Orioles Park at Camden Yards may "soon be getting a makeover -- one that will make the area overlooking center field into a year-round attraction," according to Steve Kilar of the Baltimore SUN. The Maryland Stadium Authority plan indicates that the street-level picnic area behind the center-field wall "would be reconfigured into a park where fans can stroll in and gaze out on the diamond, even in December." The area would have "expanded space for concessions and a rooftop viewing area." The MSA "will be asking the Board of Public Works next Wednesday to approve a $1.8 million contract for renovations to the center field Bullpen Picnic Area." Orioles Dir of Communications Greg Bader said that the new park "will be closed at night." He added that an "event revealing more specifics will be held next week." In addition to the picnic area renovation, "new restaurant concessions and retail are planned for the ballpark." MSA Exec Dir Michael Frenz said that the "bulk of the funds for the renovations will come from the Supplemental Improvements Fund for Maryland Stadium Authority structures." Additional funds "will come out of the authority's Operations Funds" (Baltimore SUN, 12/1).
