Oriole Park (Camden Yards)

Tenant: Baltimore Orioles

Opened: April 6, 1992

Surface: Maryland Bluegrass

Capacity: 48,262

Architect: HOK Sport (Kansas City)

            Camden Yards is a very unique ballpark in its self. Built in 1992, it is the first of its kind to have a retro-style architectural build. It has a very unique style that really brings Baltimore's inner harbor to life. Part of Camden Yard's uniqueness is the large Baltimore & Ohio Warehouse (the longest building on the East Coast) behind the right-center-field fence. In left-center field there are double-deck bullpens where you can see both teams' pitchers warm up.

            To hold up this one of a kind structure, steel columns, and beams were used, not concrete, to support the ball park. Camden Yards set a popular trend that is being followed by current ballparks, and will continue to be followed. The newest ballpark to follow Camden's retro-style, steel columns and beams, and overall architectural style is Citizens Bank Park.

Quick Facts:

ü       Unique double-decked bullpens in left-center field.

ü       Playing field is 16 feet below street level.

ü       Home plate was moved back seven feet for the 2001 season, but returned to its original spot the next season because, as team officials said, the new layout "adversely affected the viewing angle of the batter's eye." A significant drop in home runs had been observed in 2001.