The Baltimore Orioles are one of the most popular Major League Baseball teams, with a long history dating back to 1901. As an American League East division team, the Orioles play 81 home games each season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in downtown Baltimore. For baseball fans in the greater Baltimore metro area, attending an Orioles home game is a beloved tradition and hot tickets are always in demand.
When looking to purchase Orioles tickets, fans have several options to consider. Getting seats directly from the team via the Orioles website or box office, using a licensed ticket reseller, or buying from a ticket broker are the most common avenues. Prices, fees and availability can vary greatly depending on the source. Doing thorough research enables shoppers to find the ideal deal based on price point preferences, number of tickets needed and desired seat location.
Purchasing Directly from the Orioles Organization
Perhaps the most obvious place to buy Orioles tickets is directly from the team itself. The Orioles offer several options to purchase tickets through official channels:
Orioles.com
The Orioles website is the best place to buy tickets online directly from the team. Fans can view the Camden Yards seating chart, see real time ticket availability and complete the purchase through the website. Printable e-tickets are usually provided upon payment. The Orioles website offers fee-free ticket sales for most games. Exchanges can also be processed online.
Orioles Box Office
The Orioles operate three main box office locations:
– Oriole Park Box Office – Located at the north end of the warehouse beside the ballpark’s main gate. Open on game days and non-game days.
– Convention Center Box Office – On the club level inside the Baltimore Convention Center. Open Monday-Friday on non-game days only.
– York Road Office – Housed in the York Ridge Shopping Center about six miles north of Camden Yards. Open Tuesday-Saturday.
Box office purchases allow fans to avoid online fees. Exchanges can also be processed in person. However, box office ticket availability is limited on game days.
Group Tickets
For parties of 20 or more attendees, group ticket packages can be purchased directly through the Orioles group sales department. Discounted group rates and benefits like reserved block seating are offered.
Mini Plans and Season Tickets
The Orioles offer full and partial season ticket plans as well as 12-game and 6-game flex packs. These packaged deals come with guaranteed seats for the included games, often at a discounted per-ticket price.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Direct Orioles Purchases
Buying straight from the Orioles organization has several advantages:
No Hidden Fees
The Orioles offer fee-free ticket sales on their website and at the Camden Yards box office windows for most games. This helps keep ticket prices as low as possible.
Peace of Mind
confidence comes from purchasing 100% guaranteed authentic tickets directly from the team. This eliminates any risk of fraud.
Full Price Options Only
The Orioles typically only sell tickets at full face value prices. Deep discounts are very rare. So budget-minded shoppers may find better deals through third party resellers.
Limited Game Day Availability
Popular high demand games often sell out in advance through the team’s channels. Fans looking for last minute tickets could have a hard time buying directly from the Orioles.
Ticket Resale Marketplaces
Several large online ticket marketplaces have emerged in recent years as popular alternatives for buying sports, concert and theater tickets. These resale sites do not directly sell the tickets themselves. They instead connect individual ticket holders with buyers. Here are some of the major resale platforms:
StubHub
As the largest ticket reseller in the U.S., StubHub offers a wide selection of Orioles tickets. Many listings are priced below face value since season ticket holders often sell extra games they cannot attend. StubHub charges service fees to buyers and sellers. E-tickets are typically delivered instantly. StubHub also provides a 100% purchase guarantee on all tickets.
Vivid Seats
This discount ticket broker has an easy to use website showing interactive seat views when buying Orioles tickets. Vivid Seats service fees are disclosed upfront during the purchasing process, so the final price is displayed clearly. Vivid Seats also offers a 100% buyer guarantee on all orders.
SeatGeek
With a powerful interactive seat map search, fans can easily find Orioles tickets on SeatGeek. The site’s Deal Score rating helps identify especially good bargains based on market data. SeatGeek provides a 100% guarantee on all ticket purchases.
Ticketmaster
As an official partner and the primary ticketing provider for the Orioles, Ticketmaster has a large inventory of verified resale and box office tickets. Their Verified Tickets guarantee protects against fraud. Discounted resale Orioles tickets are shown alongside primary market full price seats.
Gametime
Last minute shoppers can find excellent deals on the Gametime app. Discounted Orioles tickets are posted in real time as sellers attempt to unload their extras right before first pitch. All orders are 100% guaranteed by Gametime too.
Benefits of Buying from a Resale Marketplace
The major ticket resale sites provide some compelling advantages for Orioles ticket shoppers:
Better Prices
Season ticket holders with extras games to spare will often price their tickets below face value on resale sites. Sports fans can find substantial discounts this way.
Wider Selection
Thousands of different sellers post their Orioles tickets across the various resale platforms. This adds up to an enormous combined inventory. Even sold out games can have tickets available from resellers.
Quick Digital Delivery
The immediacy of real time e-ticket delivery makes purchasing simple. Fans don’t have to drive down to the box office or wait for physical tickets to arrive in the mail.
Strong Buyer Guarantees
Top resale sites all provide 100% guarantees that protect customers from fake tickets and other issues. Refunds are provided if there are any problems. This takes the risk out of buying from unknown third party sellers.
Using a Local Ticket Broker
Some fans still utilize old fashioned ticket brokers to purchase Orioles seats. These independent dealers buy and sell tickets locally, usually operating out of small offices or storefronts in the Baltimore metro area. They typically charge higher fees compared to online marketplaces. However, some benefits do exist:
Personal Service
Visiting an office allows for face to face interaction during the buying process. The broker’s expertise about seating options and recommendations can help customers make decisions.
Last Minute Access
Local brokers often have special industry relationships that grant access to very late release tickets even after online sources are sold out. For true last minute purchases, a broker can sometimes come through.
Established Reputation
The best brokers who have served the Baltimore community for many years will have extensive reviews and feedback from prior customers available to evaluate their level of service. Their long term reputation is on the line with every transaction.
Comparing Prices Across Orioles Ticket Outlets
Orioles tickets can vary widely in cost depending on multiple factors:
– Day of the week – Weeknight games are typically less expensive than weekend dates.
– Opponent – When top rivals or popular teams like the Yankees visit, demand goes up along with prices.
– Promotions/Giveaways – Bobblehead nights and Fireworks Fridays will drive higher attendance and ticket costs.
– Primary vs Resale – Third party resellers often undercut box office costs.
– Seat Location – Lower box seats near the infield sell for higher premiums than outfield bleachers.
To demonstrate the range of prices, here is a comparison table of hypothetical ticket costs for an upcoming weekend Orioles game:
Ticket Source | Lower Box | Outfield Box | Upper Reserve |
---|---|---|---|
Orioles.com | $125 | $75 | $30 |
StubHub | $115 | $65 | $20 |
ABC Brokers | $150 | $90 | $25 |
As shown above, secondary market resellers routinely beat the primary box office prices. The exact savings will fluctuate game to game, but significant discounts off face value are frequently available through resale. Meanwhile, local brokers may charge higher premium fees for their service. Comparing costs across multiple options helps fans uncover the best values.
How to Get the Best Deals on Orioles Tickets
Here are some key tips for finding the cheapest Orioles tickets:
Buy Early
Paying ahead of time yields the best prices. Waiting until the last minute leads to paying a premium.
Aim for Weeknights
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday games are generally the least expensive dates on the Orioles schedule.
Avoid Yankees/Red Sox Games
When the AL East rivals come to town, demand for tickets soars compared to other series.
Be Flexible on Seating
The outfield bleacher seats sell for far lower costs than sitting right behind home plate or the dugouts.
Check Multiple Resale Sites
Every resale marketplace’s pricing and inventory will be slightly different. Cross shop to find the best deal.
Sign Up for Promotions
The Orioles and ticket partners offer special email promotions to help fill empty seats with discounted offers. Subscribing can pay off.
Conclusion
Orioles fans have no shortage of options to choose from when purchasing tickets. Buying directly through the Orioles box office or website provides guaranteed authenticity. But the best prices and largest supply usually come from major secondary marketplaces like StubHub and Vivid Seats where season ticket holders resell extra games. Local brokers can also be helpful securing last minute seats through their industry connections.
Comparing prices and shopping early leads to the top deals. Weeknight games against small market teams provide big savings opportunities. With the right research and timing, fans can enjoy the excitement of Orioles baseball at Camden Yards while still staying within their preferred budget.