There’s nothing like baseball season, and that’s especially true for the Baltimore Orioles entering 2024.
The Orioles are the defending AL East champs and are fresh off their first 100-win campaign since 1969, a feat they’ve only accomplished six times in the storied franchise’s history. Coming into the year, Baltimore is one of the favorites to win the division, especially after they traded for Brewers ace Corbin Burnes during the offseason. The 29-year-old righty won the NL Cy Young Award in 2021 and will anchor Baltimore’s starting rotation.
After a long stretch as one of the division’s basement dwellers, the Birds are a legit contender to play deep into October this year. Aside from Burnes, the Orioles have some of the league’s best young talent, including top prospect Jackson Holliday and infielder Gunnar Henderson.
If you’re looking to make it to a game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards this year, this game-day guide will make sure you get the most out of your experience at one of baseball’s most iconic ballparks.
Getting to Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards sits in the heart of downtown Baltimore, with numerous restaurants, hotels and attractions nearby to enjoy before and after the game.
If you’re flying in, BWI Airport is the closest option, around 20 minutes from the ballpark in no traffic. Options from BWI to Camden Yards include:
- Light Rail to Camden Station
- Renting a car
- Rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft
Public transportation options such as Light Rail and MARC commuter rail service will take you to Camden Station from throughout the city. Numerous bus lines service the area, and the Charles Center Metro subway station is also within walking distance.
Or, perhaps, you are driving to the game. General parking can be purchased in lots B/C, F, G and H, with over 30,000 spaces within one mile of the ballpark. Depending on the lot, day and opponent, parking usually costs between $15 and $30.
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Game day information and stadium policies
While tailgating is a popular football tradition, baseball stadiums usually don’t offer that. Maybe it’s having 10 times as many home games.
Either way, pregame tailgates are prohibited at all lots around Camden Yards. If you want to get a bite or drink before the game, plenty of walkable places exist, including The Yard, Pickles Pub and BricknFire Pizza Company.
Here is some information to know before getting to a Baltimore Orioles game:
- Parking lots open two hours before first pitch.
- Gates open one hour before first pitch.
- Bags larger than 5 inches by 7 inches are prohibited. One clear plastic bag no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches may be brought in with sealed food and non-alcoholic beverages.
- Oriole Park is a cashless facility. Guests in attendance can use credit cards throughout the stadium. Concessions stands also accept Apple Pay and Google Pay.
- Oriole Park is a 100% smoke-free facility, including vaping and other electronic devices.
When inside the stadium, make sure to visit Eutaw Street. You’ll know you’re there as you walk next to Camden Yards’ famous brick-walled warehouse, where you can duck into the team store for merch, grab a bite at Boog’s BBQ or Dempsey’s Brew Pub & Restaurant and spot bronze baseball markers that highlight home runs that have landed on the street.
Acquiring tickets
Single-game tickets should be purchased online through the Orioles website or through reputable third-party exchanges like StubHub and Vivid Seats.
Depending on the game, last-minute tickets may be discounted or marked up accordingly. For example, a Wednesday afternoon game against the Mariners will be cheaper to watch than a Saturday night game against the Yankees.
Fans can use the MLB Ballpark app to enter the stadium with digital tickets. It also provides interactive ballpark maps and other team-specific information.
Though Camden Yards is more than 30 years old, it’s known for sparking the wave of “retro” ballparks constructed through the 1990s and 2000s. The “retro” name is slightly misleading, as the ballpark offers excellent sightlines from all seats.
Special ticket options also include:
- Miller Lite Flite Deck: For small groups (up to 10). Seats are down the right field line along the Club Level, providing a great view of the game for your entire party.
- Pepsi All-Inclusive Picnic Perch: Tickets include unlimited hot dogs, salad, nachos, soda and other menu items, in addition to Club Level access.
- Roof Deck: Open to all attendees, the Roof Deck looks down on the playing field and Eutaw Street. Two rows of reserved seats include bar seating, high-top tables and a full-service bar.
More than 20 of the Orioles’ 81 home games include various promotions. Visit the team’s website for a complete list.
Superbook Sportsbook expected to open this year
Maryland sports betting, both in-person and online, is open to Marylanders and visitors. After announcing a partnership with SuperBook Sports in August 2022, the club opened a physical sports bar and restaurant inside the ballpark in April 2023. This will be the second full season with a retail sportsbook inside the ballpark.
With mobile sports betting now live in Maryland, SuperBook will launch an online sportsbook, allowing game attendees to bet from their seats or place a physical wager onsite.
The Orioles recently rejected a five-year lease extension, saying they hoped to land a longer-term lease of 10 to 15 years that includes renovations and upgrades to keep the ballpark viable for the future.
The SuperBook Sportsbook is also a long-term part of those plans.
Places to stay, things to do
Given its downtown location, Camden Yards has dozens of hotels within walking distance. Upscale hotels like the Ulysses and Four Seasons provide great high-budget options, while Hotel Indigo and Hyatt Regency Baltimore Inner Harbor are excellent mid-range choices.
If you want to book a budget hotel, look into the Holiday Inn Express Baltimore at the Stadiums.
Baltimore also has loads of attractions like the National Aquarium, Walters Art Museum and American Visionary Art Museum. History buffs must visit Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine or the B&O Railroad Museum.
Beyond that, be sure to take a stroll along the Inner Harbor, where you can shop, dine or take a tour of various historic ships.
No Maryland visit is complete without some crab
Last but not least, Maryland’s most famous foods center around crabs, most notably crab cakes.
Some of the best places in the city to check out include Faidley’s Seafood, Jimmy’s Famous Seafood and Costas Inn.
Or, kill two birds with one stone and get some crab at the ballgame. Numerous concessions inside Camden Yards serve crab dishes, including Jimmy’s. A few highlights are:
- Jimmy’s Seafood’s crab cake egg rolls, crab cake sandwich and crabby fries
- B&O Market’s crab dip pretzel
- Wild Pitch Sausage’s lump crab and crab dip Cheaseapeak sausage
- Slicehouse Pizza’s crab pretzel
- Stuggy’s crab mac n cheese dog
