Almost these exact words were told to Kevin Costner playing farmer Ray Kinsella in Field of Dreams (the exact quote is, “If you build it, he will come”). The combination of Andy MacPhail and Dan Duquette has built it. Now the fans are starting to come and for the Orioles this season, it seems as though they’ve been playing on a field of dreams.
Lost in the fact that the Oriole’s are on a season-high tying five game winning streak with their 12-6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night, is the fact that Baltimore is slowly but surely getting behind this Oriole team. On a Thursday night in June during interleague play 29,995 people bought tickets, went to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and screamed for their O’s.
Right-Center field seats, empty most games in recent memory, were filled with fans almost all the way to Eutaw St. A wave that is started in bottom of the sixth inning, had a considerable presence not only just in the lower deck, but in the upper deck as well. The noise in the in the park was deafening at times and one could feel a true electricity in the air. The normal malaise of Orioles fans seemed like a distant memory.
Baltimore supports winners. There is a reason that M&T Bank Stadium, right next door to Camden Yards, is filled to the brim on Sundays in the Fall. If the Orioles continue to play competitive baseball, the ballpark will continue to fill and the energy of the stadium will continue to rise. Should the Orioles stay in contention through September, this town will be in an all out frenzy. As someone to young to remember the last time Camden Yards was in a fever pitch for something other then an opening day, I cannot wait another season for this to happen. This is the year the Orioles break through and make legitimate playoff run.
freddy from boca
Baltimore supports winners.
since the early 80’s the lowest season attendance has been 1.7 milllion. for years baltimore supported many losing teams. go check the o’s attendance record. you’re implying balto. only supports a winner. false.
· 11/12/2019
Max
I don’t mean to imply that Baltimore only supports winners, but in similar games last year, attendance would have been much closer to 15,000 people than 30,000. 1.7 million average is 21,000 fans announced per night. We all know that the announced attendance isn’t exactly the amount of people who arrive at games. In previous years, there would be announced attendances of 17,000 when it was obvious there were no more then 10-12000 people there. However, this is less about numbers and more about the energy. It seems that people no longer go to games as just something to do, more are genuinely supporting and cheering with all their heart, something that has been missing from Camden Yards.
· 11/12/2019