Orioles to welcome back fans to Ed Smith Stadium for spring training games with social distancing guidelines

As the Orioles prepare to begin the 2021 Spring Training season, the club today announced plans to welcome a limited number of fans to attend games at Ed Smith Stadium this spring.

The club will implement "pod" seating throughout the ballpark to ensure proper social distancing of at least six feet between each group of ticket holders. With this policy in place, the Orioles will make 1,833 tickets available for each game, operating at approximately 25 percent capacity.

"The magic of Orioles Baseball has always served as a source of joy for so many, especially during the most challenging of times. We are thrilled to safely welcome fans back to the ballpark to join us at Ed Smith Stadium this spring," said Jennifer Grondahl, Orioles Senior Vice President, Community Development and Communications. "As always, the health and safety of our entire Birdland community remains our top priority. As we partner with Major League Baseball and health experts to create extensive safety measures, we will be relying on each and every fan to do their part so we can safely enjoy baseball together again."

Birdland Memberships and 5-Game Flex Plans are currently on sale at Orioles.com/Spring. All memberships and ticket plans are protected by O'surance, free fan assurance benefit that guarantees the investment in Orioles baseball. Single-game tickets for remaining seats will be available for purchase beginning Saturday, February 20.

All fans will be required to adhere to the club's health and safety policies while at the ballpark. These protocols, created in coordination with Major League Baseball, the CDC, and public health officials, will require fans to wear CDC-approved masks properly (covering the nose and mouth) at all times. Social distancing practices and enhanced security measures will also be enforced upon entry and throughout the ballpark.

Fans are strongly encouraged to utilize digital ticketing for easy and contactless entry to the ballpark. Fans can access tickets and parking passes on their mobile device through the MLB Ballpark App, logging in with the same email address that was used to purchase the tickets.

Additionally, Ed Smith Stadium will not accept any cash payments this season. To limit touch points, fans will only be allowed to pay with credit or debit cards throughout the ballpark including at parking lots, concession stands, and ticket windows.

Major League Baseball has modified the 2021 Grapefruit League schedule to centralize play between clubs and minimize travel. The adjusted Orioles schedule features 14 home games at Ed Smith Stadium, beginning Sunday, February 28, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The home schedule includes 10 afternoon games, all beginning at 1:05 p.m., and four night games, each slated to begin at 6:05 p.m. The Orioles will conclude Grapefruit League play with a home game on Sunday, March 29, against the Tampa Bay Rays.

With the new schedule, the Orioles have adjusted their 2021 Spring Training promotional dates as follows:

For the full Orioles 2021 Spring Training schedule and a complete guide to the club's Gameday Health & Safety policies, please visit Orioles.com/Spring.

Policies for regular season games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards are still being determined and will be announced at a later date as soon as plans are finalized.