What makes you want to go see the O's?

Maybe the O’s will take her ideas and actually do a good job enticing us to the ball park.

As far as family experiences, it really is the best pro sports experience in the Baltimore-Washington area. I guess all of the bundling promos are a good idea, but I feel like they already offer a lot of stuff like that that’s geared toward families.

I REALLY like the idea of reserving a section specifically for families — mainly because I’d feel a lot less paranoid about an F-bomb slipping out within earshot of little ears while Kevin Gregg is on the mound.

You know, a GREAT place to do research on innovative group promos would be minor league ballparks. They do those CONSTANTLY to bring in fans.

While they are certainly different circumstances, I would look at the relative lack of success Major League Soccer had when trying to attract families instead of more dedicated soccer fans. If you appeal too much to families instead of just baseball fans in general, it may diminish the overall experience by attracting too large of an audience who doesn’t care about the game.

My family took me to the games growing up because it was tradition. My parents grew up not far from the old memorial stadium where they became game time regulars. My mother was one of the first junior Oriole members and my father was a frequent with Wild Bill Haggy.

I have pictures of me from birth wearing O’s gear. It was something we could do as a family on a nice summer evening going out the ballpark and enjoy it as a family. However, that was about two decades ago and things have changed. If you take a family of five to the ballpark it will be easily over $100 by the end of the day. A family may do it once a twice at the ballpark but it will keep many from being regulars. I’d propose a group family discount. Something such as a family of 5 that buys like 15 games worth of tickets get the ticket prices half price. Also, the Orioles minor league team the Iron Birds has a crab deck in the stadium where you can watch a game and the other minor league team called the Tides has a fancy buffet built into the stadium where you can eat during the game in the comfort of an air condition restaurant. I believe that will also bring families to the game as it gives a place for the kids to watch the game but not always out in the sun.

Having “family packs” where food/drink/parking is included sounds good. You could have credit included with the ticket instead of having to purchase it separately.

how about they give them a discount instead?

Something like, first X number of families that buy tix (adult[s] + children under 12/10, whatever) on gameday get free or discounted children tix or vouchers for hot dogs/soda/candy/peanuts?

Marketing/business is not my thang, but I assume families of 4 or 5 aren’t currently knocking down the door to buy a bunch of season or preorder tickets to watch the O’s lose 100.

I’m sure you have already researched this, but I’m pretty sure there are already family plans in place (Junior Orioles Dugout Club), and meal plans (all you can eat LF club level seats).

Ultimately, it’s about price. As Michael said above, it was reasonable to take a family of four to a ballgame a decade ago. Nowadays it would cost like $200-$300 for one night. You could go on a weekend vacation for that much. I already have a hard time justifying spending money on tickets for just my GF and I to go and see such a horrible team.

If the kids really want to go. My kids, nieces, or nephews.

This may be an outlier perspective, but if the kids want to go, a couple adults will take them. The adults in my family are pretty much tired of the Orioles, so marketing to us is basically useless. However, the kids can be an impetus. It hasn’t happened much lately. They are fine going to the BaySox.

Before we moved out of the area, we used to go to a ton of Junior Orioles Dugout Club. I could go to a game with my kid, and, if I parked on the street, end up paying less than $20 for the whole evening.

Waiting 20 minutes in line to get tickets with my kid was always painful, though. I think the ballpark experience would be much improved if they could find a way to get tickets into people’s hands quicker on the day of the game. It ain’t rocket science…. put some automated kiosks out there.

Maybe have family days in the afternoon when school is out in April, May, and September or whenever Teachers have their service days.

If possible isolate family parking to ensure a quick departure onto I95 so families can get home quickly.

Zone off a section and target it solely for young kids but allow sightlines so parents can still somewhat see the game.

I can see for a family that would be great to know how much you’re paying for food before you even go in.

I think more giveaways and promotions can help make it more of a fun family activity, but I think in general the only way the Orioles are going to increase their attendance is to win and sustain it long enough that people believe it’s real. (I’m looking at you, 2005 season.)

Saturday day games used to be a common thing, but I’ve only counted 3 on the schedule this year, all starting at 4:05. Getting back to your house with a kid at 11:30 at night isn’t really cool.

Sunday day games are ok, but on Sundays they make you sit through “God Bless America,” and I don’t like exposing my kid to that kind of pompous nationalism.

They always seem to boost attendance…

Colonel Lucas: Your mission is to proceed up the Chesapeake Bay in a Navy patrol boat. Pick up Mr. Peter Angelo’s path at the Inner Harbor, follow it and learn what you can along the way. When you find Mr. Angelos, infiltrate his team by whatever means available and terminate Mr. Angelos’s command.

Willard: Terminate Mr. Angelos?

General Corman: He’s out there operating without any decent restraint, totally beyond the pale of any acceptable human conduct. And he is still in the field running a baseball team.

Civilian: Terminate with extreme prejudice.

Colonel Lucas: You understand, Captain, that this mission does not exist, nor will it ever exist…

the deal from my folks was that a great report card got me taken to the weekend game of my choosing. Could do the same deal, but with the O’s taking the family-friendly and community-oriented role of rewarding academics: Free or reduced price Sunday afternoon ticket (in the family section) for a kid holding the solid grades or the perfect attendance certificate or whatever.

Set the standard for reward in cooperation with the principals of cooperating schools, so the level isn’t too high or low to do the kids any good – it would be targeted to the ‘zone of proximal development’ for wherever the kid is in school.

The club is a great value. $17 to reup for my son this season for 10 games and avrious goodies.

I also really liked the upgrade feature to sit in Lower LF for $15. They also will let up buy as many extra tickets for that price as you like. (I took up to 6 extra one game) I took my son to half the games last season and it was great.

They could open another area to purchase these tickets though as it does get crowded.

I would suggest a food menu that is smaller portions and geared towards the little ones. They used to have kid’s popcorn for $1 and some other items only a few years ago but they have seemingly been taken off since last year.

I would second cheap parking, lower cost of food (not sure what the OPACY policy on bringing your own food and drink in is), better presentation, the one time I was at OPACY which was a while ago the team was bad, but the stuff in between innings was bad and the overall presentation of the team was pretty lame, crappy visuals on the jumbo, etc.. Also not every kid wants to keep score of the game, although I sure did, maybe they need something like Safeco has where kids can go and see the mascot or have a playground of sorts. I think number one is cutting costs though, it’s a recession after all.

I’m a whore for bobbles. I had a thirteen game plan last year and bought additional tickets for each bobble night. So, yes, bobbles.

Ignoring my own selfish desires for more bobbles, food and ticket promos are likely the only thing to draw people out as the team has become such a joke in the minds of locals.

has already been said….

I think a hat giveaway for kids would be a great idea.

Family section, ticket/food packages

all good ideas.

/not helping, i know.

I grew up in Elkton, which was too far for frequent trips to games but we always went on birthdays. The team gave the birthday kid a present. I still have a Orioles beach towel I got at a birthday game. I think the team provided cake too. Don’t know if there were other incentives.

The O’s give free birthday tickets now, but there is a lot more that can be done to attract the huge birthday party market. Ask the people at Chuck E Cheese how important birthday parties are to their business.

I’ve been following the O’s since . . . 1966. Living in the NW I seldom get a chance to go to a game but . . . given the opportunity, I’ll be there!