The Orioles on Thursday announced a season-long schedule of new theme nights for the 2018 season featuring a variety of unique celebrations, promotions, and giveaway items designed to further engage with Birdland's diverse fanbase. Several new events will debut this season including Yoga at The Yard, LGBT Pride Night, Star WarsTM Night, Bark at Oriole Park, and The Sandlot Movie Night. The Orioles will also host popular returning events including Game of Thrones® Night, Senior Day, Father's Day Catch on the Field, and two Birdland Socials. More theme nights will be added in the coming weeks.
As part of a continued effort to make baseball engaging for all, the Orioles will further expand outreach to fans through this series of unique theme nights. Appealing to a variety of off-the-field interests from popular culture and pets to diversity and wellness, the Orioles are committed to serving as the region's premiere summer destination for families and fans of all ages.
"We are energized by this season's robust and diverse slate of promotions, special events, and theme nights - with even more announcements yet to be made - designed to attract fans throughout the summer to celebrate Baltimore and Orioles Baseball at the Yard," said GREG BADER, Orioles Vice President of Communications & Marketing. "Drawing on some industry trends proven successful elsewhere, and creating new ideas of our own, we are excited to welcome our many visitors from the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond to downtown Baltimore, the Inner Harbor, and Camden Yards, as we showcase all that our city has to offer."
"Nearly 70 million fans have made the pilgrimage to Oriole Park and downtown Baltimore since our gates first opened in 1992, making the Inner Harbor and downtown area a sports destination epicenter," added Orioles Executive Vice President, JOHN ANGELOS. "Our entire organization is working to continuously add vibrant and diverse programming around Orioles games in order to continue to attract both locals and visitors with a variety of interests, and to reinforce the club's unprecedented sports tourism impact. We are excited about the new concepts we have unveiled today and see them as just the first of many such additions to come as we attract even more visitors and regional residents to Charm City."
Below is a partial schedule of 2018 theme nights, which require the purchase of a limited special ticket package in order to participate in the promotion. Additional details will be made available for each event at a later date.
Star Wars Night - The first-ever Star Wars Night at Oriole Park will be held on May 11, highlighted by a ticket package containing a limited-edition O'Day-Wan Kenobi Bobblehead, featuring Orioles reliever DARREN O'DAY. A pregame party which includes a meet and greet with a variety of Star Wars characters is sold out. Following the game, all fans can enjoy a special fireworks display set to Star Wars music - the first of eight "Friday Fireworks at America's Ballpark" in 2018. Ticket packages featuring the bobblehead went on sale in March, and a limited number are still available.
The Sandlot Movie Night - Following the game on June 2, all fans will have an opportunity to watch the popular movie The Sandlot on the scoreboard at Oriole Park in celebration of the movie's 25th anniversary. A limited number of ticket packages that include an Orioles/The Sandlot t-shirt along with the opportunity to watch the movie from the Oriole Park field will be available for purchase. The Orioles will be hosting a group of children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore, and fans will have an opportunity to donate to the nonprofit when purchasing tickets. Ticket packages went on sale this morning.
Yoga at The Yard - Fans are invited to experience a special yoga session on the Oriole Park field following the June 16 game. Each ticket package purchase will include a ticket to the game, along with a postgame yoga session conducted by Baltimore's own Holistic Life Foundation, as well as an exclusive Orioles yoga mat. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Holistic Life Foundation, a Baltimore-based nonprofit committed to nurturing the wellness of children and adults in underserved communities. Earlier that morning, the Orioles will host an invitation-only community youth yoga and wellness clinic on the field. Ticket packages went on sale this morning.
Father's Day Catch on the Field - On June 17, fans can enjoy a Father's Day Catch on the Field experience presented by Pennington Grass Seed. Ticket packages will include a pregame session of catch on the field at Oriole Park and two tickets to the game, with the opportunity to add additional tickets and field passes. A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit the Prostate Cancer Discovery Fund of the Brady Urological Institute of Johns Hopkins Medicine. Prior to the game, the first 20,000 fans 18 and over will receive an Orioles necktie. Ticket packages went on sale this morning.
LGBT Pride Night - The Orioles invite fans to celebrate LGBT Pride Month on June 27 with an LGBT Pride Night ticket package, which will include a ticket to the game and an O's pride cap. A portion of the ticket proceeds will benefit Moveable Feast, a Baltimore-based nonprofit that provides nutritious foods and other services in order to preserve quality of life for people with HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening conditions. Ticket packages, including a limited number of VIP packages with access to a pregame party on the Center Field Roof Deck, went on sale this morning.
Birdland Socials - Again this season, the Orioles will host two Birdland Socials, with the first event coming on June 26, and the second taking place on July 24, presented by GBMC. Each social media night event will include an exclusive pregame party on the Roof Deck with 250 of the Orioles' most engaged social media followers. Additional details will be announced at a later date.
Senior Ticket Package - On June 28, the Orioles will offer a special ticket package for fans age 60 and over, which will include a ticket to the game in the shade, along with an Orioles umbrella. Additional details will be announced at a later date.
Game of Thrones Night - Fans of the popular HBO series Game of Thrones will enjoy a pregame party in the bullpen picnic area, an opportunity to take a photo on the Iron Throne, and an exclusive KEVIN GAUSMAN Game of Thrones bobblehead on August 14 with the purchase of a ticket package. Additional details will be announced at a later date.
Bark at Oriole Park - Four-legged Orioles fans will be invited to catch the game on September 12, along with their owners, when the club hosts Oriole Park's first-ever Bark at Oriole Park event. A special ticket package will include tickets for dogs and dog owners, as well as a unique pet-themed giveaway item. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Shelter (BARCS). Additional details will be announced at a later date.
The Orioles will once again host a variety of special events during the 2018 season for all fans in attendance, including Earth Day on April 22, Halfway to Christmas on June 25, Celebrate Maryland Day on July 14, and the Orioles Hall of Fame Induction on August 11. From May through August, all fans can also enjoy "Friday Fireworks at America's Ballpark" after every Friday night game.
For additional details, visit www.orioles.com/themenights.