Box Seats

Trying to boost revenues yet keep the cost of a day at the ballpark affordable for families, the Orioles have raised the price of their best seats by more than 28 percent while holding the line on more than half the tickets at Camden Yards. Matt Dryer, the Orioles' senior director of advertising and promotions, said that all upper-deck seats will cost the same this year as last. He said that 19,000 seats, or about 40 percent of the 48,190-seat ballpark, will cost $18 or less. "All we did was raise the areas that year after year after year, regardless of team performance, sell well over 95 to 99 percent of the time," Dryer said.

Charles Curlett paid $2,000 Saturday night for a Cartier watch worth $5,600. "And for a good cause," said the attorney from Oakenshawe. But Curlett won't have the unisex watch all to himself. "We're going to share it," said his wife, Christina. Curlett was among more than 200 people who packed Gutierrez Studios in Woodberry for the third annual "Hats Off to Hampden Family Center," a gala fundraiser featuring silent and live auctions and live music. The Hampden Family Center provides everything from after-school enrichment and tutoring for area schoolchildren to lunches for senior citizens and assistance to families in applying for food stamps and other social services.

Whether Gov. Parris N. Glendening has vision is a matter of opinion. But there's no doubt that he has a great view.The Governor's Box at Camden Yards sits on the exclusive club level of Oriole Park, just a little to the first-base side of home plate, with a panorama of the city skyline. Its sightlines ensure that occupants will miss little of the action on the field -- unless they're distracted by the television, the phone or a suite attendant bringing a glass of chardonnay.For some, an invitation to watch a game there is a much-appreciated ego stroke.

For the first time in 15 years, the Orioles will be sending out postseason ticket invoices to plan holders starting Thursday morning. All season ticketholders should get the invoices - making them eligible to buy tickets to all levels of potential playoffs at Camden Yards - by next week, and perhaps as early as Friday. “It's very exciting for us. The fact we are having daily postseason meetings to prepare all elements for the postseason is not something we have experienced in recent years,” said Greg Bader, the Orioles' director of communications.

The Orioles may have raised prices for the top tickets at Camden Yards, but at least their best customers will be more comfortable this season. The Maryland Stadium Authority this week began tearing out the 6,650 field box seats in sections 16 through 58 so they can be replaced with padded seats that have higher backs. The 1 1/4 inches of foam padding may better cushion fans' posteriors, since their wallets will be thinner. Last week, the Orioles notified season-ticket holders that field box seats between the bases will cost $45, up from $35. The back of each new seat measures 18 3/4 inches, which is 3 inches higher than previously.

The Bowie Baysox will retain minor-league ticket prices during the team's 1993 stay at Memorial Stadium, general manager Keith Lupton announced yesterday, as the Orioles' Double-A affiliate opened its ticket operation.Individual game tickets will go on sale Feb. 22. Box seats will be $7 per game and general admission tickets $5. Tickets are $3 for youths 6-17 years old, senior citizens and active military. Children 5 and under will be admitted free, as will children in youth sports uniforms (cap and jersey)

The Orioles will raise individual ticket prices at Camden Yards this season on premium seats in the area between the base lines not affected by season-ticket holders. An announcement is expected next week. Field box seats will increase from $35 to $45, club level seats from $40 to $45 and terrace box seats from $27 to $32. "About 99 percent of those seats are sold to season-ticket holders," said Matt Dryer, the Orioles' director of sales. "[When] tickets pop up individually in those areas, we are going to sell them at a higher price.

If you've received Preakness tickets in the mail, you've als received an insert telling you that it will cost $2 every time you leave the infield.For the second year, officials at Pimlico Race Course are trying to restrict infield traffic. Grandstand general admission and infield admission are both $12 for the May 18 Preakness, but crisscrossing will cost extra."It's basically one-way to the infield," said Jim Mango, track vice president. "You can go in, but it will cost an extra $2 every time you leave."

Richard Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung - about 15 hours of music and drama, divided into four chapters - remains not just a pinnacle of Western art, but a continual source of fresh inspiration. Hardly frozen in a world of ancient myth, the Ring cycle has the curious ability to speak in different ways to different people at different times in different places. It's a living thing, which makes it all the more magnetic. WNO's `Das Rheingold' 7:30 p.m. Thursday and five more performances through April 10 at Kennedy Center, Virginia and New Hampshire avenues N.W. Tickets $45 to $190 (higher for box seats)

For the first time in 15 years, the Orioles will be sending out postseason ticket invoices to plan holders starting Thursday morning. All season ticketholders should get the invoices - making them eligible to buy tickets to all levels of potential playoffs at Camden Yards - by next week, and perhaps as early as Friday. “It's very exciting for us. The fact we are having daily postseason meetings to prepare all elements for the postseason is not something we have experienced in recent years,” said Greg Bader, the Orioles' director of communications.

First workout: Pitchers and catchers hold their first workout Thursday. The first full-squad workout is Feb. 19. Stadium: Fort Lauderdale Stadium (Orioles' 13th year) Address: 1301 NW 55th St., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33309 Phone number: 954-776-1921 Dimensions: 332 feet to left field; 320 to right; 401 to center. Ticket prices: Box seats $20; reserved grandstand (seating under cover) $14; general admission $10 ($5 for children 14 and under); children under 3 do not require a ticket but must sit on someone's lap because strollers may not be used as seating.

Richard Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung - about 15 hours of music and drama, divided into four chapters - remains not just a pinnacle of Western art, but a continual source of fresh inspiration. Hardly frozen in a world of ancient myth, the Ring cycle has the curious ability to speak in different ways to different people at different times in different places. It's a living thing, which makes it all the more magnetic. WNO's `Das Rheingold' 7:30 p.m. Thursday and five more performances through April 10 at Kennedy Center, Virginia and New Hampshire avenues N.W. Tickets $45 to $190 (higher for box seats)

The Orioles may have raised prices for the top tickets at Camden Yards, but at least their best customers will be more comfortable this season. The Maryland Stadium Authority this week began tearing out the 6,650 field box seats in sections 16 through 58 so they can be replaced with padded seats that have higher backs. The 1 1/4 inches of foam padding may better cushion fans' posteriors, since their wallets will be thinner. Last week, the Orioles notified season-ticket holders that field box seats between the bases will cost $45, up from $35. The back of each new seat measures 18 3/4 inches, which is 3 inches higher than previously.

Trying to boost revenues yet keep the cost of a day at the ballpark affordable for families, the Orioles have raised the price of their best seats by more than 28 percent while holding the line on more than half the tickets at Camden Yards. Matt Dryer, the Orioles' senior director of advertising and promotions, said that all upper-deck seats will cost the same this year as last. He said that 19,000 seats, or about 40 percent of the 48,190-seat ballpark, will cost $18 or less. "All we did was raise the areas that year after year after year, regardless of team performance, sell well over 95 to 99 percent of the time," Dryer said.

The Orioles will raise individual ticket prices at Camden Yards this season on premium seats in the area between the base lines not affected by season-ticket holders. An announcement is expected next week. Field box seats will increase from $35 to $45, club level seats from $40 to $45 and terrace box seats from $27 to $32. "About 99 percent of those seats are sold to season-ticket holders," said Matt Dryer, the Orioles' director of sales. "[When] tickets pop up individually in those areas, we are going to sell them at a higher price.

DALLAS - The Orioles made it official yesterday: A disgruntled fan base won't have to pay more next season not to watch Mike Mussina pitch. Directly linking his decision to Mussina's $88.5 million defection to the New York Yankees last week, Orioles majority owner Peter Angelos announced the club has rescinded its decision to raise prices on Camden Yards' premium seats. Instead, the Orioles stand as Major League Baseball's only franchise to forgo a price hike on any tickets the past three seasons.

The Baltimore Orioles announced ticket prices for their new ballpark yesterday, with increases of 50 cents to $2 for reserved seating, but general admission prices stayed the same or, in some cases, decreased.With the new downtown stadium as the backdrop, Orioles President Larry Lucchino said, "We've taken a flexible approach to this. There will still be some bargains. We're pleased about that. We've maintained a lower ticket for those people looking for bargains."Box seats will make up about 53 percent of the ballpark's 47,000 seats, reserved seats 26 percent.

Despite the near-unanimous plaudits for the new ballpark and the excitement of an unexpected pennant race by the Orioles, there is a sour note at Camden Yards. Hundreds of fans are bitter about their seats around the left-field foul pole. Others complain that high-priced seats well down the right-field line and some of the terrace boxes are inferior. Were these design errors, or is the problem a public relations blunder by the Orioles?Stadium Authority and Orioles officials deny the controversial seats are the result of bad design.

Reconsidering what was deemed a done deal as recently as last week, the Orioles may not raise ticket prices on Camden Yards' most select seats, which would leave them as the only major-league franchise to cap ticket costs the past three years. The club is expected this morning to announce its price structure for 2001, a year apparently committed toward rebuilding with younger, less expensive talent and without ace pitcher Mike Mussina, who defected last Thursday to the New York Yankees for a six-year, $88.5 million contract.

Merriweather Post Pavilion launches its season tomorrowwith a new look intended to keep the concert site competitive with other venues. A $750,000 renovation has been completed just in time for the first concert featuring the alternative rock band Nine Inch Nails. The face lift also included several new amenities, such as covered boxes costing up to $14,175 that sold out in weeks. "Our kids are very popular now that we have box seats at Merriweather," said Bill Pullin of Ellicott City, who paid about $9,000 for a box that offers him seating at all the shows, wait staff service and access to the VIP deck.