Celebrating Camden Yards' 20th Year in Style

After watching the Baltimore Orioles’ first game of the season from my couch, I desperately wanted to attend a ballgame soon and enjoy the sights and sounds of my favorite stadium, Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Thanks to some good fortune, I snagged a $12 ticket with some friends and headed to Charm City on Saturday.

The stands weren’t nearly as packed as they were on Friday’s opening day celebration, but the atmosphere was still ripe with hope and excitement. Most predictions don't have the Orioles winning the division—or even making the playoffs for that matter—but Camden Yards is worth the trip.

My biggest goal of the night was to try the newest Baltimore attraction at Camden Yards: Gino’s Giant, a delicious beef patty topped with a fried Maryland crab cake.

Healthy? No. Delicious? Yes.

A new plaza in center field features Gino’s as well as a rooftop-like bar with orange sofas and new seats, offering a unique view of the ballgame. There are no designated seats in that area either, meaning you can buy a cheap seat and relax in center field the whole game if you’d like. Only catch is, there aren’t any bathrooms in the area.

My beloved birds beat the Minnesota Twins 8-2 with home runs by Nick Markakis, Adam Jones and Matt Wieters. But as good as the game was, it was Camden Yards that captured my attention most.

Seems fitting, considering it’s been 20 years since the ballpark revolutionized baseball stadiums throughout the country.

Have you been to Camden Yards yet this year? Do you plan to go?