WBAL NewsRadio, 98 Rock get radio deal
The Orioles have partnered with Hearst’s 98 Rock FM and WBAL NewsRadio AM/FM as the team’s new flagship radio stations, the club announced Wednesday morning.
The six-year agreement will feature Orioles content on WBAL-TV, as well, but the teamowned Mid-Atlantic Sports Network will remain the exclusive host of Baltimore’s television broadcasts of games. 98 Rock (97.9 FM) and WBAL NewsRadio AM 1090 and FM 101.5 will broadcast all 162 regular-season Orioles games and select spring training games, though the schedules of Major League Baseball’s exhibition and regular seasons remain in the air with the league’s owners having locked out players as they work toward a new collective bargaining agreement.
CBS Radio’s 105.7 The Fan previously served as the flagship station of the Orioles Radio Network, which features seven states and 40 stations.
“The Orioles are thrilled to be working with Hearst Baltimore and their lineup of heritage radio stations to serve as the home of Orioles radio broadcasts,” said T.J. Brightman, Orioles senior vice president and chief revenue officer, in a club statement. “This new partnership will not only serve our fans listening throughout Birdland but create more value for our club and corporate partners who utilize our radio assets to support their own brands and drive revenues using the power of Orioles baseball.”
“The entire Hearst Baltimore Team feels like the Orioles have truly come home and are excited to have the O’s back and now on all our radio stations for the foreseeable future,” said Cary Pahigian, president and general manager of WBAL FM/AM & 98 Rock, in a statement. “This iconic franchise is undoubtedly going to soon be a force in the AL East and for many years to come. We share the community’s enthusiasm with positive initiatives and plans underway within the entire Orioles organization. It’s a treasured opportunity to be partnered with Orioles baseball again, and we can’t wait to showcase the games on the radio.”
WBAL has a lengthy history as the Orioles’ radio partner, first broadcasting the team’s games in its fourth year in Baltimore in 1957. In all, WBAL has been the radio home of the Orioles for more than 40 years across the club’s first almost seven decades in the city. Adding WBAL-TV to the partnership, Brightman said, “was an absolute no brainer.”
“WBAL-TV looks forward to being part of this new unique partnership with the Orioles,” said Dan Joerres, president and general manager of WBAL-TV, in a statement. “Through our various television, radio, digital, and social media platforms, we are excited to use our powerful broadcast assets to reach O’s fans throughout the state of Maryland.”
O’s to celebrate 30 years at Camden Yards
The Orioles on Tuesday announced their intention to recognize the 30-year anniversary of their iconic ballpark leading up to and throughout the 2022 season.
Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened with the 1992 campaign and since has hosted several notable moments and players in baseball’s history, particularly Cal Ripken Jr.’s record-breaking 2,131st consecutive game. During the season, “past Orioles who have had an integral part in the history of the ballpark” will be welcomed to Camden Yards, the team said in a statement.
Although more details of celebrations and recognitions are to come, the Orioles have announced that every uniformed member of the team will have a patch honoring the ballpark’s 30th anniversary on the right sleeve of their jerseys. The club’s team store will also feature various 30th anniversary products.
Assuming the lockout does not extend into the regular season and it begins on time, the team will celebrate the 30th anniversary with on-field ceremonies ahead of both Opening Day’s March 31 contest with the Toronto Blue Jays and Aug. 6’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the latter of which will feature an Oriole Park-themed giveaway.
Throughout the season, an exhibit commemorating Camden Yards’ history will be within the ballpark’s gates, where fans will be able to make contributions via their photographs and memories. There will be $10 seats available in the outfield Eutaw Street bleachers for each Monday-Thursday home game, excluding Opening Day. The team has yet to announce when individual game ticket sales will begin. All Birdland Members, the team’s version of season-ticket holders, will receive a vial of dirt from the Oriole Park infield and an exclusive hat.
Over the past 30 years, Oriole Park has brought more than 72 million people downtown Baltimore and created more than $10 billion in economic impact, the club said in its announcement. As part of the anniversary celebration, the organization will continue its impact in the community by partnering with Habitat For Humanity to build three homes, two rowhome rehabs and a community green space in the Pigtown neighborhood.
Members of the Orioles’ front office, Orange & Black Gives Back Employee Volunteer Program and other organizational partners will contribute to the yearlong project.
More details on the anniversary recognition will be available throughout the season at orioles.com/OriolePark30, the team said.
In 2021, the Orioles ranked 26th of the 30 major league teams in average attendance, though each club had varying attendance limits early in the season because of the coronavirus pandemic.