As a lifelong Baltimore resident I have always been an Oriole fan. In recent years my husband and I have attended fewer games, but we still try to go to Camden Yards a couple times a season.
This year, the only game we made it to was on Sept. 20. Thank goodness there were a lot of Red Sox fans in the crowd because otherwise the stadium would have been practically empty. To say I was shocked by the low attendance for a team that is doing so well is an understatement ("Declining crowds at Camden Yards concern Orioles, fans and businesses," Sept. 21).
Why are fans staying away in droves? Mostly because of expense. The tickets and concessions cost too much. I couldn't believe that a cup of beer was $8.
The seats we bought were $39 each (plus service charges). So just for two beers and two seats we were already out $94! What if we had come hungry? What if we had brought the kids? How would a middle-class family afford doing this as anything more than an occasional luxury?
We thought we'd save money on parking by taking public transportation. So we drove north to go south, to the light rail station at Falls Road. We waited more than a half hour for the train and almost gave up entirely because of an announcement about an unspecified delay.
After the game, we just missed the departing northbound train and then waited more than 30 minutes for the next one. So although it saved us considerable money to take public transportation it took us probably an hour and a half longer than if we had driven a car and parked.
I realize the Orioles are not responsible for the light rail, but surely there is some effort to work together with MTA to transport fans and make the whole system work?
My husband and I are now empty nesters with more disposable income. We are city residents who love Baltimore and want to support our teams. But I doubt that we will become regulars at Camden Yards unless the prices of tickets and concessions are substantially reduced.
Mary Lou Kenney, Baltimore