Where to sit at Camden Yards?
Apr 18th, 2003, 07:59 AM
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Where to sit at Camden Yards?
Since this family of Red Sox fans has no chance of seeing a game at Fenway, we're thinking of driving to Baltimore for a weekend to see the Orioles/Sox.
Thinking about purchasing terrace box seats sec 55-65 3rd baseline for my family of 4 (two girls 7 & 10). Tickets are $23 each. Want to be reasonably close to field, away from party hardy types and keep the cost under $100.
Is this my best bet? Do we have any chance of buying cheap seats and moving into better seats later in the game?
Also any recommendations for a hotel with an indoor pool?
Thanks
Thinking about purchasing terrace box seats sec 55-65 3rd baseline for my family of 4 (two girls 7 & 10). Tickets are $23 each. Want to be reasonably close to field, away from party hardy types and keep the cost under $100.
Is this my best bet? Do we have any chance of buying cheap seats and moving into better seats later in the game?
Also any recommendations for a hotel with an indoor pool?
Thanks
Apr 18th, 2003, 08:23 AM
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OK, i'm about to show my baseball naivete... but do the Orioles have a decent team this year? Would the Red Sox draw a larger crowd than normal?
If the above 2 questions are answered "no", call Fenway and ask if they still have a "Scalp Free Zone". Reselling of tickets, even at face value, is illegal (AND enfored) at Fenway, EXCEPT in their "Scalp Free Zone". It's a place where sellers go to sell and buyers go to buy... and NOTHING over face value is allowed.
I did this about 3 years ago and here's a description of my experience:
We were told at the Box Office that only upper tier available. My friend had been told about the Scalp Free area ahead of time and we figured we'd go try that first. We walk around the stadium to the area walk into a caged in area, with police at the doorway. My friend walks right past the police but i stop to ask, "Anything we should know before going in there"?
The police officer replies, "Nothing over face... and it's a buyer's market!"
Well, inside the caged in area there are 2 police baricades (wooden horses) on each side and the sellers stand on the outside of the baricades, while the potential buyers stand in the middle. We were there fairly early so there were a lot of sellers and at the time we were the only buyers.
It was pretty quiet as we entered the gate, but as soon as my friend crossed an imaginary line, the place erupted like the commodity trading floor in "Trading Places", with sellers waving tickets in our faces and yelling out prices.
I told my friend to go to one side while i went to the other and we'd talk again in 5 minutes. We found the best seats we could, they were the highest priced tix available but we got all 4 of them for $90 (i forget the face value, mabye $35?). They were about 10 rows up from the field, in between 3rd base and home place, AND i caught a foul ball... we had a great time!
They were some big law firms tickets, but as the Orioles sucked that year, nobody wanted to go so they gave it to this young attorney at the firm, who said he'd rather of the money than see the game.
If you decide to do this, copy a seating chart and bring it with you so you know where tickets are that are being offered to you.
If the above 2 questions are answered "no", call Fenway and ask if they still have a "Scalp Free Zone". Reselling of tickets, even at face value, is illegal (AND enfored) at Fenway, EXCEPT in their "Scalp Free Zone". It's a place where sellers go to sell and buyers go to buy... and NOTHING over face value is allowed.
I did this about 3 years ago and here's a description of my experience:
We were told at the Box Office that only upper tier available. My friend had been told about the Scalp Free area ahead of time and we figured we'd go try that first. We walk around the stadium to the area walk into a caged in area, with police at the doorway. My friend walks right past the police but i stop to ask, "Anything we should know before going in there"?
The police officer replies, "Nothing over face... and it's a buyer's market!"
Well, inside the caged in area there are 2 police baricades (wooden horses) on each side and the sellers stand on the outside of the baricades, while the potential buyers stand in the middle. We were there fairly early so there were a lot of sellers and at the time we were the only buyers.
It was pretty quiet as we entered the gate, but as soon as my friend crossed an imaginary line, the place erupted like the commodity trading floor in "Trading Places", with sellers waving tickets in our faces and yelling out prices.
I told my friend to go to one side while i went to the other and we'd talk again in 5 minutes. We found the best seats we could, they were the highest priced tix available but we got all 4 of them for $90 (i forget the face value, mabye $35?). They were about 10 rows up from the field, in between 3rd base and home place, AND i caught a foul ball... we had a great time!
They were some big law firms tickets, but as the Orioles sucked that year, nobody wanted to go so they gave it to this young attorney at the firm, who said he'd rather of the money than see the game.
If you decide to do this, copy a seating chart and bring it with you so you know where tickets are that are being offered to you.
Apr 18th, 2003, 09:02 AM
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Scalping in Boston brings back memories.
I paid my way through college scalping Bruins tickets at the Garden.
I stopped after I was told by a couple of rough looking guys(mobsters?) that I needed to contribute towards the police if I wanted to sell tickets. I quickly retired.
I paid my way through college scalping Bruins tickets at the Garden.
I stopped after I was told by a couple of rough looking guys(mobsters?) that I needed to contribute towards the police if I wanted to sell tickets. I quickly retired.
Apr 18th, 2003, 09:31 AM
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Thanks for the info and the great story Bo - but I don't want to scalp tickets at Fenway. I want to go to Camden Yards.
And yes there will more than likely be a sizable influx of Red Sox fans driving down for the games.
Before my question gets totally hijacked by scalping stories, does anyone have any tips on where to sit if I buy seats now?
Thanks again.
And yes there will more than likely be a sizable influx of Red Sox fans driving down for the games.
Before my question gets totally hijacked by scalping stories, does anyone have any tips on where to sit if I buy seats now?
Thanks again.
Apr 18th, 2003, 10:54 AM
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Great sight lines for almost all the seats in the Park. The ushers are pretty tight about moving down to the boxes. Given the state of the O's, plan on eating a lot and watching your guys bash a few. Have fun, it's a great place to see a game and have a good time.
Apr 18th, 2003, 11:10 AM
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Beenie,
Sorry for my error above, the story above DID occur at CAMDEN YARDS... so i would call CAMDEN YARDS and ask them if they still have the scalp free zone (that is where the Orioles play, in Baltimore, right?... told you i'm not too up on baseball teams and stadiums around the league)
Sorry for my error above, the story above DID occur at CAMDEN YARDS... so i would call CAMDEN YARDS and ask them if they still have the scalp free zone (that is where the Orioles play, in Baltimore, right?... told you i'm not too up on baseball teams and stadiums around the league)
Apr 18th, 2003, 11:17 AM
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Also, just found this link:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/travel/usercomments.cgi?id=BAL
which discusses the good/bad seats in the ballpark, and some also mention getting tix for 1/2 price in the scalp free zone.
Enjoy your trip, and the game (walk to the Inner Harbor after the game, maybe get a hotel there too so you can walk to the game)
http://www.baseball-reference.com/travel/usercomments.cgi?id=BAL
which discusses the good/bad seats in the ballpark, and some also mention getting tix for 1/2 price in the scalp free zone.
Enjoy your trip, and the game (walk to the Inner Harbor after the game, maybe get a hotel there too so you can walk to the game)
Apr 19th, 2003, 03:50 AM
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We were there last summer - what a pleasant experience compared to Fenway. We sat somewhere near the section you are looking at, but in "club seats" - we thought these would be great, and the seats were, but the section was emplty and so there was none of the baseball atmosphere. No one in the entire ballpark was very excited about the game, so I suspect there are far fewer party types than at Fenway.
If you go to Orioles website and look at seating diagram, you can click on specific section and get view from that section.
Personnel actually checked our ticket stubs before letting us into section, but this may have just been for club seating section (we got the tickets on-line)
If you go to Orioles website and look at seating diagram, you can click on specific section and get view from that section.
Personnel actually checked our ticket stubs before letting us into section, but this may have just been for club seating section (we got the tickets on-line)
Apr 19th, 2003, 07:35 PM
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Gail - thanks for the response. I did check the online view of the seats we want and they look pretty good.
I'm hoping that we get in an area with other Red Sox fans so I may call the Orioles box office to get some advice. We did this when to we went to the SkyDome. On the advise of the guy manning the phone we ended up in a section full of Sox fans. Made it a lot more fun to have the "hometown" crowd around. Actually our section was the most crowded and of course the most rowdy in the entire park. Nomar came over after batting practice to give out autographs. It was awesome.
At least I won't have to worry about getting obstructed view seats like I would at Fenway. Hopefully Camden Yards smells better too.
I'm hoping that we get in an area with other Red Sox fans so I may call the Orioles box office to get some advice. We did this when to we went to the SkyDome. On the advise of the guy manning the phone we ended up in a section full of Sox fans. Made it a lot more fun to have the "hometown" crowd around. Actually our section was the most crowded and of course the most rowdy in the entire park. Nomar came over after batting practice to give out autographs. It was awesome.
At least I won't have to worry about getting obstructed view seats like I would at Fenway. Hopefully Camden Yards smells better too.
Apr 20th, 2003, 02:03 PM
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Bennie,
Terrace Box seats are great. You will be undercover, so if it rains, you will be protected, and if it's a day game, you won't fry in the sun. Also, there are t.v. screens that are suspended from the overhang, allowing you to see a replay. If a call is controversial, it's never shown on the jumbotron screen, but the small t.v.'s will show the play, in real time and in slow motion, which will help you to see if the call was a good one.
Our season tickets are in section 49 Terrace Box, which are great. If you can, get the seats in 55 first, then moving up. If you're too far out, you might have to crane your neck a bit, but they're still good seats.
As for rowdies, I'm afraid you can't plan on not having them. Many season ticket holders trade in their tickets, and they are then sold to anyone who wants to buy them. In general, though, the ushers do a great job, and if someone is getting too rowdy, too drunk, using cuss words, etc., the ushers will speak to them about it. If the behavior continues, the police will escort the perpetrators out.
You will love Camden Yards. Lots of good food, comfortable seating, etc. It's a beautiful park. It smells good, too. On a summer day, the smell of freshly mown grass is strong, and the smell of ballpark food appealing. Try Boog's Barbeque, for one.
And if you want to sit near Sox fans, they won't be far away no matter where you sit. There are many Sox fans who live here in Baltimore, and they show up for the games, along with those who live in Boston and make the trip down.
Have a great time!
Terrace Box seats are great. You will be undercover, so if it rains, you will be protected, and if it's a day game, you won't fry in the sun. Also, there are t.v. screens that are suspended from the overhang, allowing you to see a replay. If a call is controversial, it's never shown on the jumbotron screen, but the small t.v.'s will show the play, in real time and in slow motion, which will help you to see if the call was a good one.
Our season tickets are in section 49 Terrace Box, which are great. If you can, get the seats in 55 first, then moving up. If you're too far out, you might have to crane your neck a bit, but they're still good seats.
As for rowdies, I'm afraid you can't plan on not having them. Many season ticket holders trade in their tickets, and they are then sold to anyone who wants to buy them. In general, though, the ushers do a great job, and if someone is getting too rowdy, too drunk, using cuss words, etc., the ushers will speak to them about it. If the behavior continues, the police will escort the perpetrators out.
You will love Camden Yards. Lots of good food, comfortable seating, etc. It's a beautiful park. It smells good, too. On a summer day, the smell of freshly mown grass is strong, and the smell of ballpark food appealing. Try Boog's Barbeque, for one.
And if you want to sit near Sox fans, they won't be far away no matter where you sit. There are many Sox fans who live here in Baltimore, and they show up for the games, along with those who live in Boston and make the trip down.
Have a great time!
Apr 20th, 2003, 02:12 PM
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Bennie,
I forgot to add that the Red Sox dugout will be on the 3rd baseline, so you'll stand a good chance of seeing your guys up closeif you sit over there. Go to the park when the gates open to catch batting practice. You will be allowed to stand or sit in the section of seats just above the bullpen, so that you can possibly get autographs or close-up photos. When batting practice ends, you will be told to move so that ticket holders for those seats can move into them, but until then, you won't be bothered by ushers.
You'll notice lots of children leaning onto the roof of the bullpen, yelling to the players for autographs. Maybe your two little girls can try it too. As you probably know, players often have a soft spot for the little ones.
I forgot to add that the Red Sox dugout will be on the 3rd baseline, so you'll stand a good chance of seeing your guys up closeif you sit over there. Go to the park when the gates open to catch batting practice. You will be allowed to stand or sit in the section of seats just above the bullpen, so that you can possibly get autographs or close-up photos. When batting practice ends, you will be told to move so that ticket holders for those seats can move into them, but until then, you won't be bothered by ushers.
You'll notice lots of children leaning onto the roof of the bullpen, yelling to the players for autographs. Maybe your two little girls can try it too. As you probably know, players often have a soft spot for the little ones.
Apr 21st, 2003, 06:31 AM
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Rduy - Thanks very much for the tips. This is exactly the info I needed. We'll definately be there for batting practice. Nomar Garciaparra signed my girls Red Sox hats in Toronto two years ago during batting practice, so you know they'll be dieing to add to their "collection".
Apr 21st, 2003, 09:17 AM
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Hi again, Bennie,
I made a slight mistake in my response above. I said that you will be allowed to stand above the bullpen for batting practice. I meant the Sox DUGOUT along the third baseline. (But you probably figured that out already.)
The bullpens are in left/center next to the ivied wall, and can easily be seen from almost any seats.
I made a slight mistake in my response above. I said that you will be allowed to stand above the bullpen for batting practice. I meant the Sox DUGOUT along the third baseline. (But you probably figured that out already.)
The bullpens are in left/center next to the ivied wall, and can easily be seen from almost any seats.
Apr 21st, 2003, 10:54 AM
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Cute Kal, very cute - kthose seond base box seats sound great.
Remind me to tell you about the special "tunnel" permit you'll need to avoid the heavy traffic on the bridges to Cape Cod if you ever come up this way. After all one good "tip" deserves another.
Remind me to tell you about the special "tunnel" permit you'll need to avoid the heavy traffic on the bridges to Cape Cod if you ever come up this way. After all one good "tip" deserves another.
Apr 21st, 2003, 01:14 PM
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OK bennie.
Tell me when I get back from my trip to Phx. I'm attending a left handed monkey wrench sales convention.
They have a good raffle. I hear a Bridge in Brooklyn and oceanfront property in Southern Reno are 1st prizes and tickets are only $50 a piece!
Tell me when I get back from my trip to Phx. I'm attending a left handed monkey wrench sales convention.
They have a good raffle. I hear a Bridge in Brooklyn and oceanfront property in Southern Reno are 1st prizes and tickets are only $50 a piece!
Jun 23rd, 2010, 04:03 AM
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I am about to purchase tickets for my boyfriend to the Yankees game in September and was thinking 49 row 4. Are those good seats? Ant obstructions? The other options are section 59 row 10 or section 55 row 9. Any thoughts for the best birthday seats?!
Jun 23rd, 2010, 04:36 AM
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Jenny, I use www.seatdata.com when I am purchasing tickets. Those sound like field level seats and there will not be obstructions.
