury pickles. Smash it indeed. But you can get that Plainy Janie cheeseburger if you like too.
And if you like the Hot Fuzz, check out the event schedule for their food truck! Fuzzie’s offers some perfectly nice fries too.
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More Camden Yards sustenance not to be missed. Do you see the necessity of blogs like this one?
For hot dogs and sausages, sadly they’re not Esskay anymore, but the Orioles didn’t venture too far from Baltimore:
Camden Yards Food, Tip #6) Camden Franks.
It’s never hard to find a hot dog at a ballpark, but Camden Franks stands feature your jumbo dogs, and the dogs are now made by Berks Foods in Reading, PA, which is almost local I guess.
If you’re in Baltimore for baseball and crab stuff, Camden Franks has a Maryland Dog, which is a quarter pound hot dog with crab dip and Old Bay potato sticks piled on. Again, bring a fork and napkins…
Camden Franks stands are scattered around the upper and main concourse, and they’re easy to find.
No doubt, ballpark sausages were a key part of Uncle Charley’s vision.
Camden Yards Food, Tip #7) Ballpark Sausage.
“Ballpark Sausage” doesn’t sound terribly unique. Most of us probably could have thought of that name without significant effort. But I thought I’d at least give a mention to the sausages at Oriole Park being made by Uncle Charley’s.
Uncle Charley Armitage was a seasoning and spice man, so he undoubtedly knew a bit about making a great sausage. All natural casings and no additives too. He was from western PA, so not entirely local, but a good ballpark sausage is worth a few hundred miles.
In addition to the spice blends, there’s also (more Maryland flavor coming!) the Uncle Charley’s Chesapeake sausage here, with caramelized onions, orange peppers (get it?), and Old Bay queso on a hoagie roll.
Here’s a couple more new items for 2024, including a great new dessert option…
ALRIGHT, I admit it, New York isn’t all bad!
Camden Yards Food, Tip #8) Pat & Stuggs.
Pat & Stuggs, a new stand in 2024 at the Yard, combines two very established institutions for dogs and beef…the aforementioned Stuggy’s of course, along with Pat LaFrieda meats (warning: possible treason alert coming!). If you don’t know who Pat LaFrieda is, he is a New York-based meat purveyor who supplies beef to chefs and restaurants in NYC.
OK, so maybe it’s tough for Orioles fans to embrace anything that came from Yankeeland…but with that kind of track record LaFrieda’s earned the right to at least give him a chance.
The offerings at this stand are amazing (and gather lines). Try the pictured Shaved Ribeye Dog, which as you can see looks like Baltimore and NYC can find a way to get along. There’s also cheesesteaks and cheeseburgers, including a double bacon cheeseburger. (Pat makes the bacon too.)
Can’t knock the value of beef…
I am won over.
Camden Yards Food, Tip #9) Deddle’s Donuts.
Deddle’s mini-donuts, as I write this, are only available for weekend games, but that’s probably just as well…they might be too good for a season ticket holder to have every night.
For a brief history, Deddle’s started as a donuts and fried chicken food truck owned by Robin Holmes in her mother’s memory…she bought the food truck herself for the venture, which is pretty cool. Their hot and fresh donuts are popular enough that they’ll be opening a stand at the Lexington Market soon.
I’m not sure if you can get the donuts made-to-order here; according to the Ballpark app they come in assorted boxes with flavors like funnel cake, honey glaze, and churro. But they are hot and fresh; and mini donuts with some fruity pebbles is a high end ballpark treat.
And if it’s Monday, you can always look for the food truck…
Just keep reading, check out what’s in the Rutsch Sundae!
There are several dessert options at Camden Yards, including Dippin’ Dots and Rita’s water ice. But I chose another local spot to include here:
Camden Yards Food, Tip #10) South Mountain Creamery.
The South Mountain Creamery is a family-owned farm in Middletown, MD. Their website actually states that the family that processes their milk is the same family that milks the cows. They say you can taste the difference, but I expect you’d have to be a true milk aficionado. Their ice cream is available at Nationals Park too, so maybe there’s something to that. Those folks must wake up stupid early.
Anyway, they have a smaller menu here, but they do have a “Rutsch Sundae”, for the Orioles star catcher. It’s orange dreamsicle ice cream with vanilla pound cake, dark chocolate sauce, chocolate sprinkles, whip cream and a baseball cake pop. Whew! That’s a lotta lotta sugar but hey, at ballpark prices you’ve earned it.
Okay, just so you know, they have funnel cakes. The Orioles have got your back.
So there you go; ten food favorites at the home of the Baltimore Orioles that should make you happy you love baseball.
I left out a few things of course, like the impressive funnel cakes, the Oro and Squire’s pizzas, the Buffalo Bird Dog, and the Fuku chicken sandos. There’s nothing wrong with any of them, but other than the pizzas I didn’t think they were essential Baltimore enough to include here. (Although the O-shaped soft pretzel might be an exception). Baseline Burgers are okay, but there are better burgers at a more reasonable price across the street at Pickles Pub.
I hope you found this helpful my friend. If you haven’t bought your Orioles ticket yet, read this guide to landing a seat at Camden Yards. And check this page for many more great Orioles game pro tips!
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Camden Yards Seating Tips – Best Seats, Cheap Seats + Standing Room
Posted by Kurt Smith
Planning a visit to Oriole Park this summer? I’m here to help my friend! This complete Oriole Park at Camden Yards seating guide offers a bunch of valuable tips and advice you need to know about every seating section in the Baltimore Orioles ballpark. I’ll help you get the best seats at Camden Yards, both for your taste and your budget.
I’m covering it all here…including the cheap seats at Camden Yards, your standing room options, and how to best find shade. Whether you’re a first timer at the Yard or a regular, there’s info here that you can use.
If you need more Camden Yards help, be sure to check out my complete guide to the Baltimore Orioles’ ballpark here, and I’ve also added some tips about my favorite way to get there and a few things to know about your food options. (More coming, stay tuned!)
I’ve broken all of this down for easy access:
Camden Yards Layout
Luxury Suites
Camden Club Level
Field Level Seating
Upper Level Seating
Eutaw Street Bleachers
Oriole Park Standing Room
A Few More Camden Yards Seating Tips
Plenty of seats left, so choose one now!
Okay, there’s a lot here, so after this quick word from our sponsor, we’ll get started. (Thank you for supporting our sponsors!)
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It’s not as complicated as it looks, I promise.
Camden Yards Seating, Part 1: Ballpark Seating Chart + Basic Layout
There are three levels of seating at Oriole Park. The lower level includes Field and Terrace seating (the Bleachers are also field level); the Club Level circles the entire seating bowl on the mezzanine; and the upper level includes Upper Box and Reserve seating. Here is the Orioles’ map of the seating.
There are two separate levels of seating in the lower and upper levels. Field and Box seating is in front of Terrace and Reserved on the lower level; Upper Box is in front of Upper Reserved in the upper level. In the lower level, a walkway divides the front and rear sections. Facing the field, Seat 1 is always on your right.
There aren’t a lot of bad seats in Camden Yards, but some are definitely better than others, and there are a few you should avoid, so read on.
I think the stool here is free, but there isn’t much of a view.
Camden Yards Seating, Part 2: Luxury Suites
Believe it or not, some of the suites at Camden Yards might be even within my price range…
The suites are on the Club Level (mezzanine), and have glass doors, refrigerators, a bar and hi-def TVs, and they open out to some very comfortable and mobile black leather chairs to view the game in. The suites are climate controlled, which can be very nice in Baltimore in August.
From the seats you can watch replays on TVs placed above you. People who book a suite for a group get extras like parking passes and opportunities to buy seats in the first two rows.
Padded seats in the shade? Sweet!
There are also party suites that can accommodate up to 75 people in left field, where sliding glass doors lead out onto a two-tiered porch; the Orioles website lists them and their capacities. Several are named for Orioles greats like Brooks Robinson and decorated accordingly; the O’s redesigned suites for use as party facilities, giving them apt names like the Hot Corner at third base, or the Legacy at Suite 54 (1954 being the current team’s first year in Baltimore).
The O’s offer a five game suite package; you can rent a suite for five games including two games against the Yankees or Red Sox. The price works out to about $200+ per person per game, but hey, you can’t take it with you.
No free drinks, but there’s a nice lounge.
If you want to get a single game suite, it can actually be fairly affordable for low demand games, but you’d have to pay extra for food and booze, so I don’t know if all that is worth it just to have heat in April. You can’t bring your own food or drink into the suites.
The Orioles have joined many other teams in providing a suite for fans allergic to peanuts for some games; it’s the cheapest you’ll ever see a suite seat (and honestly, if you’re allergic to peanuts, you deserve a suite at a baseball game). Parents have to sign a release form.
The umpire won’t hear you from the barstool tables, but it’s a good leaning spot.
Then there’s the Miller Lite Flite Deck, a triple-decked party area recently added to the Club Level down the right field line. The Flite Deck has drink rails and bar-style tables and seating. Groups can reserve the area and get a food voucher for the game, and there are three 30-person spaces that can be combined into one big Orioles party.
The Flite Deck is about as far away as foul territory seats get, but they’re not expensive at all as party areas at ballparks go. You’ll need to get there early for the best seating. And you can do some great people-watching with a killer view from above Eutaw Street.
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Camden Yards Seating, Part 3: The Camden Club Level
The club level at Oriole Park has climate controlled concourses (again, that’s a very nice perk in Baltimore) with glass windows to watch the game from, some outdoor concourse areas with a sweet view of the city, six bar/lounges that serve fancy drinks that chicks dig and local microbrews like Flying Dog. You even get waiter service with club level seats, and can order food on a touch pad from your seat.
A special escalator takes you to the club area, with ushers showing the way and blocking everyone else.
Closer to the field than the suites, at half the price!
Some fans complain about the legroom (I’m tall and have had worse), but otherwise the club level gets rave reviews. Anyone with a club seat ticket has access to all of the lounges. It’s a sweet place to duck out of the elements.
Club level seats at Camden Yards are relatively inexpensive compared to most ballparks; if you can swing it, give them a try, especially in hot Baltimore summer months. If nothing else, the food and bathroom lines are shorter. You can very often find a good deal on Gametime for a low demand game.
I’ll take this view if you throw in some hot dogs and club access.
The club seats in straightaway left field are called the “Pepsi All-Inclusive Picnic Perch” and are “all you can eat” seats; where for a slightly inflated ticket price you can get your hand stamped and gorge on all the hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn, nachos, ice cream and soda (no free alcohol) you can handle until the seventh inning. Lines can get long at food stations.
The ticket also includes club level access, which again is great on sweltering Baltimore summer days, but these aren’t the best seats in Camden Yards view-wise…they’re fairly far away from the action. Still, it’s a fun time and complimentary food at a ballgame is a nice plus.
These fans decided to make “under the WGL Energy sign” their meeting spot, since no one could pronounce “Nyquist”.
The O’s added two party areas to the Club Level in a recent renovation (I’ve already talked about the Flite Deck)…
On the left field side of the Club Level is the Drink Rail area; the Orioles added stools with backs to the left field club area, adding to the festive atmosphere, and there are now “Bistro Tables” in straightaway left field. If you can get a ticket early enough you can land a swivel chair with a counter next to you making you feel right at home with a beer.
It’s time for a serious baseball discussion about whether a counter is better than being close to the field.
For the Bistro Tables, you must buy all four seats, but it’s not terribly expensive.
With only a few sections in front of you and no crowd behind you, it might be a little quieter than usual here…not with people cheering but with people talking. With a rail in front of you to rest your scorecard, the Drink Rail section is a nice spot to stay into the action on the field, although like the Picnic Perch it’s fairly far away from it.
More about the seats for the rest of us, when we come back after this:
Just feel those cushions. You have arrived.
Camden Yards Seating, Part 4: Field Level Seating
The premium seating at Camden Yards…lower level seats between the bases…have comfortable padding added; they aren’t the huge airplane seats you find at many premium seats in ballparks, but they aren’t nearly as expensive either. These are, in my opinion, the best seats at Camden Yards even for the price. If you want to splurge on great seats for your ballpark trip, this is the place to do it.
Should you cough up the cash for lower level seats, in most cases the lower box seats are better on the third base side than the first base side. You have a better view of the scoreboard and warehouse (a key feature of the Oriole Park backdrop) for one, and the right field seats also miss a portion of the foul line.
Note the angled section in the left field corner. That’s a good thing.
In the lower level as you get down the third base line, seats are angled towards the infield. It’s not quite perfect, though. On the lower level, the worst sections for seat angles are past the bases just before the angling, i.e. Sections 60-71 past third base and Sections 9-11 past first base. Better to take Section 1-8 over 9-13, or 72-75 over 67-71 if you don’t want to crane your neck all night. (Have a look at the seating chart again to see what I mean here.)
In the lower level, remember that the first three rows are AAA-CCC, and then the next row is AA, so if you’re in Row A you’re not quite near the field. Kind of a rip, but that’s baseball.
There are a couple of Field Box sections beyond the bases that cost a few bucks less than Field Box; beyond these are Lower Box sections that are a few bucks less than that. Section 14 is a better deal than Section 16, and Section 66 is a better deal than Section 64.
There’s a lot of people sitting in the back here for a good reason…
The Terrace Box seats past the bases, particularly in Sections 17 at first base and 55 at third, may be the best seats at Camden Yards for tightwads…IF you get a low enough row. These are near field level seats that are slightly more expensive than upper box, and most rows shouldn’t have an overhang problem. It’s also a good spot for shade in most cases.
These sections are raised so that there is no walkway traffic obstruction in front of them. If you can land these in a low enough row (like Row 5 or lower), score.
It’s just not as fun.
The drawback of the Terrace seats is the upper level overhang. If your row is high enough, you will be covered by the upper tier, good on rainy or hot days but not if you want to see the scoreboard and skyline. There are TVs to catch anything you missed and to see the score, but not being able to view the nice scoreboard (or the city and warehouse) is a bummer.
The Orioles charge significantly less for the upper rows of Terrace sections just past the bases, here the overhang blocks the view, so you should be okay if you get a Terrace Box seat. You could still have an overhang problem in the Lower Reserved seats in the infield, but it’s not likely to be as pronounced there.
You would expect people who wear blue shirts to an Orioles game to not choose the best section.
The seats ranging from well past third base out to the bullpens are okay if you don’t mind sitting at or near the outfield. I personally like left field corner seats here for the angle reasons I’ve just explained. These seats cost significantly less than those in the infield, but they’re still about twice as much as seats in the upper deck.
The Orioles recently moved the left field fence back to avoid paying more for pitchers who don’t give up dingers, and the rows behind the fence is elevated more, which I think is a better for views.
Your chance to chat with a real-life Orioles pitcher!
Section 86 is next to the bullpens, and if you’re close enough you can watch pitchers warm up, which is actually pretty neat if you’ve never been so close to a 95 MPH fastball. (The placement of the bullpens is an underrated feature of Oriole Park, in my opinion.) You can even talk to the pitchers, if they’re friendly enough.
“Maybe I don’t WANT to know how the Yankees and Red Sox are doing tonight!”
In the right field corner, again, seats are better angled towards the field, but right field corner seats are elevated and fairly far away. This spot is close to Eutaw Street, but there’s the drawback of not seeing the pretty cool out of town scoreboard. These seats also get the most sun; bring a hat and sunglasses.
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Looks like a Tuesday night.
Camden Yards Seating, Part 5: Upper Level Seating
Most fans (including me) will tell you that there is nothing wrong at all with an upper deck seat at Camden Yards. Not only are the seats steep (but not terribly high) and thus closer to the field, but there is a fine view of the Baltimore skyline (and the Hilton that blocks the view of the Bromo-Seltzer tower, much to locals’ chagrin), except for seats that are past third base and into left field.
If you can get a low row Upper Reserved seat, don’t shell out twice as much for an Upper Box seat that won’t be that much better. Similarly, since most games don’t sell out (although that could change as the Orioles improve), you might as well buy an Upper Reserved ticket at the box office when you arrive, which will be cheaper than buying from the team website. Or shop around with third party sites like Gametime.
Get Row 25 for that nice breeze action!
Because the concourses aren’t open like at most new ballparks (and this was deliberate), the view from these seats is better than most, placing you almost on top of the action for a nice price. There are about 25 rows in most of the upper level sections, and even from the top the view is acceptable, with a roof for the rain.
It’s easier to get to the upper deck here than in most parks; there is a convenient escalator in the concourse, right off the south end of Eutaw Street. The stairwells offer fine views of downtown Baltimore on each landing, and the view of the city from the concourse is pretty nice too.
You do get to sit near retired numbers. That probably counts for something.
No seat here is totally horrible, but upper deck seats in left field are probably the worst seats in Oriole Park (the Orioles sell standing room at a similar price). Seats in the corners on the upper level are the biggest problem; they’re angled such that you will have to turn your head to watch the game, and someone getting up in your section may block your view. The right field corner is better for its views of Eutaw, but neither side is much better for viewing the game.
Plus it’s dark up here.
The worst sections for this are sections that end in 64-72 in left field and 04-12 in right. The problem is at its worst in Section 372 down the left field line; just get outfield seats if you have a choice.
Again, remember that Row A is not in the front; the first row is AA. Rows from about D and up are underneath the roof overhang at the top of the park and have the advantage of more shade. There is also a nice breeze up here at times, good on a hot day.
They’re not true bleachers unless you can’t see the scoreboard!
Camden Yards Seating, Part 6: Eutaw Street Bleachers
The center field bleacher seats at Camden Yards are among the cheapest in the park and known for loud, boisterous fans of both teams that are playing. The bleachers are underneath the scoreboard, so you cannot see the Jumbotron unless you sit in Section 98 and crane your neck. You won’t see the out-of-town scoreboard from here either.
Another slight issue is that if you’re about halfway up or higher in Section 98, you may lose some of right field to the out-of-town scoreboard. Not a big deal, but it can be somewhat irritating.
You look just as far away to them, and you can see what time it is.
The bleachers are close to Eutaw and its food selection and entertainments, but deep in center field, you’re pretty far from the action on the field. It can get very hot here in the summertime and this is the last section of seats to be in the shade for night games, so you’d do well to bring sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. You also won’t enjoy the splendid view of downtown Baltimore here.
One nice thing is that these are actual seats as opposed to the hard benches in Wrigley Field or Yankee Stadium, so you’re less likely to want a cushion. The bleachers are also a staircase away from the soon-to-be-discussed Roof Deck, a popular spot for ballgame socializing.
I’d rather be able to see Eutaw Street than be close to it!
I’ve sat in the bleachers at Oriole Park and it’s my least favorite spot; a big part of the charm here is the view of the Baltimore skyline and B&O warehouse, and feeling how the ballpark blends in with its surroundings. It’s fine if you just want to see a ballgame and grab a bite at Boog’s whenever you want, but if you’re going cheap, go for the upper level.
Be smart and stand in front of the poles!
Camden Yards Seating, Part 7: Standing Room
The Orioles sell standing room tickets on sold out game days, which aren’t all that common, but you can also just buy a cheap ticket and find a better view than from your seat. If you don’t mind standing and love Orioles baseball, check and see if the O’s are offering an unlimited ballpark pass…it’s a fantastic deal if you go to enough games.
Standing room at Camden Yards is decent; the left field area is behind the bullpens (which offers a nice view of pitchers warming up in the bullpens and a picnic area) and right field is the flag court behind the out-of-town scoreboard that occasionally sees home run balls and is right there at Boog’s when you get hungry.
Don’t lean too far to see the out of town scores. We have phones for that now.
The high wall in right field has been replaced with a railing, which has greatly improved the view, but left field is still an adequate option if there’s a large crowd on the patio in right. The MASN pregame show is held in the left field area.
Remember that there aren’t open concourses at Oriole Park, so you won’t be able to watch from behind home plate.
These people standing are missing a perfectly good opportunity to sit just steps away.
By most accounts, the Orioles are not hard on seat poaching, and for the low attendance games there are probably quite a few better seats available than where you are. Your best bet is to wait until after the third inning and stay outside the baselines, where the ushers aren’t quite as strict.
In addition to the club seating party areas, you can rent out the picnic areas beyond center field or on the upper level, and enjoy a pre-game party with unlimited food and beer for a group price that is reasonable by ballpark standards.
Even the cameraman doesn’t get a counter for his drink!
The latest cool standing room hangout spot in the recent upgrade of Oriole Park is the Roof Deck, a new covered full bar with craft beers and a seating section raised above the batter’s eye in center field. There are two rows of barstool seating with counters in the front with a terrific view of the field, at least for a seat with a place to rest a drink. You can also sit at the bar or in comfortable lounge seats, although neither have a view of the game.
The Roof Deck originally was open to everyone with a ticket and seats were first come first serve, but with its instant popularity the Orioles began selling the seats in the front rows, so you’ll need to get them in advance. For the moment you can get tickets at the box office on game day. Tickets aren’t as cheap as you might think they should be, but the price isn’t awful and it’s a fun spot.
Lots of premium seats still available!
Camden Yards Seating, Part 8: A Few More Tips
If you’re bringing the kids to an O’s game, go for the first base/right field side. The bouncy houses, play stuff and photo ops for the kids are almost all in the concourse in the right field corner. The play areas are mostly shaded, but the first base side does get less shade, so you should still have sunscreen and hats for the little ones, and try for seats in a higher row under the overhang if you’re concerned about it.
Here’s where the shade is. You’ll thank me.
The sun sets on the third base side at Oriole Park, so the first base and right field side sees shade last, including the bleachers. In the upper level, the roof offers significant shade, and you may decide to move up a few rows to get under it on a Baltimore July afternoon. Most games don’t sell out, so this isn’t difficult, but you may want to consider getting seats in a higher row (D or higher) if you’re seeing the O’s play the Yankees on a weekend.
“Dang it! I forgot to get my Old Bay egg roll!”
Eutaw Street is where many of the best food items and attractions are, including Dempsey’s craft brews and Boog’s Barbecue, and the seats on the third base side are farthest from it. If you’re in the upper level especially, it’s a lot of walking to Eutaw and the escalator only goes up until the end of the game. I highly recommend partaking of any grub and souvenirs before going to your seat.
Featuring the helpful classic Orioles logo for those who recognize it…
The Orioles dugout is on the third base side, if such things matter to you.
Finally, as I’ve said earlier, Oriole Park at Camden Yards offers among the best deals in baseball, especially for premium seating. If you’re on a baseball trip that includes, say, Baltimore, Washington, and Philadelphia, Baltimore is the place to try for the best seats.
Wow…what a deliberate snub to all the visiting team fans!
Get all that? I hope that you’ve found some useful Oriole Park at Camden Yards seating info here, and can better plan your next trip…or ten trips!…to Camden Yards for Orioles games. Be sure to check out more Camden Yards tips here.
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Ultimate Camden Yards Guide: Parking, Food + More
Posted by Kurt Smith
Here you are my baseball fan friends, your complete, detailed, and extremely helpful Oriole Park at Camden Yards guide! I’m here to help you save money on Orioles tickets, find the best seats at Oriole Park for your budget, learn how to get to Camden Yards and what to eat at the Baltimore Orioles ballpark.
Whether you’re taking a trip, bringing the kids, or are a visiting fan…heck, even if you’re a regular…this Camden Yards guide is full of useful tips for you.
Oriole Park at Camden Yards Guide – List of Tips
Finding Cheap Orioles Tickets
Choosing A Great Seat
Best Ways To Get To Camden Yards
What To Eat At Camden Yards
Camden Yards With Kids
Photo-Ops + Other Tips
You’ve arrived.
So now after this quick word from our sponsor, we’ll get started! (+ thanks for your support!)
Gametime has your cheap Orioles tickets…with a lowest price guarantee, panoramic seat view photos, and great last minute deals…even after the game starts!
Unfortunately the Orioles still have people checking to see if you have a ticket.
Camden Yards Guide, Part 1: Finding Cheap Orioles Tickets
So your first task is, of course, to find your cheap Orioles tickets.
The most common route to buying Orioles tickets is on the team website or through the MLB Ballpark app. This is perfectly fine, although you can often find better deals through a third party like Gametime. We’ll get to that.
If you’re planning a trip to Camden Yards, or even if you go regularly, sign up for the Orioles’ ticket alert newsletter. The Orioles will inform you about pre-sales and when tickets go on sale, and you’ll want to know about this. Face price when tickets go on sale is often the best price for games against the Yankees or Red Sox (and sometimes the Nationals, Mets and Phillies too).
Just in case you didn’t know, the Orioles have a website.
The newsletter will also inform you about discount and giveaway nights, and the O’s offer some cool swag like Hawaiian shirts. It’s well worth the couple of minutes to sign up.
If the Orioles are contending, September games can be in high demand, but normally July and August weekends and Yankees and Red Sox games are the most expensive tickets. So if all you want is to visit Camden Yards, try for a weekday game in April or May if you can. You might score a great deal then.
Yes, believe it or not, they still sell paper tickets. Which make great souvenirs, incidentally.
There’s also the Orioles box office, which I usually prefer because a) there’s no “convenience” fees, which are significant, and b) I like having a ticket for a souvenir.
For most games you should be able to walk up to the box office on game day and pick up whatever seats suit your taste, and again, it’s cheaper without the fees. You might have to stand in line a bit, but the wait isn’t usually long.
Then there’s the third party market, and you should always shop around if you’re buying tickets online. Gametime is my favorite outlet (and an affiliate of mine); they usually have deals as good or better than others, especially when fees are added.
Speaking of fees, if you’re comparing prices between third parties (and the team website, for that matter), go all the way to the checkout screen to know what you’re actually paying.
You sometimes might find a broker hiding behind this sign.
If you’re looking for scalpers or people with extras at Oriole Park, you might find stragglers north of the Eutaw Street entrance, in the retired numbers plaza (where the Babe Ruth statue is). The sign says it’s illegal to resell tickets on “Stadium Controlled Property”, which I suppose means you can simply walk across the street and sell your extras.
People with extras can also sometimes be found at Pickles Pub or Sliders near Gate F (left field) before the game. There’s always a crowd there and you can ask around.
For non-prime games like a weekday game against Oakland, this is a buyer’s market, and you can wait until just before game time and make an offer that suits you.
The Orioles consider this a high demand game. Plan accordingly.
Finally, if you’re considering Craigslist for Orioles tickets, I’ve written about that here, but quickly, treat Craigslist sellers like scalpers…check the tickets carefully, especially the date and opponent, and if something doesn’t feel right don’t buy them. Sometimes you can find a great deal, but remember that there’s no protection from you being scammed. If the deal seems too good to be true…you know the rest.
So now you have some idea how to save money on Orioles tickets…there’s a different avenue for getting tickets that works best for demand. Just plan ahead and compare. With a little effort, you can score a great deal for a game at one of baseball’s best ballparks.
Incidentally, the Orioles offer some of the better prices on the high end seats in baseball; if you want to splurge on Club seats or Field Box behind home plate on your ballpark trip, Camden Yards is the place to do it.
It looks a whole lot more complicated than it is.
Camden Yards Guide, Part 2: Choosing The Best Seats
Camden Yards truly doesn’t have many poor seats, but there are a few you should probably avoid, and some sections are better than others. (If you really want the knowledge on landing a great seat here, check out this complete Oriole Park seating guide!)
Here’s a bit about what the best seats are for each budget level:
For just an extra $100, sit in the shade behind these folks!
Money Is No Object Budget: Believe it or not, if you have the means you can get a suite at Camden Yards for a single game for you and your buddies; and it’s actually not a bad price. Food isn’t included, but you can have things catered for a fee.
If I were going to try this, I would do it in April or July when a climate controlled room behind your seat is a very welcome feature. There’s TVs and couches inside to watch the game on TV if you need a break from the weather.
This is why you put in the overtime.
Large Budget: The Field Level seats between the bases are cushioned and comfortable, and they’re reasonable by ballpark standards. All of these seats are good; whether you want something closer to Eutaw (first base side) or a straight ahead view of the warehouse (third base side) is your call; either is great.
“Relaxing here isn’t it? How about a crab cake sand…oh crap! I forgot there’s a game here!”
The club level seats are among the most expensive, but they include access to the spacious climate-controlled Camden Club, with excellent food choices, a full bar and a lot of cool Orioles memorabilia. If you’re interested in club access but don’t have endless cash, try to find a deal on the All You Can Eat seats in left field, which also includes access.
Club seats here are worth splurging for, but check and see if you can score a deal on a third party site first of course, especially for low demand games.
Okay, it’s not technically an obstructed view, but by Ballpark E-Guides standards, it counts.
Medium Budget: Terrace Box and Lower Reserved are more affordable seating, but there are a couple things to be mindful of. Terrace Box can be a great deal for the money if your row is low enough, but in the higher rows the overhang blocks your view of the scoreboard and such, and part of the appeal of Camden Yards is the great views.
The lower level seating past the bases is noticeably cheaper than seating between the bases, but it’s still more expensive than the upper level, so if you like being behind home plate (as I do), you’ll probably prefer upper level seats.
The Orioles usually draw better than this. Well, okay, maybe they don’t. But the view is still very good here.
Cheap Seats: The upper level at Camden Yards is as good as any deal in baseball; they’re not as high as in many ballparks, and they offer a sweet view of the warehouse, skyline and city for your baseball backdrop. Interestingly, only the upper box (lower rows between the bases) cost more than the bleachers, and they’re significantly better seats IMHO.
As you get past the bases, though, especially in left field, upper level seats get less appealing…outer sections are farthest away and don’t have angled seats…although in right field there’s great people watching on Eutaw Street if the game bores you.
Proximity to Boog’s is never a bad thing.
The Eutaw Street Bleachers are among the cheapest seats in the ballpark, and usually feature loud fans of both teams on the field. They’re close to Boog’s BBQ and other Eutaw Street attractions, but there’s no view of the big scoreboard or the out-of-town scoreboard, which is a bummer. One plus is that they’re real seats, not benches like in many ballparks.
Prime home run territory, even since the departure of Esskay.
Standing Room: If you’re trying standing room at Camden Yards, behind the right field scoreboard is a popular location, but left field has some okay spots behind the bullpen too. You can watch pitchers warm up there and there’s a picnic area. The concourses aren’t open here, so unfortunately you can’t watch from behind home plate.
See the game the way the center field camera operator does!
If you’re a socializing sort, the Roof Deck above center field is a happening spot too. There’s a full bar (no view of the game there, however), and some seating with counters along the wall that is reserved these days. It’s a decent standing spot, but I don’t know if I’d pay the price for seats that far away.
It might be miserably hot and blinding, but it looks nice.
Finally, as far as shade, the sun sets on the third base side, so the bleachers and right field seats are the last to see shade on a summer day. Baltimore can get very hot in July and August especially; be prepared with water, shades, UV protection, all that noise.
That said, there aren’t many sights on the planet more beautiful than Oriole Park at sunset.
Featuring a helpful photo of the ballpark!
Camden Yards Guide, Part 3: Best Way(s) to Get to Oriole Park
There’s a few ways to get to Camden Yards; which one is best for you depends on where you’re coming from, and whether you’re a tightwad like me. We’ll cover as much as we can here.
Despite its location in the heart of downtown, Camden Yards is actually surprisingly easy to get to by car. Well, most of the time. It’s right off of I-95 and not far from I-83, and there is sufficient parking in most cases.
You’ll see these when you get close.
Coming from I-95 it’s simple; exit onto I-395, which becomes Cal Ripken Way heading to the ballpark. It’s a little tricky getting to the Orioles lots and neighboring lots at the Ravens’ stadium (lots you should probably use from this direction); just after getting on I-395, get off at MLK Boulevard and use the ramp towards Lee Street; there’s plenty of parking there.
I-83 is best coming from north and west of the ballpark, but traffic can get very heavy heading downtown at rush hour, especially on Friday nights when the Inner Harbor becomes a destination. You might want to exit a few stops before the end of the highway; on Friday I might consider the Light Rail instead, which follows basically the same path.
You basically can’t miss at this point.
There’s plenty of parking lots and garages in the ballpark area, and the Orioles offer helpful links with directions to get to each one on their site. In addition to the Orioles-owned lots, there’s a bunch of garages north and east of the ballpark a short walk away, and in some of these you can find a really good deal, especially if you’d like to enjoy the Inner Harbor before a game. The Orioles’ lots don’t open until an hour before the ballpark gates do, so you’ll need to use a garage to enjoy other stuff in the area.
A great spot to visit Camden Yards and/or the Inner Harbor.
So now for my most important tip for Oriole Park at Camden Yards parking: book your space ahead of time. You can save yourself some money and a LOT of time, putting a pre-paid address in your maps app.
Seriously, definitely do this…I speak from some highly annoying experience of looking for an affordable parking garage in the agonizingly slow traffic of downtown Baltimore.
The Orioles offer pre-paid passes as well, and I would definitely go for lots B or C if you can (plan ahead), since for the price and proximity it’s a great deal. There’s also ample parking at the Ravens’ stadium that is affordable, especially south of the stadium, although this can be a bit of a hike from the ballpark.
The Inner Harbor area east of the warehouse is heavily traveled and parking is more expensive in that direction, and west and further north of the ballpark can be a less neighborly area, so avoid them if you can.
I highly recommend you check this view out for yourself.
There are a few lots on Eutaw Street, most prominently the Marriott or Redwood Street lots. Walking south from a Eutaw Street lot offers arguably the best incoming view of a ballpark you’ve seen. You’ll also pass by some outside vendors with cheap grub coming from this direction…more about that in the food section.
You might find street parking where you could feed the meter cheaply until 6:00 PM, and there is a Horseshoe casino about a 15-minute walk away where I believe parking is free, but this being Baltimore, it’s not something I would do especially for a night game. Better to just book something ahead of time fairly close to the ballpark. Parking isn’t super expensive here.
Whoops…forgot they play football here too.
One last thing about driving to Camden Yards by car: if something is going on at M&T Bank Stadium or the Royal Farms Arena on game day, get to your pre-paid spot VERY early, or use the soon to be discussed Light Rail. I speak from hard experience on that too.
Don’t want to drive? Baltimore’s got your back.
OK, about this Light Rail. The MTA Light Rail Line has only one route that travels north and west along the I-83 path, but it’s got a lot going for it. The Light Rail is cheap to ride, parking is free at many of the stations, and it drops you off literally at the ballpark.
There’s even a couple of stations a short walking distance away, which you can use after the game for a better chance of having a seat on the train. Try getting on at the Convention Center if you’re heading south or the Hamburg Station if you’re going north.
No, there’s no one hiding in the machine, although that would be pretty cool.
The Light Rail can get crowded on game days especially after the game, and locals refer to it as the “White Snail”, which should give you an idea how long it can take to trudge through red lights in Baltimore at street level. Still, most people consider Light Rail to Camden Yards worthwhile and once you get to wherever you parked, you won’t be dealing with traffic hassles…which can be significant here, especially north of the ballpark.
No, I’m not washing D.C.
There is also a MARC train station right there at the ballpark; the MARC’s Camden Line starts there and goes all the way to Union Station in D.C. Unfortunately this is a commuter train and is only good for weekday games, but if you can use it it’s a great deal coming from D.C.
Baltimore also offers a free-of-charge Charm City Circulator bus that goes to popular destinations…including the Penn Station and Amtrak trains…but these buses get very crowded and you probably won’t be sitting. You can also use Light Rail to get to and from Penn Station, and it’s probably worth the few bucks by comparison.
Get here early to grab a prime spot!
The Orioles have a bunch of bicycle parking; there are bike racks near the Babe Ruth statue off of Howard Street, and there are also corrals near the east side warehouse entrance of Dempsey’s. There isn’t a bicycle share program as I write this, though, and I don’t know if I’d ride through parts of town.
The O’s list Pratt Street between Eutaw and Greene Street north of the ballpark as their Uber pick up location…personally I don’t know if I would use a rideshare, since that spot is in the heart of Baltimore and again, traffic is very slow there. It would be expensive with the meter running.
Ah, there it is! Just need to look through the trees.
So to sum this up, if you’re coming from I-95, driving and parking is generally easy enough, but definitely book your parking beforehand, and check to see if other events are happening in nearby venues. The Light Rail is also a viable and inexpensive option, and I prefer it to driving in on I-83 and dealing with downtown traffic. Either way works fine; just plan ahead.
Never Drive To Camden Yards Without A Plan…
Book A Great Parking Spot NOW With My Friends at SpotHero!
Plus you get to meet Boog and all that.
Camden Yards Guide, Part 4: What To Eat at Camden Yards
Like most ballparks these days, Oriole Park at Camden Yards food offers several local favorites…which here means crabs just like Philly means cheesesteaks.
Since some things have changed since I first published this, I’ve dedicated a separate page to some of the best food choices at Camden Yards. You can read that here, but I’ll cover some other things you should know.
Named for the World Series MVP…oh wait…
Sadly, Dempsey’s is no longer a fixture on Eutaw Street. It’s been replaced by the Superbook restaurant.
Inside the atmosphere hasn’t changed much; it’s an air conditioned sit down meal spot that features a lounge with big TVs and odds boards for people who are into betting on baseball (insert Pete Rose joke here). The menu includes what Levy Restaurants calls “elevated gameday fare“, like tater tot nachos, crab dip pretzel rolls, burgers, sandwiches, and craft brews among other things.
Superbook’s prices are about what you’d expect at a ballpark restaurant; but it’s popular for the food and craft beers and TVs, and you should get here as early as you can if you want to try it. Lines get very long, especially on high attendance nights.
Sometimes, a dog or two is all you need.
The Orioles offer an all you can eat deal with club access, that includes all the dogs, popcorn, peanuts and even salads that you can handle. The seats aren’t great, but it’s a great deal considering that you can duck out of the Baltimore heat.
Another cheap deal the Orioles offer is the $4.10 stand, so named for the Baltimore area code. This stand features inexpensive items like hot dogs and popcorn and peanuts. Good for saving money with the kids, and they won’t care about the size. You can always get more.
Good thing the Ampersands don’t play baseball in Baltimore.
Around the rest of the concourses you can find a few other decent food items…chicken tenders at the Charm City Chicken Shack, Buffalo tenders at the Hot Corner, and of course, O-shaped soft pretzels.
For healthier and vegan/vegetarian choices, there’s the Birdland Market on Eutaw Street, and a Birdland Fresh stand near home plate, with turkey burgers, Impossible burgers, vegan hot dogs and Beyond sausages. And Greek salads.
Again, for the best choices of food at Oriole Park, read this post. (It’s worth the time, trust me!)
This is what baseball food should cost.
Finally (whew!) you can bring your own food into Camden Yards;unfortunately they’ve gotten more restrictive with their policy. You’re allowed a clear plastic bag no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″, so you can’t squeeze as much grub as you could in the past.
That said, this is a great ballpark to fill up a goody bag beforehand; there are vendors surrounding the ballpark selling hot dogs, sausages, peanuts, even crab cake sandwiches if you search. That kind of stuff makes baseball great.
My favorite spot for cheap eats is across the street from the left field entrance, where you can find Pickles Pub and Sliders; they set up grills and offer everything from dogs to peanuts much cheaper than in the ballpark. You can also have a couple of inexpensive Natty Bohs there before the game…all part of the Baltimore baseball experience.
And O’s employees even come out on cold days.
Camden Yards Guide, Part 5: Bringing the Kids to Oriole Park
If you’re visiting Camden Yards with kids, you have some advantages – cheap tickets, for one, with the O’s struggling at the gate even in winning times. And plenty of inexpensive parking and outside food vendors.
Here are three things parents should know when bringing the kids to Oriole Park…
I only wish it was free from ’72 through ’79 when I was a kid.
Camden Yards With Kids, Tip #1) Bring The Kids For Free! Yes, you read that right…for each upper level ticket you buy as an adult, you can order two more tickets for kids nine and under absolutely free of charge. This includes every game except Opening Day…including “Kids Opening Day”, which is sometime in April.
Not while the game is going, of course.
Camden Yards With Kids, Tip #2) Go on Sunday. On Sundays the Orioles offer cool activities for the kids, like face painting and autographs. And kids love to run the bases after the game…but get in line early if you can, because it’s a very popular promotion. There are a LOT of kids in the play area on Sundays, but it helps them burn up energy.
And if the kids are into play areas at the ballpark…and they always are…
Because noting gets a little one into Orioles baseball like a birdhouse play gym.
Camden Yards With Kids, Tip #3) Sit In The Right Field Corner. The kids play area at Camden Yards with the moon bounce, pitching and batting cages…and now a “Bird House”, a treehouse-shaped gym…keeps them occupied for a while. It’s at the south end of Eutaw Street, near Gate H. The Bird House is in the shade, while the moon bounce and other activities are in the sun, so you can imagine which is more popular.
They have food stands with smaller portions and prices for the kid in the Kids’ Corner, but you can find the kids’ portions anywhere in the ballpark now.
Watch the kids race up the steps…and then back down the ladder!
One more thing…don’t forget the little one’s “first game” certificate, which you can pick up at Guest Services on Eutaw Street. The Orioles can also tag your kid here for you so that the little one doesn’t get lost.
Family restrooms all have diaper changing tables. You can check in strollers at the Guest Services locations, and the Orioles will let nursing moms use a private room on the Club level.
The one ballpark that was built exactly right.
Camden Yards Guide, Part 6: Photo-Ops and Other Tips
As you probably know, Camden Yards started it all…the modern sports venue boom that is arguably out of control these days. Here are a few of my favorite photo-ops at the classic and beautiful downtown Baltimore ballpark:
The Warehouse, the Bromo Seltzer tower, Eutaw Street, capture it all in one shot.
Camden Yards Photo-Op #1) Eutaw Street From Above. If you go to the upper level and stand at the end in the right field corner, you can capture the amazing shot you see here, and see happy baseball fans walking in wonderment along Eutaw Street next to the warehouse.
The Gold Glove is so obvious, but I still love it.
Camden Yards Photo-Op #2) Player Statues. It’s difficult to imagine it even for thirty-somethings these days, but the Orioles were indeed once a very good team. There’s Eddie Murray, Jim Palmer, Frank Robinson, Earl Weaver and of course, Cal Ripken Jr.
You have to go outside the ballpark to see Brooks Robinson and his Gold Glove along West Paca Street, but it’s worth it.
Imagine a time when antacids were a popular enough commodity that they could put their name on a city building.
Camden Yards Photo-Op #3) The Bromo-Seltzer Tower. The view of the vintage Baltimore tower is blocked by the large Hilton these days from much of the seating, which a lot of fans complain about, but you can still capture it from the right spot.
The most durable player in baseball history.
Camden Yards Photo-Op #4) Retired Number Statues. There are large numbers in the plaza at the north Eutaw Street entrance, and if you’re an older O’s fan you can tell people whose numbers they were. Incidentally, there’s a statue of native Baltimorean Babe Ruth here as well.
All is good and right with the world.
Camden Yards Photo-Op #5) The Warehouse at Sunset. Few things I have witnessed are more striking that seeing the sun shine on the huge warehouse in the early evening. Don’t miss that.
That’s just a few, but you’ll probably break your camera out a lot here.
Finally, just a few more Camden Yards tips…but they’re pretty important ones.
Baltimore weather reaches all the extremes, and it can be brutally hot in July and August here. If you’re sitting in the upper level on a hot day, you might find yourself moving to an upper row just to be in the shade of the roof. Shoot for the third base side for a hot night game, where the shade comes in earlier.
They have the same stuff one gate over!
Giveaway nights are popular at Oriole Park, and people arrive early for their swag. If you want the free stuff, enter the ballpark at Gate G, a short walk from Gate A on Eutaw Street (the Light Rail gate)…it will be far less crowded.
If you take a walk on Eutaw Street (and you should), look down: you’ll see small baseball-shaped plaques in the cement where home run balls have landed.
The other reason to visit Baltimore.
The Inner Harbor two blocks west, with its museums, views, restaurants and shopping, is worth a visit. Don’t venture too far from the Inner Harbor or ballpark area though. There are less than ideal parts of downtown just a few blocks north and west, like the strip club littered East Baltimore Street, and it’s not a place you’ll want to be at night.
Baltimore fans are more polite than most to opposing fans, although this may be a by-product of being frequently outnumbered by them. For the most part, Orioles games are a pleasant environment for visiting fans. But if you’re coming from Boston or New York, don’t call the ballpark “Yankee Stadium South” or “Fenway South”, lest you bring bad karma on your team.
You’re most welcome!
Get all that? Seriously, I hope this Camden Yards guide has been helpful to you, and that you can use the tips to save money and have a blast at your next Orioles game. Feel free to contact me with any questions, and if you’re adding a Nationals game to your baseball trip, I’ve written a helpful guide for that place too.
Thanks for reading this complete Oriole Park at Camden Yards guide, and for supporting our sponsors!
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Best Way To Get To Camden Yards: Light Rail
Posted by Kurt Smith
When it comes to the best way to get to Camden Yards, you have enough options. Driving and parking generally isn’t too bad, at least by downtown ballpark standards, and if you book ahead of time.
But for most Orioles games, I prefer to use the MTA Light Rail, for several reasons:
(Pssst…interested in knowing everything about Oriole Park? Check out my complete guide to Camden Yards here!)
Don’t be intimidated. It’s very nice.
1) MTA Light Rail is cheap. It’s less than four bucks as of this writing round trip to use the streetcar, and parking at most stations outside of the city is free.
You won’t likely find decent parking at the ballpark that cheap…and on top of that, driving to the ballpark in that notorious Baltimore congestion can use up a lot of gas.
Gametime has your cheap Orioles tickets…with a lowest price guarantee, panoramic seat view photos, and great last minute deals…even after the game starts!
With a helpful photo of the ballpark!
2) MTA Light Rail is convenient. Park for free, hop on the streetcar, and get dropped off right there just a few steps from the gate. You can even use nearby stops to get on or off; the Convention Center and Hamburg stations are still closer than most ballpark parking.
The Light Rail runs frequently enough that you won’t have to wait long before or after the game; for big attendance games you might have a to wait a car or two. Try using the nearby stations in the opposite direction of where you’re headed…your chances of having a seat are better that way.
Sure…how slow could an Interstate highway be?
3) MTA Light Rail avoids traffic. Maybe I should have ranked this higher. If you’re driving in from I-83, traffic north of the ballpark in the city is brutal, especially in the evening when the Inner Harbor gets hopping. The streetcar may take some time trudging through the red lights, but at least you know it will get there. Sometimes when you’re sitting in that downtown Charm City gridlock, you’re not sure.
For the best way to get to Camden Yards, you can’t beat the convenience and price of the Light Rail system. But there are lots of other ways, including by boat or bicycle, and you do have some cheap parking options if you do decide to drive your car.
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Order your caps, jerseys, and more now at MLBShop.com and save!
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3 Cheap Parking Spots at Camden Yards
Posted by Kurt Smith
What you pay for Camden Yards parking at Orioles games generally depends on where you’re coming from…spots north of the ballpark tend to command a higher price, being closer to the nightlife and more ritzy hotels.
(Pssst…interested in knowing everything about Oriole Park? Check out my complete guide to Camden Yards here!)
So if you’d like to go cheap parking at Camden Yards, and go for an easier out too, here are a few spots south of the ballpark that may work better for you (after this quick word from our sponsor):
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Don’t be confused by the alphabet soup. Use F, G, or H.
Cheap Parking at Camden Yards, Spot #1) Orioles Lots F, G, and H. You can actually book spots ahead of time in Orioles Lots B and C close to the ballpark fairly cheaply, if you do it well enough ahead of time on the Orioles website…do that if you can.
But Lots F, G, and H near the Ravens’ stadium tend to be the cheapest choices, and they’re not too far away. You can even use the Light Rail one stop to the ballpark if you want to shorten the walk.
No, the valet parking isn’t any closer to the ballpark.
Cheap Parking at Camden Yards, Spot #2) The Horseshoe Casino. The Horseshoe is about a mile walk from Camden Yards, and you probably wouldn’t want to walk it at night. The neighborhood isn’t all that bad, just industrial and desolate in the dark.
But for day games, a free parking spot in an attended garage works well, and the walk isn’t too bad…Google calls it at about 18 minutes. No light rail near the casino yet, unfortunately, but maybe in the future…
Gametime has your cheap Orioles tickets…with a lowest price guarantee, panoramic seat view photos, and great last minute deals…even after the game starts!
Mexican food and Orioles baseball. Your day is complete.
Cheap Parking at Camden Yards, Spot #3) Banditos Bar. Banditos is a Federal Hill institution that recently started offering rides to patrons going to Orioles and Ravens games, and you can park on the street nearby free of charge, or in an inexpensive garage nearby.
It’s actually about as long a walk as the Horseshoe if you don’t want to get a meal beforehand, but Banditos gets pretty good reviews, they have daily food and drink specials, and you get a free ride (although you probably should tip the driver).
There’s three Camden Yards parking options that won’t break your bank at your next O’s game. Try one and let me know how it worked out.
Photo of Bandito’s shuttle courtesy of Bandito’s Bar.
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Memorial Stadium: What Really Made It Special
Posted by Kurt Smith
In his excellent book “Ballpark: Camden Yards and the Building of an American Dream”, author Peter Richmond briefly discusses the emotional passing of Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium. He sums up the attachment Orioles fans had to 33rd Street by saying “it was what happened on the field that made Memorial Stadium special”.
I’ve seen this sentiment echoed in other places, and in remembrance of a great ballpark, I respectfully disagree.
(Pssst…interested in knowing everything about Oriole Park? Check out my complete guide to Camden Yards here!)
Without being critical of Richmond, he somewhat implies that Memorial Stadium wasn’t a great place to see a ballgame. And while his statement about the events on the field was true to an extent, as any O’s fan would acknowledge, it wasn’t the whole truth. A true Memorial Stadium tribute deservedly praises what was a great place for a night of baseball.
To fully appreciate how great Memorial was, consider the period that it lived in.
Are you SURE we’re going to a baseball game?
The Orioles played on 33rd Street from 1954 through 1991. 30 miles south, the Washington Senators began playing in cavernous D.C. Stadium (now RFK) in 1962, and played there through 1971 before moving to Texas and becoming the Rangers. Meanwhile, about 90 miles north in Philadelphia, the Phillies moved into Veterans Stadium in 1971—another venue designed more for football than baseball.
The multipurpose donuts that baseball fans sneered at for years were actually fairly popular when they first burst on the scene. With Busch in St. Louis, Three Rivers in Pittsburgh, Riverfront in Cincinnati, and many others, cities and teams went the route of football stadiums that could be tweaked for baseball, with easy to maintain carpeted fields and locations near an airport.
Nowadays, ask most baseball fans what the worst venues are, and two names pop up frequently: Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay with its carpet and roof, and O.Co Coliseum in Oakland with its “Mount Davis” grandstand tactlessly tacked on for Raiders fans. During its tenure as home of the Florida Marlins, Sun Life Stadium usually ranked pretty high too.
Memorial Stadium, on the other hand, seemed to be designed more as a venue for baseball than football. Fans would tell you it wasn’t great for football, even as it earned the nickname “The World’s Largest Outdoor Insane Asylum” during the Colts’ glory years. This became even more pronounced when the Colts moved out of town, and the Memorial Stadium baseball field was no longer stained by the yard lines of a lesser sport in Septembers.
The “water fountain” dedication.
As a young baseball fan growing up in the Philadelphia area, the two-hour trip to Baltimore and an Orioles game was light years ahead of seeing a game at the concrete donut in Philly on the happiness meter. From top to bottom, everything seemed more special in Memorial.
It was smaller and humbler. It had a much more attractive brick façade on the outside, with a stunning and poignant dedication to World War II soldiers that I never neglected to read as we waited in line to get in.
It was in a residential neighborhood, which made parking difficult but was much easier to look at. The light towers stood majestically over the field, the first element of the ballpark to come into view after a seemingly endless ride on Loch Raven Boulevard.
Inside, the field was smellable grass, the seating almost everywhere featuring a pleasant background of the houses beyond center field. The hot dogs weren’t just hot dogs—they were Esskay Superdogs…what happened to them? (I’ll put the Esskay Superdog up against the Fenway Frank or Dodger Dog any day of the week, but that’s a biased O’s fan talking.)
The classic cartoon Oriole.
Sure, what happened there was baseball greatness. Part of what made being an Orioles fan special was a great team full of lovable characters. Of course Birds fans loved Brooks Robinson’s superhuman reflexes at third base, Jim Palmer’s perfectly graceful windup, and Earl Weaver’s manic fury with umpires.
The team was full of unsung heroes too in my youth—like steady outfielder Al Bumbry, the classic platoon of Gary Roenicke and John Lowenstein, goaltender and team leader Rick Dempsey, and solid relief pitchers like Tippy Martinez and Don “Fullpack” Stanhouse (so nicknamed for the amount of cigarettes Weaver would smoke when he was on the mound).
There was nothing like Orioles Magic and teams that won so frequently with late-inning heroics. Being an Orioles fan was special, something you felt no other team’s fans had, not even Yankees fans.
But all of that was a huge bonus. Memorial Stadium was distinguished as a venue too, and just as much so when the Orioles faltered in the 1980s. It sat on 33rd Street, not being flashy, not going along with all of the modern, economically friendly and equally sterile venues of the 70s and 80s that treated baseball as a secondary sport. Had it lasted as long as Tiger Stadium or Comiskey Park, it may have been just as revered.
It was grass. It was open. It was bricks. It was all of the things teams eventually realized that they had forgotten in their concrete and plastic new homes. For a ballgame, few places were better than Memorial Stadium in its day. Of all of the stadiums back then, it was one of the few that actually didn’t need replacing, at least on baseball-friendliness grounds.
When Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened in 1992, it was a spectacular triumph and instantly won over baseball fans everywhere. It is still today one of baseball’s best venues.
But it had to be. Orioles fans my age remember the shoes it had to fill.
Rick Dempsey’s poem dedicated to the pile of bricks on 33rd Street.
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Earl Weaver Tribute: He Made Me An Orioles Fan
Posted by Kurt Smith
Still the best Orioles manager ever.
On June 23, 1979, at the age of 11, I experienced what is still today my most memorable night at a ballpark.
It was a time when teams still held two games in a day for the price of one on occasion, and a time when the Orioles drew just over a million fans in good seasons—about 15,000 a game. That day, or more correctly that afternoon and night, the Orioles were taking on the Tigers in a twi-nighter.
My father had a connection at Memorial Stadium, who often would have great seats for us, but this night we weren’t so lucky, and we ended up in the upper level seats in left field. But it turned out to be a great spot to watch the flight of Eddie Murray’s walk-off home run ball in the first game, to the earthshaking delight of the crowd of 45,814 – a record for a Baltimore night doubleheader at the time. I still remember that announcement on the scoreboard, and enough beer splashing on me after Murray’s swing that I thought it started raining.
The Orioles had been down 6-2 in that first game and won 8-6. In the second game, the O’s would again overcome a 5-3 deficit with two runs in the seventh and one in the eighth to win 6-5. You can imagine the impression two dramatic come-from-behind wins made on an 11-year-old. My first game at the Vet in Philly was a great one, but it didn’t top this.
The 1979 Orioles especially were known for dramatic comeback wins, with a disproportionately large number of their 102 wins coming in the 8th inning or later. “Orioles Magic”, it was called, and it was attributed to both a dedicated fan base and the mood lift caused by “Thank God I’m A Country Boy” being played during the 7th-inning stretch at Memorial Stadium. With all due respect to O’s fans and John Denver, the Orioles late-inning heroics were probably more attributable to the amazing tactician in the dugout.
Earl Weaver certainly had the best overall talent in baseball from 1969-1971, when the Orioles went to three straight World Series with Brooks and Frank Robinson, Boog Powell, Paul Blair and the pitching tandem of Jim Palmer, Dave McNally and Mike Cuellar. The team won over 100 games in each of those seasons, winning 217 in 1969 and 1970.
But name some of the players in the later 1970s and early 1980s teams that were always in the thick of a pennant race in the toughest division in baseball. There was Jim Palmer and Eddie Murray, and…who? Longtime O’s fans remember the likes of Dempsey, MacGregor, Flanagan, Bumbry and Dauer, and possibly the best outfield platoon in history of Lowenstein and Roenicke, but if you weren’t an O’s fan, you likely wouldn’t know all their first names.
The Orioles challenged the Yankees and Red Sox, and the Tigers and Brewers, for the AL East crown every year with players that were never among the league leaders in any stat. But Weaver knew exactly when and how to use them. He kept records on everything, batting averages against certain pitchers, pitching success against certain batters. AL umpire Ron Luciano, with whom Earl had classic feuds, once said that “in a late inning situation, Earl would send up the batboy to hit. Everyone in the ballpark knew it was a ridiculous move. And the batboy would get a hit.”
I have a friend who understood me enough to get me tickets for a game at Camden Yards for my birthday in 1996. In the second row. As what I now consider great fortune would have it, that was the day the Orioles were celebrating Earl Weaver’s induction into the Hall of Fame. Part of the ceremony was Earl being driven around the field in a convertible sitting on the back of the car.
So Earl Weaver passed right by me, just a few feet away. I cheered extra enthusiastically as he went by, and he smiled and shook his fist a little for me.
What I didn’t know at the time was that the car was driven by Marty Springstead, another umpire with whom Earl frequently feuded. Presumably his appearance would suggest that their spats were behind them, but Springstead later said he was tempted to slam on the brakes and send Weaver flying.
No, umpires did not like Weaver. It was one of the funnier themes that ran through Luciano’s hilarious books. Luciano not only shared his own classic stories about Weaver, like ejecting Weaver in both ends of a doubleheader in the minors, but several other umpires’ stories as well.
In his book “Strike Two”, Luciano wrote about how managers get ejected and said that Weaver “can be used as an example of everything a manager should not do, except manage. For someone who spent much of his career in the clubhouse, he won a lot of ballgames.”
With baseball’s new replay system, the current generation of fans may never appreciate what an entertaining part of the game arguing with umpires could be. Weaver was one of the best.
And he had a reason for his fury with umpires. He was fully aware that his own ejection would not hurt the team. He could manage from the runway. But if Eddie Murray or Frank Robinson got ejected over a bad call, it would hurt the team. Luciano even admitted that Earl had his own way of making an umpire forget his problems with an Oriole player.
His players—like Hall of Famer Jim Palmer, who wrote the hilarious book “Together We Were Eleven Foot Nine” about his often stormy relationship with Weaver—were also well aware of Weaver’s almost psychotic dedication to winning. Once he pulled Rick Dempsey from a game after a fundamental mistake, and then hounded him all the way into the shower screaming at him, until Dempsey turned on the water—and then turned on the cold water until a soaked Earl finally left.
And there was Don Stanhouse, a pitcher O’s fans my age remember well, whose style was unheard of even to this day: he would simply walk guys until he got to someone he could get out. It worked. And you can imagine how Earl would handle it. One time he walked the bases loaded with the Orioles ahead in the ninth; Earl screamed at pitching coach Ray Miller to “get out there and tell him to throw strikes!” Miller went out to the mound to a grinning Stanhouse and told him his fly was open. Stanhouse told him to tell Earl not to worry. On the next pitch the batter grounded into a double play to end the game.
Stanhouse’s nickname was “Fullpack”, as in the number of cigarettes Earl would smoke when he was on the mound.
Mike Flanagan once got into a jam with the bases loaded. Earl came out to the mound and told him: “Don’t let them hit it on the ground or in the air.” Great advice. The next batter hit a line drive double play to end the inning. Flanagan returned to the dugout, greeted by Weaver: “Am I a f***in’ genius, or what?”
Yes, in the dugout, he was.
For all of the legendary bouts with umpires and the fiery berating of players, Earl Weaver was unquestionably one of the best managers in the history of the game. I remember reading baseball publications when he managed, and in his era it was rarely disputed that he was the best in the game…an era of Billy Martin, Sparky Anderson, Whitey Herzog and Tommy Lasorda.
My favorite story of Weaver’s skill came from Elrod Hendricks. It’s in the book “From 33rd Street to Camden Yards”, an excellent collection of quotes from key figures in Orioles history. It was Weaver vs. Tony LaRussa, when LaRussa was a new manager.
“When I’d just started coaching and Tony LaRussa was the hot new thing managing, he’d come in and make all sorts of moves, and Earl would just sit back with his arms crossed. And LaRussa is looking over at Earl like he’s getting him, you know. And then it’s the eighth inning, and LaRussa is out of bullets, and here comes Earl with Jim Dwyer and Terry Crowley and that bullpen. Earl just hammers him. And you go ‘Boy, that’s good. That’s as good as it gets, right there.’”
I share this Earl Weaver tribute because the Orioles were part of my life, and they are so because Orioles games at Memorial Stadium are my fondest memory of childhood. And they were fond memories because the Orioles won, often in an unforgettably thrilling way. And that, very often, was because of Earl Weaver.
So although the closest I ever got to meeting him was cheering him while he rode by me in a car, I still feel today the impact Earl Weaver had, on millions, and on me as an Orioles fan who reaped in excitement the reward of his excellence.
You will be missed, Earl, but you will be fondly remembered.
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Kurt Smith, Your Certified MLB Ballpark Advisor
