The Baltimore Orioles hit a home run for baseball-loving families when they introduced the Kids Cheer Free promotion for the 2018 season. Kids 9 and under accompanied by a paying adult get an upper deck ticket for FREE! Outings to Major League Baseball stadiums are crazy expensive. A promotion like this helps families stretch their vacation budgets.

Raising Baseball-Crazy Kids

My kids played ball – baseball and softball. And when their seasons were over, we visited Major League Baseball stadiums across the country. My favorite was Safeco Field in Seattle. The stadium offered highly unusual and wonderfully appealing food choices; I never knew that chocolate-covered strawberries could be considered baseball fare!

Going to the Game? Take Out a Home Loan!

These trips were never cheap. When you add up tickets for 5, parking, food and drinks and the inevitable souvenir, it was easy to rack up a vacation day bill of $300 or more! That’s why many families never get to see their favorite pro team but choose to attend much more affordable minor league baseball games.

Baltimore Orioles Announce “Kids Cheer Free” Ticket Promotion

Thanks to the Baltimore Orioles, a trip to the ballpark is suddenly more affordable for that family vacation road trip. The team recently announced the details of its Kids Cheer Free promotion. Every adult with a regular paid upper deck admission can “buy” 2 additional tickets for children 9 and under — for free! Talk about a win!

In announcing the promotion, John Angelos, Orioles Executive Vice President, said “The Orioles are committed to sustaining the access for families from all walks of life to our great game, and that commitment is reflected in the Kids Cheer Free initiative and our many other family-focused programs.”

Kid-Friendly at Camden Yards

The other kid-friendly programs offered by the Baltimore Orioles include:

• A renovated Kids’ Corner play space with food stands and lounge areas for parents
• Children can run the bases after Sunday home games just like their favorite big leaguers
• Revised portion sizes with reduced prices. The Orioles also continue their budget-friendly policy of permitting guests to bring in their own food and beverages.
• Friday night music and fireworks

Details about Kids Cheer Free are available on the Baltimore Orioles website.

Will Other Teams and Leagues Follow the Orioles?

I really hope that this program is so popular that every Major League Baseball team adopts it and that it causes a domino effect for the NFL, NBA and NHL. For too long, astronomical ticket prices for professional games have made attending one a struggle or totally out of reach for many families.

When asked about Kids Cheer Free, Orioles Manager Buck Showalter said, “That’s pretty cool.”

We think so too.

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