Mannywood has been dismantled. But don’t worry, people, another Major League Baseball team has unveiled a new branded section for you. On June 16, the Baltimore Orioles announced that they would be taking a page from the Dodgers’ book, branding the bleachers in right-centerfield “2110 Eutaw Street.”
The Orioles have combined the uniform numbers of rightfielder Nick Markakis (21) and centerfielder Adam Jones (10), two of the best young outfielders in the game, to bring fans a unique opportunity. For $21 a ticket, fans will receive an “I Live at 2110 Eutaw Street” t-shirt. Tickets in this section of the bleachers normally cost $15 apiece.
Besides the t-shirt included in the price, fans have some extra incentive to buy tickets in the section. If either Jones or Markakis hits a home run during a 2110 Eutaw (pronounced “Utah”) Street game, a randomly selected fan in the section will win a bat signed by the player who hit the home run. Although the section can sit approximately 1,000, the Orioles are capping 2110 participants at 500.
“We’ve sold a fair amount so far and the tickets have only been available for around 48 hours,” said Orioles Director of Communication Greg Bader. “They’ve sold quite well so far. If it goes beyond 500, we’ll ear mark more for fans.
Although the Orioles have only announced just one date for the promotion, a July 12 game against Toronto, Greg Bader said the team is planning on expanding the ticket promotion to around five games throughout the season. First, though, the Orioles want to gauge interest and test run the section.
“We just want to see how it goes,” Bader said. “We want to encourage people who are interested to go to that game, to go. Once the July 12 game passes, we’ll announce more games in the section. If it’s successful, we’ll extend it into next year and do more next year.”
The team plans on branding the section with “2110 Eutaw Street” signage. Bader said he could envision a company getting on board to sponsor it.
Those who follow the Chicago Cubs are familiar with the interaction outfielders have with the “Bleacher Bums.” Bader said that kind of player-fan relationship is exactly what the section is meant to develop. To do that, both Markakis and Jones will interact with fans and throw balls into the stands throughout the game.
“Nick and Adam represent the core of the organization that we’re building the team around,” Bader said. “These players will hopefully be patrolling right and left for many years to come. We want to build that relationship between the players and fans and help the relationship grow.
“This part of the stadium is a desirable area to sit in. Fans are always looking for added value. We feel this is another way to add value to a ticket. I think we’re providing an experience that’s unique for fans.”
