Orioles announce Opening Day plans
The Baltimore Orioles have their home opener tomorrow and have just announced their plans.
Here is the Orioles press release.
ORIOLES ANNOUNCE OPENING DAY PLANS FOR APRIL 4
The Orioles today announced plans for the club’s home opener on Thursday, April 4, at 3:05 p.m. ET against the New York Yankees, which will air on MASN and the 44-station Orioles Radio Network including flagship 105.7 The Fan.
To allow fans the opportunity to experience the excitement of Opening Day, the entire ballpark will open at noon on Thursday. Each fan will receive a 2019 schedule magnet, presented by Long Fence, at the gates. Roving musical groups will entertain fans on Eutaw Street and the main concourses.
PREGAME CEREMONIES
PLAYER INTRODUCTIONS
Fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 2:30 p.m., when pregame ceremonies will begin. Orioles broadcaster JIM HUNTER will serve as emcee for the pregame festivities, which is also broadcast on MASN.
In a continuation of the Opening Day tradition, Orioles players and coaches will be introduced prior to the game. Orioles players and managerBRANDON HYDE will run through the center field gate on an orange carpet and take their places between first and second base. Coaches and staff will be introduced from the Orioles dugout. Members of the Yankees will be announced and will run from their dugout to line up between second and third base.
More than 100 youth from Highlandtown Elementary Middle School #215 will line the orange carpet holding Orioles flags during player introductions. The Orioles will provide each child with a complimentary game ticket for Opening Day, concessions, an Orioles T-shirt and cap, as well as transportation to and from the game as part of the OriolesREACH Gameday Experience Program.
For the 26th consecutive season, one fan will be chosen to represent all Orioles fans as the team’s “10th man.” The fan will be introduced as a part of the Orioles starting lineup during the pregame ceremonies.
HONORING ORIOLES LEGEND & BASEBALL HALL OF FAMER FRANK ROBINSON
During the pregame ceremony, the Orioles Charitable Foundation will present a total of$60,000 to three civil rights and African American history museums including the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American History & Culture in Baltimore, the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn., and the National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington D.C. in recognition of Frank Robinson’s tireless commitment to civil rights issues. The Orioles will also show a video tribute in his honor and hold a moment of silence to recognize all members of the Orioles family who have passed away since last Opening Day.
CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH
Longtime Orioles Radio broadcaster JOE ANGEL will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Angel retired this year after 19 seasons as the “Voice of the Orioles” on the Orioles Radio Network. Angel spent more than four decades calling Major League Baseball games, including two World Series, 44 postseason games, and seven no-hitters.
NATIONAL ANTHEM AND GOD BLESS AMERICA
Nationally-acclaimed operatic tenor ROLANDO SANZ will perform the “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Sanz, a native of Rockville, Md., will also sing “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch. This marks the fourth time he has performed the national anthem at the Orioles’ home opener.
During the anthem, a 30’x 42’ American flag from Fort McHenry will be unfurled over the batter’s eye wall in center field. The flag is a replica of the one that flew over Fort McHenry when Francis Scott Key wrote the National Anthem.
Colors will be presented by both an Armed Forces Color Guard, provided by the Military District of Washington and the Baltimore City Fire Department Honor Guard.
SOCIAL MEDIA ON OPENING DAY
Fans are encouraged to use social media while at Oriole Park at Camden Yards to share their Opening Day experiences with friends and followers. By using the hashtag #Birdland on Twitter and on Instagram, fans can have their tweets and/or photos selected to appear on the Oriole Park video board before and during the game. Fans are encouraged to visit Orioles.com/connect and sign up to follow all of the @Orioles’ official social media platforms.
TRAFFIC ADVISORY
Fans traveling to Oriole Park throughout the season should be aware that the Department of Transportation’s Triples Bridges Replacement Project is now underway along MD-295. At this time, the Annapolis Road Bridge along MD-295 is closed to motorists and various lane closures are implemented in this vicinity. For additional project information, fans can visit 295TripleBridges.com.
RADIO FREQUENCY COORDINATION
All broadcasters using radio frequency technologies must COORDINATE AND REGISTER their frequencies on Opening Day. If an outlet intends to use RF communications devices either before or during the game either inside or immediately outside the ballpark (cell phones excluded), that outlet must contact the Orioles’ RF Coordinator, Ken Cardosa, at 410-868-5939 or kjcardosa@comcast.net. It is preferable that this coordination occur prior to arrival on site.
OPENING DAY TIMING
9:00 a.m.:
Press box and Home Plate Plaza open
10:00 a.m.:
Will Call Window Six opens for media credential pick-up
10:00 a.m.:
Orioles parking lots open to fans
10:50-11:40 a.m.:
Orioles Clubhouse open to credentialed media
11:00 a.m.:
Press Dining opens to credentialed media
11:40 a.m.:
Brandon Hyde pregame availability (Auxiliary Clubhouse)
12:00 p.m.:
Gates Open
12:00-12:45 p.m.:
Orioles Batting Practice
12:45-1:35 p.m.:
Yankees Batting Practice
1:35-2:30 p.m.:
Field Preparation
2:30 p.m.:
Ceremonies Begin
3:05 p.m.:
Play Ball!
