End of Orioles’ 13-game, Sunday-only ticket plan hits some families hard

There is something about Sunday baseball that resonates with fans.Maybe its because its traditionally a day when families gather.

Or because most Sunday games are played in the daytime, lending them an old-school feel in a sport that thrives on nostalgia.The affection for ballpark Sundays was evident in the response to Thursdays announcement that the Orioles are ending their longstanding 13-game and 29-game ticket offerings next season.

They are adding new 20-game and 40-game packages that they say will provide more flexibility but cost on average 3% more.The changes mean the end of the family friendly, 13-game, Sunday-only package.

While there was general grousing about ticket price increases after Thursdays announcement, the reaction to the demise of the Sunday plan seemed personal.For decades, weve proudly held the 13-game Sunday plan, a package that has perfectly fit our familys schedule and allowed us to enjoy our shared passion for this team, began an email to the Orioles on Thursday from Reid Cavalier, a ticket plan holder with his family.The announcement that the 13-game package is being eliminated, with fans being forced into a more expensive 20-game plan (alongside possible seat relocations), is an insult to your most loyal supporters, wrote Cavalier, a medical device sales executive who emailed on behalf of his father and two sisters.Cavalier lives in northern Virginia, but the rest of the family lives in Pikesville and Lutherville, and all are 25-year season-ticket holders.

The family, including Reids 75-year-old dad and a few of his grandkids, often meet at Camden Yards for Sunday games.During the week is just not as doable, said Stefanie Cavalier, an attorney who is Reids sister.

This just works for our family.Sam Angell, a 29-game ticket holder from Silver Spring, said: You dont want to be taking little kids to night games if you can help it.Other fans weighed in on social media about the Sunday plan, with many stressing their loyalty.Weve had the Sunday plan for 20 years.

Guess this might be it for me, wrote one fan on Reddit.I had a 13-game Sunday plan when CY opened in 1992, wrote another on Reddit, referring to Camden Yards.The Orioles said that they knew the changes would prove an adjustment for some fans.Related ArticlesOrioles mailbag: Why hasnt Dylan Beavers been promoted yet?Cubs Andrew Kittredge pitches immaculate inning after being booedREADERS RESPOND: Fans split on Orioles trade deadline movesOrioles overhauling ticket plans for next season; prices to rise 3%Orioles High-A affiliate moving to Frederick could benefit young hittersOur commitment is to work with our fans to help them find what is right for them, said Catie Griggs, the teams president of business operations.

Almost every other team in the league has a quarter-season package, half-season package and full-season package, so we were looking to move toward that.She said the 20-game and 40-game plans fit neatly into the 81-game home schedule.The team said that there is still a way for ticket holders to cobble together a plan similar to the one with 13 Sunday games.To do that, a fan would need to purchase a 20-game plan of Sunday games and then sell back six games to the team in exchange for monetary credit for the 2027 season.

Six is the maximum number of games a fan can sell back under the new 2026 rules.The result would be 14 Sunday games, plus the perks of a 20-game plan including 25% savings on concessions and merchandise and guaranteed opening day access.Such an approach would be more expensive perhaps significantly so than the current 13-game Sunday option.

The cost difference would depend on the seat locations and other factors.Have a news tip? Contact Jeff Barker at [email protected]..

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