2017 Orioles Fan Fest

[Legend_Of_Joey]

I know this is still a little more than a month away, but is anyone planning on going?

I'll be there and it'll be my first Orioles Fan Fest (second if you count the All-Star Game Fan Fest in 1993, but I was little then, so...)

For any of the "veterans" that have gone before, anything I should watch out for? Games/prizes/events/merchandise, ect?

[Justinlstn]

Last year was my first time going. Things were spread out over 3 floors with the bottom floor being the main space being used. If you are doing autographs sessions be prepared to sit around and wait for awhile. My SO took my son around to the many activities while I stood in line waiting. He actually had a better time then I did, he is 6 and did the batting cage, as well as the radar gun and had some of the minor leaguers in there with him helping him out giving him batting tips. Plus they have a section where only kids can get autographs which was pretty cool. You will get a lot of stuff if you do the giveaway on the third floor so be prepared to carry a lot of stuff after.   

[CP0861]

Last year was my first year also....I mainly went for autographs but also wanted to check it out since I had never been. 

Overall, in my opinion, if you're not an autograph seeker.....I'm not sure it's worthwhile.  The merchandise I saw wasn't anything you couldn't find in the stadium shops....several kids activities.....I did like the Q&A with Buck and DD.....I don't think I went on the third floor at all. 

This year, if Manny is there, I'll take my daughter since she's a big Manny fan.  If he's not there, I'll still go.....mainly because I have a soccer ball sized Orioles baseball in my office that I want to fill with autographs.

[Babypowder]

I went a while back when a few buddies and I halfheartedly maintained a silly Orioles blog and made some dumb videos there to post. If you're not there for autographs, which I don't understand to begin with, it's not really worthwhile in my opinion. Unless you really want to see front office/coaching staff/players give canned nothing responses to fan questions. Other than that, there's some activities that are probably pretty fun if you are taking kids. I don't have any of those. I hear they are time consuming.

[Frobby]

I've been many times.    I usually just attend the fan forums, where they will bring up groups of 2-5 players or coaches, interview them and then let fans ask questions.   One session is with Dan & Buck (2 if you get early entry as a season ticket holder), one is usually with the members of the rotation, one with bullpen guys, one with IF and then OF.   (They change up how they break it down a little each year).    You don't usually learn a whole lot, but the fans ask pretty good questions and you get to see the players' personalities a little.    And there's no waiting in line!

[glenn__davis]

My boys are 8 and 9 and I've been thinking about taking them this year.  Is it worth going just for the kids?  I have no interest in autographs (except for the kids) or other memorabilia, I just want to know if it's easy/accessible for the kids to meet some of the players.

[phaedrusX]

The stadium tour alone is worth the trip down. I always save that for last.

[Going Underground]

4 hours ago, glenn__davis said:

My boys are 8 and 9 and I've been thinking about taking them this year.  Is it worth going just for the kids?  I have no interest in autographs (except for the kids) or other memorabilia, I just want to know if it's easy/accessible for the kids to meet some of the players.

As someone else said ,if they have the kid autograph sessions again that should be good for meeting players. Mostly long lines for the free giveaways. The clubhouse tour is pretty good. I play bingo for  a little bit. Sometimes the players call out the numbers and you can kid around with them. I guess i have gone for awhile and it seems to been not as much fun as it used too. Be interesting to see who doesn't show up. 

[Legend_Of_Joey]

Thanks for the answers so far! No kids, so that either makes things better (less to worry about) or worse (less to do, it seems like.) I do have the "early access" tickets, so there is that. I wouldn't mind doing the autograph stuff, but the only two I'd really be trying to get are Hardy and Machado, and that is only because they are my fiances favorite players and we didn't have any luck at the games.

I wouldn't mind the clubhouse tours. I see a lot of mentions on the free giveaways? Are they like contests or do you literally just go somewhere and they give you stuff?

[Going Underground]

5 minutes ago, Legend_Of_Joey said:

Thanks for the answers so far! No kids, so that either makes things better (less to worry about) or worse (less to do, it seems like.) I do have the "early access" tickets, so there is that. I wouldn't mind doing the autograph stuff, but the only two I'd really be trying to get are Hardy and Machado, and that is only because they are my fiances favorite players and we didn't have any luck at the games.

I wouldn't mind the clubhouse tours. I see a lot of mentions on the free giveaways? Are they like contests or do you literally just go somewhere and they give you stuff?

Just usually wait on a long line (depending on when you go could be 20 minutes,sometimes a little more).. Depends on what they have left as to what you get. Usually a bobblehead or a former or not great player. Got a towel last year. Two Oriole magazines. A poster of some sort. At the Utz table won a free bag of chips. One year the person ahead of me won a free trip on Southwest. I did not see Southwest or Geico  there in 2015.

[Going Underground]

Here is the information about the kids autographs:

Children ages 4-14 will have a specially designated Kids Only player autograph station, presented by ESSKAY, which is free of charge and will operate continuously throughout the day. 

 

[Frobby]

27 minutes ago, Legend_Of_Joey said:

Thanks for the answers so far! No kids, so that either makes things better (less to worry about) or worse (less to do, it seems like.) I do have the "early access" tickets, so there is that. I wouldn't mind doing the autograph stuff, but the only two I'd really be trying to get are Hardy and Machado, and that is only because they are my fiances favorite players and we didn't have any luck at the games.

I wouldn't mind the clubhouse tours. I see a lot of mentions on the free giveaways? Are they like contests or do you literally just go somewhere and they give you stuff?

Most of what they give away is somehow obsolete, like a Vance Worley t-shirt or a 2016 media guide.   But hey, it's free.

[ReclaimTheCrown]

Like someone mentioned above, I really enjoyed the fan forums.  I didn't wait around trying to get autographs, but mostly enjoyed the atmosphere and getting a little sense for the players during the forums.  Sure a lot of it is player-speak, but the interactions were entertaining and you got a decent sense of the human being.  If you want to get the giveaway stuff on the third floor, recommend going up early - I went up late in the day and a lot of the stuff was gone.  Lines are pretty long up there.

Overall I'd definitely recommend - a nice baseball respite in the middle of winter.  Make it a day downtown - wife and I went out for dinner, drinks, and a show that night.

 

[Legend_Of_Joey]

Thanks everyone! I don't care if the giveaway stuff is "older" or "not premium players." I wouldn't mind a Vance Worley shirt. Giveaways are giveaways. Though I really do hope they have some left over Hyun Soo Kim shirts. I hated missing that one.

I definitely want to check out the stadium tour and see what the forums are like. I'm gonna do a YouTube video of the experience and (with Weems and Frobby's permission), post it so others can get an idea of what it was like and what to expect if they are unsure about going.

[Samatwing]

Ive been the last 3 years. First year, I bought autograph vouchers and waited in 3 lines. Awesome to get the signatures, but took about 30 min each, and got kinda annoying. I also grabbed some free leftover giveaways... 20th anniversary bronze statues, a shirt, and a toy truck? Last year the give away lines were longer than I remember. I decided to skip it and focus on the player forums and memorabilia.  My favorite part of fan fest is the memorabilia room/area. They always have game used hats, jerseys, battling lineups, etc. My buddy got a game used Buck batting practice jersey for $50 2 years ago. I bought a game used hat for $20 last year. The stadium tour is worthwhile. You get to see the facilities, clubhouse, dugout, and walk out on field. My buddies and I also got a sketch done bc our buddy was moving away. The sketch is now framed in his man cave. 

One piece of advice I would give is don't go hungry. I didn't have breakfast the first year, and food options are limited. I waited in line for overpriced chicken fingers that 1st year. I suggest maybe doing what I did last year: Finish with the stadium tour and then grab a meal at Dempseys in the warehouse.