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Nestled in the street of downtown Baltimore near the Inner Harbor, Camden Yards is one of
baseball's crown-jewels. Since its opening in 1992 Camden Yards has
become one of the most influential ballparks built since Shibe Park
and Forbes Field pioneered the modern fireproof baseball stadium in
1909, ushering in a new age of ballparks.
With an aging
Memorial Stadium, the Orioles and city officials developed a plan
to build a new ballpark in
downtown Baltimore on land that once was
occupied by Babe Ruth’s father’s saloon. The owner of the Orioles at
the time, Eli Jacobs, and the head architect, Joseph Spear
developed the
design for the ballpark. Camden Yards revolutionalized the design
and quality of future baseball stadiums as almost all
ballparks since 1992 have been designed in a similar way. It was built similar
to ballparks built in the early 1900s. Instead of concrete, steel
columns, beams and trusses were used to support the ballpark. The facade
consists of brick with arches and the low raked upper deck keeps
the ballpark from looming over other buildings. Bleacher seats, a
picnic area behind part of the centerfield fence and ivy on
the hitters backdrop give the ballpark a nostalgic atmosphere.
Behind the right field wall, the 1898 B&O Warehouse stands eight
stories high and spans several blocks.
The Baltimore Orioles played their inaugural
first game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 6, 1992. The ballpark is nestled
on the edge of downtown Baltimore. Many fans enter Camden Yards
through the Eutaw Street entrance. Once a street that led into
downtown Baltimore, Eutaw Street is a bustling area between the
seating area and the B&O Warehouse. Fans can mingle, enjoy ribs and
barbeque, see plaques of legendary Oriole Hall of Famers and enjoy
the sights and sounds of the ballpark. From Eutaw Street fans see a
plethora of
green seats in the main grandstand. Located below street level is the playing field
that allows fans to walk down to seats in the lower deck. Large open air concourses allow people to
easily move around Camden Yards. Escalators, ramps and elevators
allow easy access to the upper deck.
 The ballpark consists
of a three tier grandstand that stretches from behind home plate,
down the third base line around the left field foul pole, and
down the first base line. All 48,190 seats are green, replicating
ones in bygone ballparks. Additional seating is located under the main
video/scoreboard in right-center field. Two orange seats mark the
landing spot of homeruns by two Hall of Fame Orioles, Cal Ripken Jr.
and Eddie Murray. One in right- centerfield, marks the location of
Murray's 500th homerun, and the other in left-field marks the spot
of Ripken's 278th homerun, breaking Ernie Banks record for homeruns
by a shortstop. Part of Memorial Stadium is still at the Orioles
ballpark today, as both foul poles at Camden Yards are the same ones
used at the O's old ballpark for over three decades. Fans can stand and watch
the game from behind the out of town scoreboard in
right field or in an area over looking the bullpens in left
centerfield. A beautiful grassy picnic and park area filled with
colorful flower gardens and shady trees is located beyond
centerfield. Recent improvement to Camden
Yards
include a new 24' x 74' LED videoboard replacing the original JumboTron
in 2008 and the replacement of all seats before the 2010 and 2011
seasons. The seating capacity has decreased from just over 48,000 to
45,971 as the original seats in the club and upper decks were
replaced with larger ones. Before the 2012 season a newly
configured picnic area in center field honoring the six Orioles
members of the Baseball Hall of Fame with statues was added. A new bar and
seating area was constructed atop of the batters eye,
concessions were upgraded in the upper deck and the right field
wall was lowered from 25 feet to 21 feet. Almost every new park since 1992 has
been built in the Camden Yards lineage of baseball-only intimacy:
Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Coors Field in Denver and PNC Park in
Pittsburgh. With its great setting in downtown Baltimore and
excellent views of the city, Camden Yards remains one of the best
ballparks in baseball, two decades after its opening.
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