The Aberdeen IronBirds, the Orioles' short-season Single-A affiliate, will display their franchise makeover Monday night at Ripken Stadium.
"What we've done is launched a completely new era of IronBirds baseball," said Colin Clark, assistant vice president of brand marketing for Ripken Baseball, during a small media gathering at Ripken Stadium on Thursday. "We've had an unbelievable first 10 years here in Harford County, and what we're really looking for is this is the year that really sets us up for another great 10 years of IronBirds baseball."
Alongside the team's assistant general manager, Brad Cox, Clark discussed an array of changes that he hopes will attract familiar and new fans alike as the IronBirds enter their 12thseason in the New York-Penn League with a new front office and a fourth general manager in as many years.
The facelift started, Clark said, with a new logo. A smiling jet plane has been replaced by a bold, metal hawk with its talons splayed.
"With the new logo, it gave us an opportunity to kind of reinvent ourselves and re-launch what we're doing," Clark said.
"It ties back into the Orioles' angry bird from the early 60s and 70s. That's the connection we're trying to extend out, our connection with the Orioles only being 35 miles apart [and] to really celebrate what Baltimore baseball is and what Maryland baseball is."
Facilities will have a new director of food and concessions and a selection that Clark said "rivals any big league park." The team has brought in a new PA announcer in Danny Mays, who won a social media contest held by the IronBirds in the spring.
Along with a new set of special event nights, Cox said the park has added two firework shows to its weekend slate with a total of eight over the season
"The [gameday] experience overall is better than in years past," he said.
Tickets are still available for Monday's 7:35 p.m. game against the Hudson Valley Renegades.