Fuck you, Oriole Park at Camden Yards

[mhendo]

I just sent this email to the Orioles organization. Am i being unreasonable? I know they don’t control the weather, but a bit of information every now and then might be nice. Cunts.

To whom it may concern,

I went to the game between the Orioles at the Cubs at Camden Yards last night (7/12), and i would like to complain in the strongest possible terms about the way in which the ballpark handled the 1 hour and 49 minute rain delay. It was a model of non-information, of which your organization should be ashamed.

I perfectly aware that rain delays are a part of baseball, and that there is nothing that can be done about the weather. However, the very least that the management of a ballpark can do is keep the crowd informed about the situation as new information comes to hand. The signs flashing across the scoreboard last night informed us that the officials were keeping an eye on the National Weather Service, and that we would be kept up to date, but nothing of the sort ever happened.

While the rain continued to fall, this did not present much of a problem. After all, it’s simple common sense that the teams would not be recalled to the field while the storm continued. However, the rain itself only lasted for about an hour, and i think that the very least that the ballpark management could have done once the rain stopped was to inform the crowd as to when–or whether–we might expect the players to return to the field. It is extremely frustrating to be in the stands, and to see that there is no rain falling, and yet still hear not a single word about when play might be resumed. For a good 45 minutes we waited, while no rain fell, and no information was forthcoming from the ballpark.

The first indication we had that play would resume was when the ground staff ran out onto the field to remove the covers. Not a single announcement from the broadcast box during the whole 109-minute delay. An announcement would not only have reassured those of us in the stands that we were not waiting around for nothing, but it might also have prevented an exodus by hundreds, if not thousands of fans who decided that they were sick of not knowing what was going on and left the ballpark. I was at the game with four friends, two of whom are not regulars at baseball games. These two were astounded that we could be allowed to sit in ignorance for so long, and have vowed not to return to any game at which there is even the slightest chance for rain.

It is such lack of concern for the fans of the game, such cynical lack of consideration, that is at least partly responsible for the half-empty ballparks that are such a hallmark of the modern game. And meaningless giveaways like last night’s Ford tie-in don’t make up for such inept management.

Is this lack of updates common at other ballparks?

[Neurotik]

My roommate was at that game. And the two before it. He’s from Chicago and doesn’t get to see his beloved Cubbies very much.

[Ms_Boods]

Went to see the Orioles at Memorial Stadium some years ago, against the Brewers. There was a rain delay as the sky just opened – and after about an hour of sitting there (more cold than wet, as we’d come prepared), we decided heck with it and figured, let’s just leave…

Does anyone remember how they used to park cars at Memorial Stadium?! Leaving early was NOT an option that night – it was literally impossible to get into my car, let alone move it without aid of a crane…

Frustration understood, mhendo!

[Weirddave]

*Originally posted by mhendo *
**It is such lack of concern for the fans of the game, such cynical lack of consideration, that is at least partly responsible for the half-empty ballparks that are such a hallmark of the modern game. **

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

mhendo, you’re sending that to Peter Angelos. You think he gives a rat’s ass about any fans not from official DC??? Dream on!

[mhendo]

*Originally posted by Weirddave *
**BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

mhendo, you’re sending that to Peter Angelos. You think he gives a rat’s ass about any fans not from official DC??? Dream on! **

No, i don’t really think he does.

I just thought that there might be one or two people left within the organization who actually give a fuck about the people who pay and turn up to the ballgames. Maybe i’m just being naive, but i had to write to someone.

[Hugh_Jass]

I’m no big fan of Peter Angelos (having destroyed the classiest franchise in baseball), and not to excuse the behavior, I think this is fairly common in baseball. My assumption as a long time fan and attendee at several ballparks is that it generally takes 30-50 minutes before play resumes after a significant rainfall. The drainage system needs time to get rid of the water, etc.

You’re right in expecting some sort of update, though. This is just another example of how hard baseball works to alienate potential fans.

[Casey1505]

The only thing wrong with that letter was that you listed the date of the game as July 12.

[JeffB]

*Originally posted by mhendo *
I went to the game between the Orioles at the Cubs at Camden Yards last night (7/12), and i would like to complain in the strongest possible terms about the way in which the ballpark handled the 1 hour and 49 minute rain delay.

See, there’s your problem – you have a time machine, and you chose to go to an Orioles games in 2003 rather than, say, 1983.

[mhendo]

*Originally posted by Casey1505 *
**The only thing wrong with that letter was that you listed the date of the game as July 12. **

D’oh. :smack:

[BiblioCat]

No, no, it’s perfect.
After all, you’re a Balti-moron.

No offense intended. I’m one, too, mhendo.

[Freddy_the_Pig]

Ummm . . . another thing wrong with that letter is that it was the Cubs at the Orioles, not the Orioles at the Cubs.

Until recently, the issue that you cite would not have arisen, because baseball teams didn’t have ultra-local weather forecasts that would allow them to predict on and off times for rain. They just played it by ear–when it stopped raining, they’d start taking off the tarp. Nowadays they have an up-to-the-minute satellite picture and they’ll wait if it looks like it’s about to start raining again. But you’re absolutely right, they don’t bother to inform the fans.

[mhendo]

*Originally posted by jklann *
**Ummm . . . another thing wrong with that letter is that it was the Cubs at the Orioles, not the Orioles at the Cubs.
**

Just goes to show–if you’re going to write an abusive or complaining letter, proof-reading is a good idea.