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Top 5 Reasons To Love OPACY

Since Oriole Park at Camden Yards--or OPACY for short-- was opened in 1992, it has been consistently rated among the top ballparks in the nation in atmosphere. The stadium greatly influenced how stadiums were built since.

Stadium Journey gave OPACY a perfect score in their ranking of over 2,000 stadiums. "History was made by Oriole Park at Camden Yards," the website wrote. "Its opening changed baseball and the way fans chose to experience games. A fan will revel in its festival-like atmosphere while still enjoying the purity of quality baseball."

Supporting our defending AL East Champion Birds isn't the only reason to head to the yard. Here's our Top 5 Reasons to love OPACY.

Star-Spangled Banner

Get to the park early because you won't want to miss the singing of our National Anthem. Baltimore is the home of Fort McHenry and the birthplace of the Star-Spangled Banner. Francis Scott Key had no idea when he wrote "the Star" that the city of Baltimore would combine their national pride and their love of the Orioles to make the song just a bit more magical. Stand up. Gentlemen remove your caps. Salute the flag. Let loose your loudest "O!" so they can hear you back in 1814.

Baltimore Orioles 2012 Opening Day National Anthem by Erik on YouTube

Boog's BBQ

If you've ever been down the Eutaw Street concourse and seen smoke billowing up, don't be afraid. It's not a fire. It's just Boog's. A visit to Camden Yards is not complete without a sandwich from Boog. If you're lucky you'll even run into Boog Powell himself walking around down by the flag court and he's always quick with a smile or a hand shake.

ALCS - Kansas City Royals v Baltimore Orioles - Game One
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Have A Brew At Dempsey's

Dempsey's Brew Pub and Restaurant opened in 2012 in celebration of the ballpark's 20th Anniversary season. It's a good place to get out of the heat in those mid-summer games and go have a cold beer. It has quickly become a staple of OPACY and after one "Bacon on a Stick" (or 6) you'll know why.

St Louis Cardinals v Baltimore Orioles
(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

7th Inning Stretch

In the middle of the 7th inning, after 2+ hours of sitting in your seat you'll be in need of a stretch. Stand up, stretch your legs but don't venture too far from your seat. You won't want to miss John Denver's "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" and "Cotton-Eyed Joe" playing over the loudspeaker. Fans young and old get up, do a little square-dance and play the air fiddle.

Baltimore Orioles Seventh Inning Stretch by Eric072886 on YouTube

Have A Picnic

Camden Yards has one of the most lenient policies of all professional stadiums when it comes to outside food and drink. You can pack a full picnic lunch for those early Sunday games or bring a snack of peanuts and sunflower seeds. You can even bring in most plastic bottled beverages (non-alcoholic, of course) as long as their unopened in a soft-sided cooler. Park yourself at a picnic table and have lunch with statues of Orioles greats Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, Earl Weaver, Jim Palmer, Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken Jr.

Jim Palmer poses
Jim Palmer poses for a photo after the team unveiled a statue of the hall of fame pitcher before the start of the Orioles and Detriot Tigers game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 14, 2012 (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

 

Just follow the guidelines:

• No hard-sided coolers, thermoses, glass bottles, cans, or alcoholic beverages are permitted into the ballpark. Fans must leave these items in their vehicles before entering the ballpark.
• Non-alcoholic beverages in plastic bottles are permitted into the park. All items will be checked at the gates and any beverage that has been opened or partially consumed prior to entry is subject to confiscation if it is thought to contain alcohol. In addition, no plastic or paper cups of beverages are permitted into the park at the entry gates.

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