Attendance

[atomic]

Your fears are your fears but they are unfounded. But this kind of attitude annoys me. Baltimore is no more dangerous then it was before the riots. People want to use the riots as an excuse for whatever reason... The riots weren't really big (if it was 1968, you'd have a point) and they were confined to certain areas. Media blew it up to something bigger. Close it actually got to Camden Yards was Lexington Market (outside of bar patrons starting stuff with peaceful protests). Leaving the Stadium excuse is lame as well. With 295 and 395 right by the Stadium you could be out of the city pretty quickly. To the point you could have stayed at hotels in Ellicot City, Glen Burnie or Linthicum Heights cause it's not like there isn't a half dozen hotels by BWI or Fort Meade.

Baltimore is a dangerous city. It is one of the most dangerous cities in the world. They played a game with no fans and then played 3 home games out of town. Lets not try to minimize the situation.

[atomic]

Then I hate to say those people are fools. There wasn't alot of violence. It was looting and burning stuff down in areas that were already depressed way outside of the developed downtown area. Downtown Baltimore (inner harbor area) is damn safe as it's the crown "jewel". There is absolutely no way anything would happen there as it's Baltimore's money maker.

Hopkins has it's a bad areas. But nothing is gonna happen to you by Scores, Fells Point or Little Italy.. It's west of Little Italy and north of Fells Point aka.. Washington Hill and Dunbar. Then between Franklin Square and North Ave. Othern then those two areas.. the city is pretty safe give or take one or two pockets.

Their choices are illogical and based on other things and I hate to say it.. but it screams it.

Multiple People have been recently murdered in Fells Point. Heck a woman was just murdered in Roland Park. There was looting in Fells Point.

[Redskins Rick]

Baltimore is a dangerous city. It is one of the most dangerous cities in the world. They played a game with no fans and then played 3 home games out of town. Lets not try to minimize the situation.

Don't be a fear monger.

Like any large city, Toronto, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angelos, there is going to be crime.

I have no fear of traveling through Baltimore, but, you use your head and don't be stupid, either.

[Aristotelian]

Baltimore is a dangerous city. It is one of the most dangerous cities in the world. They played a game with no fans and then played 3 home games out of town. Lets not try to minimize the situation.

How many fans have been injured or victimized attending an Orioles game? Generalities about Baltimore aside, the Inner Harbor area is heavily policed and very safe.

[Redskins Rick]

Multiple People have been recently murdered in Fells Point. Heck a woman was just murdered in Roland Park. There was looting in Fells Point.

I have family that live in extremely small town rural USA, and unfortunately, even in those small rural towns, there are murders.

[Redskins Rick]

How many fans have been injured or victimized attending an Orioles game? Generalities about Baltimore aside, the Inner Harbor area is heavily policed and very safe.

Good point, not like trying to get into and out of Dodger stadium.

[atomic]

Don't be a fear monger.

Like any large city, Toronto, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angelos, there is going to be crime.

I have no fear of traveling through Baltimore, but, you use your head and don't be stupid, either.

Baltimore is definitely more dangerous than Toronto and Los Angelos. I am not being a fear monger but there is facts and there are just nonsense. Baltimore is dangerous. It has the 18th highest murder rate of any city in the world:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_by_murder_rate

[LAOSfan]

Baltimore is definitely more dangerous than Toronto and Los Angelos. I am not being a fear monger but there is facts and there are just nonsense. Baltimore is dangerous. It has the 18th highest murder rate of any city in the world:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_by_murder_rate

Perhaps, but most of those murders don't occur near Camden Yards and the Inner Harbor. Most occur in three areas: the Western, Eastern (not far from Hopkins) or Northwestern Districts (Park Heights/Pimlico area).

[Redskins Rick]

Baltimore is definitely more dangerous than Toronto and Los Angelos. I am not being a fear monger but there is facts and there are just nonsense. Baltimore is dangerous. It has the 18th highest murder rate of any city in the world:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_by_murder_rate

Actually, if you took the time to look at that chart, and if you sort by US Cities, you will find St. Louis has a higher homicide rate than Baltimore. 59.23 vs 54.23

There are more murders in LA, than Baltimore. Just has a lower rate, because of the population.

[lovetoaster]

A DC team, riots, etc all impact but organization hasn't done much to overcome those challenges. The team has been around 1st place all year, and the Orioles chose not to capitalize on that. No mid-season packages or additional discounts on weekday games. It's just a couple billboards that focus on the game experience and connect the identity of baseball and summer and then commercial after commercial about having your kid run the bases on Sunday.

Actually they have done some discounts for weekday games, and even some weekend ones. They have done a few scattered promotions, especially around the All Star Game. You had to cast ballots for the O's, but I don't think that is too difficult for buy one, get one free tickets for five different series. And against some good teams, the Rockies, Rangers (the current series), Astros, Blue Jays and Rays. I feel like they promoted that quite a bit; I sure heard a lot about it.

Could they have done better with promotions? Sure, but I don't think its fair to say they have not done any discounts for weekday games.

[beantownrefugee]

I can understand why some might be uncomfortable coming to the city. Here's what I do, and I find it quite convenient, economical, and safe.

Park in lots F/G/H, which are Orioles-monitored lots next to M&T (Ravens stadium). $8 to park. After the game, make a right out of the lot, then a right onto Ostend at the traffic light. Go over the bridge, and make a left. Go down 1/2 mile and you're at the casino, which is lit up like Vegas. Make a left on Russell, and I-95 is 1/2 mile down. Very quick exit from the ballpark area, and with lots of fans walking back to Fed Hill and lots F/G/H, the walk back to my car is fine.

[lovetoaster]

Price hike, safety, being able to watch every game on tv, and the fact that they refuse to do what is necessary to truely compete is why I don't take the family anymore. They may be in first place now but does anyone think this team is going anywhere in the playoffs with these starting pitchers and the hot and cold offense? They sat around and watched all their competition get better at the trade deadline and they did what they always do, go cheap. Well, I have decided to go cheap to which means I'll watch from my couch with a beer that cost me less than a dollar. I suspect a bunch of fans are doing the same thing.

They are 12th in baseball in payroll...how is that "going cheap"? You can question some of the contracts, but I don't think you can accuse them of being cheap anymore.

If it were all about payroll, the Dodgers would have a few recent championships. The Yankees have been first or second in payroll for ever year for at least a decade, how is that working out?

Kansas City and the Mets were in the World Series last year, the teams with the 13th and 21st highest payrolls in the game. Its not all about how much you spend.

And I am not sure what you expected at the trade deadline. We didn't have a lot of options. And did all of our competition get better? Toronto did not do much of note; who knows what Liriano is going to look like and Feldman already lost a game. Boston got Pomeranz who has not been great so far and Abad who is not exactly a lockdown reliever. Cleveland got a very nice piece with Miller, but gave up a ton to get him...more than we realistically could. Texas definitely got better, but what do you know, we beat them last night.

[charliegil]

I've attended 2 games this year and I don't even live in The US. There's no excuse.

Here's proof:

[ReclaimTheCrown]

All about perception. The media had the whole city on fire. It was only small pockets. The unrest on Saturday was basically at the stadium. Was not that peaceful. Saw a few woman's handbags and shopping bags ripped off their arms. Baltimore's crime rate spiked after the riots. The homicide rate was the highest per population since records were kept.Shootings way up. That being said the stadium area is real safe,but some people in the burbs don't want to go downtown. I have heard it many times. I have heard how can you live in that city.

Sure, perception is what is driving this - just expressing my belief that it's silly to avoid going to a ballgame in a safe enclave on the edge of a city because of the fear of violence.

[atomic]

Actually, if you took the time to look at that chart, and if you sort by US Cities, you will find St. Louis has a higher homicide rate than Baltimore. 59.23 vs 54.23

There are more murders in LA, than Baltimore. Just has a lower rate, because of the population.

I am not saying Baltimore is the most dangerous city just one of the most dangerous cities. It doesn't keep from going to ball games but I keep aware of my surrounding when walking to the games from the garage. To tell people Baltimore is totally safe is not good advice. I would not park up by Lexington Market on a Tuesday night. Everyone can make their own choices about safety but I park within a couple of Pratt Street or the stadium lots.