Club Level

Maryland coach Ron Vanderlinden walked into the luxurious club level at Ravens stadium for a news conference yesterday and said, "This place is beautiful even though it's not the real world."A few minutes later, Vanderlinden called the new stadium "arguably the finest football facility in the nation."But the most intriguing question this week is how much Vanderlinden will love the NFL state-of-the-art stadium after his 2-5 team clashes with No. 23 Georgia Tech at noon Saturday.The high-scoring Yellow Jackets and their gifted junior quarterback Joe Hamilton are capable of turning a dreamlike afternoon into a nightmare for any coach with a young secondary like that of Maryland.

Let's call it The Big Orchid for now because the Ravens' new stadium doesn't have an official name yet and that's a lot of purple coming out of the ground.It's a splendid place, no doubt, as well it should be for what it cost. The lower bowl, club level and luxury boxes are almost on top of the field. The scoreboards and sound system are terrific. There's an industrial feel that seems right for football. All that purple? Cool.But the upper deck? Well, not to tell you how to live your life or anything, but if your seats are up there, you'd better bring a Sherpa.

Two hundred and thirty-seven dollars. Per seat. Per game. J. David Norris, who lives in Anne Arundel County, wants us to say the words out loud: "Two hundred and thirty-seven dollars. Per seat. Per game." The man is in sticker shock over his Ravens season tickets, though at this point in Baltimore's football epoch it's hard to understand how he could have been unprepared for the bill.Says right there on Pages 11 and 12 of a slick booklet published by the Ravens a year ago: The combined annual fee and season ticket price for a Club Level 2 seat is $2,375.

The Fan knew yesterday was a special day when:* She met Calvin Dempsey Blevins, 9 months -- and learned yesterday's game was the first game he made it through all nine innings."

From the ashes of destruction and the crushing morale factor that came with a fire that leveled the building to a hopeless state of twisted girders and devastation has come a new spirit at Hillendale Country Club, which cut the ribbon yesterday on a $6 million-plus clubhouse that is being hailed as one of the most spectacular in the Middle Atlantic area.It's a striking development that enhances not only Hillendale but will have an impact on what other clubs may do to gain parity. Hillendale was the victim in being burned out but it also is the victor.

The troops move in minutes after Cal Ripken caught the last out, hundreds of them sweeping through the grandstands hauling plastic trash bags, still more deployed on the concourse wielding brooms and driving electric tractors.Less than two hours to go before the gates would open for Game 2 of the Orioles' first day-night doubleheader at home in 33 years. Five, six hours of work to do in two. Around Camden Yards, everybody seems to be moving."We sort of laid it out in teams," says Donald Rankin, president of Harry M. Stevens Maintenance Services Inc. "Kind of like going to war."

A suite attendant in white shirt and green bow tie rolls the dessert cart toward the dark wooden door and in moments serves English lemon cake, cheesecake, Grand Marnier in dainty chocolate cups. Nearby, a line forms at the espresso stand as the shoeshine man awaits more customers, more wingtips and tassled loafers.Life is as it should be this evening on the club level of Camden Yards. But wait -- isn't there a ballgame going on around here somewhere?Perhaps. Check the alcoves between the cherry-finish suite doors: Through the glass you can see a swath of green and a few men in athletic garb against a backdrop of packed grandstands.

For all the clamor around Ken Griffey's locker after yesterday's Gatorade Home Run Derby at the All-Star workout, you'd have thought he'd won something.Griffey did become the first player to hit the B&O warehouse behind right field at Camden Yards on the fly with a batted ball, but he didn't win the competition.That distinction went to Juan Gonzalez, who may have done structural damage to the joint, slugging the two longest blasts in Oriole Park history to beat Griffey in two extra sessions.

The playing field is a novelty -- a variety of shapes along the outfield fences, differing distances to the foul poles, walls that fielders could leap and then land in someone's lap.But up in the seats, in the higher reaches of the Baltimore Orioles' $100 million-plus brick-and-steel nest, it ain't so great -- in this fan's view.Take the stairways, please! A steep climb, it seemed, compared to the gradual rise of the ramps at Memorial Stadium. And you might be a little out of breath after running downstairs again because there weren't enough programs in the limited concession facilities upstairs.

Starting next month, something new and different is coming to the posh club level at the new Camden Yards ballpark: the average fan.The Orioles and Maryland Stadium Authority announced yesterday a plan to distribute about 300 of the most desirable tickets to fans who haven't been able to sit in or even see one of the ballpark's most exclusive sections.Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke already has begun turning over seats in his 10-seat luxury suite to community groups and to local charities with ties to Baltimore.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards Since it is a new baseball season, and in prior years I had already chomped on all the sausages and pit beef that the stadium has to offer, I ate only new menu items on Opening Day. I divided my eating adventure into two parts: sampling items available to the multitudes, and tasting fare sold to eaters dining on the exclusive club level. I tested temperatures of the food with an instant-read thermometer. For the hoi polloi, the most promising newcomers were at Noah's Pretzel stand.

This weekend, the Ravens kick off a new season, one that pigskin prognosticators say might not be too pleasing to watch. Yet whether the team wins, loses or has a game-deciding field goal dangle on the uprights, fans can enjoy the eats. That is what I did last week while watching the preseason struggle between the Ravens and the Falcons at M&T Bank Stadium. Best bite outside The grilled steak sandwich, $9, at the Oregon Grille stand on Ravenswalk is made with top sirloin that is marinated, grilled and served with peppers, provolone cheese and chipotle mayonnaise on roasted focaccia bread.

The Ravens have changed designated smoking areas at M&T Bank Stadium to comply with the newest city smoking ordinance. The following changes of locations and times when smoking is permitted are in effect immediately and affect the lower concourses at the stadium. Designated areas and times smoking is permitted are noted by signs: * Within the designated areas just inside of gates A, B, C and D beginning at kickoff. * Next to the northwest ramp area opposite of Section 148 beginning when gate opens (from the press box - opponents' side of the field, to the left)

The NFL Players Association last week signed off on a league waiver that will allow the Ravens to make $9 million in capital improvements to M&T Bank Stadium over a three-year period. Club president Dick Cass said the improvements actually began a year ago with work on the suite level and south side of the club level. The north side of the club level is also targeted for work, he said. The waiver process allows the Ravens to recoup $3 million of the $9 million budgeted cost. The NFL approved the team's request for the credit last May. NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw said this week that the union approved waivers for stadiums of three teams - the Ravens, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers.

Two fans at Thursday night's Orioles game were taken to the hospital after one fell from the club-level deck at Camden Yards and landed on the other moments before the Orioles broke a tie to beat the Chicago White Sox in a 10-inning game. The Orioles called the incident "an unfortunate accident," but would not offer specific details, citing privacy laws. However, several sources with knowledge of the incident said an adult male was leaning too far over the railing on the first base side of the stadium just above the "Bank of America" advertisement.

WHERE -- Oriole Park WHEN -- Tomorrow. General admission starts at 10:30 a.m. at Gate C. Fan forums begin at 10:45 a.m. and last throughout the day. A two-hour autograph session with current and former Orioles begins at 11 a.m., followed by a team workout at 1:15. Fans can pose for photos with the 1983 World Series trophy in Championship Cafe from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Other activities -- The main concourse will have a speed pitch, moon bounce and other activities. Photos with the Oriole Bird and free giveaways will take place on the club level.

What -- Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic; second installment of doubleheader featuring the four schools that have won every Division I men's lacrosse title dating to 1992 and 27 of 36 national championships Where -- M&T Bank Stadium Tickets -- $15 for lower-level reserved seat, $25 for club level, $10 for groups of 10 or more. Go to www.ticketmaster.com or call 410-261-RAVE.

Ever made it to the front of the line at the concession stand at M&T Bank Stadium only to realize you had no cash and had to dash to the nearest ATM - there are nine in the 1.6-million-square-foot facility - missing even more of the Ravens game than planned? That changes this season. As part of $11 million in renovations to the stadium, the Ravens announced yesterday that fans will be able to pay for food as well as merchandise with a credit card. Many of the 418 newly installed terminals will also accept a new kind of credit card that simply requires a wave in front of a screen for the transaction to register.

Take me out to the ballgame, buy me some sushi and hot dogs that are vegetarian. Who says the ball yard is only for proletarians? Yes, that is what I have come to. This week I went to a baseball game, the Orioles' 10-3 victory over the Yankees on opening day, and ate sushi. I liked it. I would do it again except there is one small problem. The sushi -- a $10 variety package of 12 crisp pieces -- is sold only on the club level, which has restricted access. That means ordinary eaters, a class I count myself among when I am not toting a press pass, will be unable to enjoy raw seafood at Camden Yards.

Maryland coach Ron Vanderlinden walked into the luxurious club level at Ravens stadium for a news conference yesterday and said, "This place is beautiful even though it's not the real world."A few minutes later, Vanderlinden called the new stadium "arguably the finest football facility in the nation."But the most intriguing question this week is how much Vanderlinden will love the NFL state-of-the-art stadium after his 2-5 team clashes with No. 23 Georgia Tech at noon Saturday.The high-scoring Yellow Jackets and their gifted junior quarterback Joe Hamilton are capable of turning a dreamlike afternoon into a nightmare for any coach with a young secondary like that of Maryland.