Orioles announce 2023 Home Opener celebrations & new features at Oriole Park
ORIOLES ANNOUNCE 2023 HOME OPENER CELEBRATIONS & NEW FEATURES AT ORIOLE PARK
The Orioles today have announced plans to welcome fans back to Oriole Park for the 2023 season during the club’s Home Opener on Friday, April 7, at 3:05 p.m. ET against the New York Yankees. The originally scheduled Home Opener was slated for today, Thursday, April 6, but was postponed due to the forecast of severe inclement weather.
*Home Opener Celebrations
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Festivities will begin at 2:30 p.m. with a special pre-game ceremony emceed by Orioles broadcaster KEVIN BROWN. The Home Opener will feature:
- National Anthem: PARIJITA BASTOLA will perform her rendition of the national anthem prior to the game. A Severna Park, Md. native and team John Legend contestant on season 22 of NBC’s “The Voice,” Bastola also performed at Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s inauguration earlier this year. A 30’ x 42’ flag from Fort McHenry will be lowered from the batter’s eye during the performance. The flag is a replica of the one that flew over Fort McHenry when Francis Scott Key wrote the national anthem.
- Honor Guard: Colors will be presented by members of THE BALTIMORE CITY POLICE HONOR GUARD and BALTIMORE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT HONOR GUARD.
- Flag Kids: Children from the YMCA of Central Maryland will line the orange carpet, holding Orioles flags during the pregame ceremony.
- Ceremonial First Pitch: Maryland’s 63rd Governor, WES MOORE, and his children, MIA and JAMES, will throw out ceremonial first pitches prior to the game. Moore was sworn in as Maryland’s Governor on January 18, 2023. The historic event made Moore Maryland’s first Black governor, and the third African American elected Governor in the history of the United States.
Mo Gaba’s Fan of the Year: The Orioles will recognize MERRILL HEIM, also known as “Fired Up Guy,” as Mo Gaba’s Fan of the Year, representing all O’s fans from the 2022 season. A Maryland native, Heim began attending Orioles games with his parents at Memorial Stadium. He, his wife, and their three daughters have since become regulars at Oriole Park. Heim can often be heard yelling “I’m Fired Up. You Fired Up?” from his seats along the first base line. Last year, Heim helped start the home run chain celebration after leaving his home run chain in the care of LOGAN SANDERS, the son of Orioles First Base Coach ANTHONY SANDERS, who shared it with the team. The home run chain celebration became one of the most well-known and popular celebrations throughout Major League Baseball during the 2022 season.
Ceremonial “Play Ball”: MIA and JAMES MOORE, the children of Maryland Governor WES MOORE, will yell the ceremonial “Play Ball” prior to the game.
Birdland Community Hero: Again this year, the Orioles will honor and recognize those in our community who have distinguished themselves by selflessly volunteering in fields that care for, serve, teach, protect, and improve the lives of others through the Birdland Community Heroes program. On Thursday, the Orioles will recognize GEOFF MEEHLE, a health and physical education coordinator for Baltimore City Public Schools and the volunteer President of the Society for Health and Physical Educators Maryland. SHAPE Maryland enhances and promotes the health and wellness of all Maryland citizens by providing advocacy, resources, and professional learning opportunities for current and future health and physical education educators. Meehle got involved with SHAPE Maryland to advocate for children and their needs when it comes to their health, physical education, and overall well-being. He believes in the importance of providing health and physical education teachers with resources and opportunities for professional learning and collaboration. As part of his recognition the Orioles Charitable Foundation will make a $5,000 donation to SHAPE Maryland.
- Budweiser Clydesdales: The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales will parade from Lee Street to Eutaw Street beginning at 11:30 a.m. They will return to Lee Street at approximately 2:00 p.m.
- Giveaway: All fans in attendance will receive an Orioles 2023 schedule magnet.
- Opening Day Auction: Fans will have the opportunity to bid on game-used memorabilia from the Orioles Home Opener to benefit the Orioles Charitable Foundation and its efforts to support worthy youth and community groups throughout Birdland. The auction will run on Orioles.com/Auction from Monday, April 10, at 5:00 p.m. through Sunday, April 16, at 10:00 p.m.
New Features at OPACY
New Retail Experience: As part of a new long-term partnership, the Orioles and Fanatics worked this offseason to make significant investments to elevate the team’s retail footprint and enhance the fan experience, including renovating the Orioles Team Store location in the ground floor of the Warehouse on Eutaw Street. The store now features a new customer journey, including additional point-of-sales options and a Nike concept shop, the ability to customize jerseys on-site, and a Mitchell & Ness concept shop featuring authentic vintage jerseys and apparel.
Brick & Whistle Food Co.: After announcing Levy as the official hospitality partner earlier this year, the Orioles and Levy created “Brick & Whistle Food Co.,” to provide fans with a one-of-a-kind, exclusive hospitality experience that is synonymous with the historic Baltimore Orioles brand. Brick & Whistle Food Co. B&W will provide new signature offerings highlighting the iconic tastes of Baltimore and the Chesapeake Bay, as well as upgraded technology to allow faster and frictionless check-out options.
New food offerings include:
The 410 Menu – available at select locations throughout the ballpark, hot dogs, popcorn, soft pretzels, cracker jacks, peanuts, and select beverages are only $4.10.
Boog’s BBQ – the famed rolling smoke will make its return to Eutaw Street in 2023 with Boog’s BBQ house-smoked meats on game days.
“For The Birds” – New signature items include the Buffalo Bird Dog, B’More Chicken Box, Yard Dog, The Havana, Hot Honey Pepperoni Pizza, O’s Hand-Rolled Pretzel, and the Crab Pretzel Boule.
Upgraded technology includes:
A frictionless dining experience using Zippin technology at the B&O Market located along Eutaw Street, self-service kiosks by Mashgin technology at locations throughout the main concourse, powered by payment technologies using Shift4’s end-to-end commerce ecosystem.
SuperBook Bar & Restaurant Fans will be able to experience the first-ever sports lounge at Oriole Park as part of the long-term partnership between the Orioles and SuperBook Sports. The SuperBook Bar & Restaurant will provide fans with first-rate food and beverages, as well as a state-of-the-art viewing experience featuring newly installed televisions, odds boards, and sports tickers. The restaurant will officially open its doors to fans during the Orioles Home Opener on Friday, April 7, and will continue to evolve throughout the season. SuperBook Bar & Restaurant will open to fans when gates open for each game.
- Pepsi All-Inclusive Picnic Perch: This offseason, the Orioles upgraded the Pepsi All-Inclusive Picnic Perch to give fans an even better gameday experience. Located in left field, the picnic perch now features televisions and a fresh redesign, including updated graphics and paint. Fans can experience every Orioles home game from the redesigned Pepsi All-Inclusive Picnic Perch. For tickets starting as low as $45, fans receive exclusive access to the Club Level, a Left Field Club seat in sections 282-288, and access to an unlimited food menu. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Orioles.com/PicnicPerch.
Fan Reminders
Bag Policy: Fans can bring in one bag using the following guidelines:
Must be a clear plastic bag no larger than 12” x 6” x 12.”
Only one bag is allowed per guest.
Fanny packs and clutch purses no larger than 5” x 7” will also be allowed.
Food & Beverage Policy: Fans are allowed to bring food and non-alcoholic beverages into Oriole Park this year following the provided guidelines:
All food and beverage must be contained in an approved clear plastic bag.
One approved bag is allowed per guest.
Food items should resemble individual portions and not bulk items.
Fans may bring in a factory-sealed, plastic, non-alcoholic beverage, no larger than 20 oz.
Frozen water bottles are prohibited for safety purposes.
New Field: This offseason, the Orioles replaced the sod and replenished five inches of dirt underneath the Oriole Park field. The renovation included:
105,000 square feet of new Kentucky Bluegrass turfgrass.
1,500 tons of 100 percent United States Golf Association certified sand.
Early Bird Saturdays: Gates at Oriole Park at Camden Yards will open to fans beginning two hours prior to first pitch for every Saturday home game throughout the season. As part of Early Bird Saturdays, fans can enjoy happy hour specials, Orioles giveaways, and other unique activities. For more information, visit Orioles.com/EarlyBirdSaturday.
- Cashless Policy: Oriole Park at Camden Yards will remain a completely cashless ballpark in 2023. In conjunction with this policy, there will be one “Reverse ATM” machine that can exchange cash to card for use at concession and merchandise stands. The machine is located on the Lower-Level Concourse adjacent to First Aid near Gate D.
- Digital Ticketing: Fans will be required to show tickets on their mobile device upon entry by utilizing the ballpark’s complimentary Wi-Fi network. Fans are encouraged to use the official MLB Ballpark app to buy and show tickets upon entry. For more information, Orioles.com/BallparkApp.
For more information on the new updates and accommodations at Oriole Park, visit Orioles.com/AtoZ.
The gates to Oriole Park at Camden Yards will open three hours before first pitch, at 12:00 p.m. Fans attending Opening Day are encouraged to be in their seats, and fans at home are encouraged to tune to MASN, by 2:20 p.m. to enjoy the Opening Day pregame festivities. Due to the rescheduling of the Orioles Home Opener, originally slated for today, a limited number of tickets for Friday’s game may become available. Fans are encouraged to visit Orioles.com/OpeningDay to purchase.