By Catherine Sanders and Mitch Bode
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writers
The ticket price increase announced by the Baltimore Orioles this month does not seem to have dampened fan enthusiasm for the upcoming baseball season, according to interviews conducted last week.
Although some fans said they were afraid that the $5 to $7 increase in ticket prices might keep some people away from Camden Yards, others said this is the price fans will have to pay if they want the Orioles to remain competitive in a division that includes such traditional powerhouses as the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays.
Many fans who were interviewed said they were willing to pay more to see players like first baseman Chris Davis, who was signed to a $161 million contract extension this offseason. The fans said this is a sign that the Orioles are trying to keep pace with the other teams in the American League East.
“With the O’s spending all that money in the offseason, it’s understandable that they raised ticket prices,” said Nate Scorggins, a long-time Baltimore native and manager at The Sports Shop in the Harborplace & The Gallery. “If fans want to see these big time players play ball, they’ll have to spend a couple extra dollars.”
Toya Brown, a Baltimore native and bartender at Uno’s Pizza in the Harborplace & The Gallery, believes that this will not affect her business.
“Since we are so close to the stadium, some believed it will have a negative impact on local businesses, but I don’t,” Brown said. “People are still going to pack the city for games, and spend money at local bars.”
Brown went on to explain that Orioles tickets aren’t that expensive compared to other Major League Baseball teams.
“Ticket prices in Baltimore are still cheaper than Yankee tickets, so I can’t complain,” Brown said.
Dan Duquette, the executive vice president for the Orioles, released a statement on Feb. 9 that ticket prices will be increasing by about 20 percent. This includes a price increase for season ticket holders and single-game tickets.
While some believe it will not affect attendance at the stadium, other local fans believe otherwise.
Devin Reid, a West Baltimore native, believes that attendance will drop significantly.
“Some people are going to show up, but not many,” Reid said. “It’s messed up. Only those with big money are going to be able to watch the games in the stadium.”
The ticket price increase doesn’t just affect the wallets of fans, it also impacts business owners who are relatively close to the stadium.
Sandy Fleming, who works at Destination Baltimore, said the increase may hurt attendance in her store.
“The ticket increase is going to negatively affect our business, especially for the Yankees games,” Fleming said. “They [New Yorkers] may not come here because of the increase.”
Fleming said baseball needs to have a set budget for each player and the team’s overall experiences to avoid running into ticket increase.
“I believe that baseball needs a salary cap just like football,” Fleming said.
This is the third time in the past 12 years that the Orioles have raised ticket sales.
As for Fleming’s business partner, Don Bromer, although he has mixed feelings regarding the raise and sales prices, he also believes that greater expectations from fans will follow.
“When you get a raise, more expectations come with that,” Bromer said.
But for many fans, although there is a slight increase, Yankee fans will still be in attendance at the Orioles stadium as Baltimore is still a good bargain.
Joel Knutelsky, a Pennsylvania native and bartender at Bubba Gump, said fans will still continue to get a good deal, especially when it comes to other teams whose ticket prices are more expensive.
“I can see if it was $10, but everything needs an increase,” Knutelsky said. “If you go to a Yankees or Boston game, they’re expensive. It would not have an impact on me personally, I would still go.”
Kevin Price, a Baltimore native and bartender at Bubba Gump, believes that the money is going to go in the right place and to the right players.
“It’s not bad that there is an increase, there is a whole lot of money going to get these players,” Price said. “It wouldn’t have an effect on me, it’s just a general extra $5 to sit in the general seating.”
Price has high hopes that people are still going to see the Baltimore Orioles regardless if it’s $5 or $20.