Sports
Ripken Stadium Outfield Turns Orange
New features position Aberdeen as the 'Gateway to Birdland.'
When the Aberdeen IronBirds step up to bat for the home opener Friday at Ripken Stadium, players and fans will have a new view, according to a statement from Ripken Baseball.
In the revamped outfield, 390 orange and black pads have been installed, covering the backstop wall, dugouts and batter's eye in centerfield, the statement said.
"We designed the new outfield wall to enhance the fan experience and to create a distinct home field advantage for the new-look IronBirds," Ripken Baseball’s Vice President of Brand Marketing Colin Clark said.
"Paired with the team’s new Under Armour uniforms, the fresh atmosphere at Ripken Stadium further establishes Aberdeen as the place where Birdland begins and innovation lives," Clark said.
The IronBirds is the short-season affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, whose colors are orange and black.
In a nod to the Orioles, the black and orange color scheme is woven into other parts of the stadium. It appears at new hospitality areas including the Sam Adams 378 Bar, Natty Boh Garden and Hollywood Casino's Extra Innings Café, according to the statement.
The IronBirds home opener is at 7:35 p.m. on Friday, June 20, against the Brooklyn Cyclones.
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