Baseball
Here's the latest installment of Tween Tuesday by Liz Atwood, who muses about summer baseball:
It’s been another disappointing season for Baltimore Orioles fans, with the team spending all summer at the bottom of the league. Attendance is down as well, with an average of just 21,723 fans turning out for each game, according to The Sports Network.
Twice this season, attendance at Camden Yards dropped below 10,000. I’ll have to admit, I’m one of those to blame. I’ve never been a huge sports fan, but I always enjoyed taking in a few baseball games each summer. When my older son was five or six, we took him to his first baseball game and he loved playing when he was younger.
But now summer is almost over and there are just a few more weeks left in the season and we haven’t been to a game this year. In fact, I’m ashamed to say, we’ve never taken our 9-year-old to an Orioles game, although he has been to see the Baysox. Is that heresy?
Is there some kind of punishment meted out to parents for raising a boy in Baltimore without ever taking him to see a baseball game? One reason we haven’t gone is that he isn’t that interested in baseball, preferring instead soccer, basketball and football.
Of course, if we took him to see a game, maybe he would become more interested in the sport. Then again, with the way the season is going, maybe not.
How about you? Are you going to as many games as before with your kids?
Comments
Our little boy is due in November and will likely be at Opening Day next year.
It's a part of Baltimore and it's a relatively cheap night out for the family - bring your own food & drinks and it's incredibly inexpensive. Even if the product on the field isn't great, it doesn't change the atmosphere of going to a major league game.
Posted by: lvnbraves | August 17, 2010 8:32 AM
more of a baseball fan than tween fan but yes, there should be some sort of punishment if you have a 9 year old and he's never been to an O's game.
My only suggestion would be to buy good seats for the first time. If you sit in the upper deck you will likely lose interest quickly. Save the upper deck seats for once you get an appreciation for what's going on down there.
Posted by: scottbbfm | August 17, 2010 9:17 AM
Get that kid to a game!! Baysox in town all weekend with kids activities and fireworks -- definitely can be done on the cheap. My 5 year-old listens to the Orioles every night when he goes to bed and I feel he is passing on my grandmother's tradition of O's on the radio. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Posted by: tateschultheis | August 17, 2010 10:20 AM
I say take him. While you're at it, take him to the Baltimore Museum of Art, AVAM, to watch bocce in Little Italy, and to Lexington Market too.
Posted by: throwlikeagirl | August 17, 2010 12:33 PM
Well, at the risk of being run out of town on a rail, I will be contrary. Maybe save the Os game for a season when going won't be an exercise in despair (although they seem to be doing better under Showalter). I do like throwlikeagirl's other suggestions, though, and I would add to her list go to the Walters and the zoo, see a movie at the Senator (when it reopens) and visit the Aquarium.
Posted by: Dahlink | August 17, 2010 2:24 PM
About good seats. The upper deck behind home plate is the place to be. The entire field is laid out in front of you and no chance of a screaming line drive coming at you. Just get at least three rows back from the railing, any lower and the railing is in the way.
Posted by: john20723 | August 17, 2010 4:45 PM
I say take the kid to a baseball game, but it does not have to be an Orioles game. My family goes to minor league games. We try to visit a different park every year. So far we have been to Aberdeen, Frederick, Bowie, Hagerstown (filled with history), Wilmington, Harrisburg, Norfolk, and Reading. Tickets are cheap, lots of entertainment, players are accessible, food is great, and the beer is cold. Try it.
Posted by: PghSteve | August 17, 2010 6:14 PM
I have to say I agree with Scott. If you want to get your little ones interested in baseball, the Baysox games are the way to go! They always have fireworks, games, and activities that my kids love. I can't tell what they like more - the game itself or the environment! the tickets are unbelievably cheap as well.
The tickets are actually on Eversave.com today, where you can buy a ticket for any home game for the rest of the season for only $7 (they're usually $14). All in all great food, great game. Definitely worth checking out and a great way to allow your kids to experience
Posted by: Allison | August 18, 2010 5:31 PM
Watching a game is a great way to spent time with the little ones. Where else can you get this quality time for $7.00?
Posted by: four leaf clover | August 21, 2010 5:38 AM
I am currently enrolled at Georgetown University in their Sports Management Program, and as part of my final project, I am attempting to come up with a marketing plan for the Orioles. My plan is to target familes in and around the Baltimore area. My ideas include: creating a family only section within the ballpark that is free from rowdy, drinking fans; giving group tickets discounts with a parking pass so parents with small children will not have a long walk to the stadium from their parking space; and bundling tickets with meal plans catering to children. In addition, an analysis of Orioles promotions will be conducted to see if there is a correlation between past and present promotions. In determining the best strategic plan other ballpark promotions will be evaluated to determine if they could be implemented successfully in Baltimore.
If there is any way anyone would be willing to give me feedback, I would really appreciate it!
What types of things would entice you to bring your family to a game...and not just one, but several throughout the season?
Posted by: Julia | March 1, 2012 9:08 AM