Our New Defensive Line

OK, it's tough to top Ray Lewis & Co. when the subject is hardworking defenses.  But they are not the only line protecting our valuable assets here.

As mentioned earlier, MSA is committed to making our 85 acre complex, located on the headwaters of the Middle Branch, a watershed protector through environmentally sensitive practices.  One of them involves landscaping.

This one-time problem area parallels Ostend Street on the south side of M&T.  In addition to being one of the main pedestrian approaches to the stadium on game days, it is also part of the westbound Gwynns Falls Trail.

The grate you see in the picture drains directly into the Middle Branch -- no filters, no stormwater pond.  After a heavy rain, a lot of nasty stuff ran off the asphalt and directly into the tributory.

This is what that section looked like before it was regraded and replanted.  Yes, turf looks nice.  But after an inch of rain, it saturates and becomes impervious, turning this swale into a flume.  The velocity of runoff from the lots caused the area around the drain to erode, making it as unsafe as it was unsightly.

Grass also requires regular irrigation, mowing and seasonal fertilizing -- all unfriendly practices in a watershed like ours.

Those ornamental grasses may not look up to the task of stopping the erosion and filtering the runnoff, but don't be fooled.  By the end of the summer they will have doubled or tripled in size.  More importantly, they will develop a vigorous root system to hold them in place and slow the flow into the drain.

The regraded swale is softer and more absorbent, capturing the nasty stuff the rainwater washes into the channel before it has a chance to pollute the Middle Branch.  Fragile as they look, these grasses and their growing medium are no shrinking violets when it comes to tackling petroleum products.

I'll take another picture right before football season to show how our new defensive line is doing. Before long, they should be the same size as their cousins protecting the rain garden from the elements.

You'll Never Walk Alone

I was hoofing down Charles Street as usual on my way to work.  When the light changed at the intersection, the young man next to me looked admiringly in my direction and said "Nice kit!"

Now, lest you think that's an interesting pickup line, let me assure you (a) it's 40 years too late, and (b) he wasn't looking at the "Carlsberg." 

The word "kit" gave him away. This was a soccer fan.  Someone who recognized the vintage Liverpool uniform at a glance and knew not to call it a shirt.  It's a kit.

So as we stepped off the curb, I asked if he were going to the match (not game) next month.

Yes, he replied with great enthusiasm.  He'd bought his tickets a month ago.  In fact, he'd even purchased tickets to the open practice.

He'd never been to one of the international soccer matches at M&T Bank Stadium and was really looking forward to seeing how it would be transformed.

I explained how the pitch (not field) was created from natural turf trucked from a farm in Virginia and stitched together like a giant carpet several days before the match.  That gives the seams of the fescue time to knit so it doesn't buckle during play.

(And no, this doesn't even come close to the landscaping involved with Monster Truck or U-2.)

Ticket sales are going well for this Premier League friendly, in part because the "Reds" and the "Spurs" have followers all over the world.  Some have chartered buses from several states away for the trek to Baltimore.

There's something else worth noting about this match between these two top English (not British) teams:  as of the 2012-13 season, they will be outfitted by American sportswear manufacturers.

That's right -- the logo you see on the new red and gold kit at the right is Warrior, the same sports equipment manufacturer that has a lacrosse presence here in Baltimore.  Their corporate headquarters is in Michigan.

Under Armour, in Locust Point, won the contract for Tottenham.  Although many of the new EPL kits have been unveiled, Under Armour is being coy about the Tottenham design, choosing to debut it at the match in July.  So I won't ruin the surprise by posting any of the leaked versions.

Both teams were previously outfitted by German giants Adidas and Puma.  So the US is making inroads into the beautiful game in more ways than one.

I thought about Liverpool's theme song, "You'll never walk alone," as I opened the door to the Warehouse.  Soccer is the universal language, and every time I stroll the streets of Baltimore wearing a kit, there is someone to strike up a conversation about it.  A nice way to enjoy community.

Hope to see you at M&T Bank Stadium on July 28th.

Another Warehouse Winning Streak

It seems we were just congratulating Andretti Autosport for winning at Milwaukee Mile, an event they also promoted and managed. 

Ryan Hunter-Reay, the newest blogger at the Baltimore Sun, won his second straight IndyCar race on Saturday night. 

This rollicking and rain-soaked race in the cornfields of Iowa was a good night all the way around for the Andretti team.  Marco, who won the event last year, came in second.  For most of the race, Canadian James Hinchcliff was also in the pack with his teammates. Had he not hit a wall near the finish, it could have been a 1-2-3 for Andretti Autosport.

(Here's Marco on the right.  Please note the RaceOnBaltimore.com across his rear.)

Hunter-Reay joined the team in 2010 and now is just three points out of the series lead, behind Will Power, who won the Baltimore race last year.

No doubt the Andrettis are on a roll -- on the track, promoting their brand, and organizing their events into well-attended successes.

Be sure to follow Ryan's blog in the Sun and learn more about this exciting sport and their plans for Baltimore.

The Parkway Payday

Isn't that a beautiful sight?  A packed house three days in a row.  Not certain if there is more orange or red, but you certainly can't miss the green.

Our neighbors from the other side of the B-W Parkway have been visiting, and their very excited fans made the trek with them.  For many loyalists, (as during the Civil War, Maryland has supporters on both sides) Camden Yards is just as close or closer.  And it's part of the cause to support the home team on the road.

Although you might see a few empty seats in the stands, it's because many fans are enjoying the game from our recently renovated viewing areas.

Part of the pre-season sculpture garden project included lowering barriers in the bullpen picnic area.  This offers a much better view of the field (not to mention those warming up below.)  Some fans now linger here for half the game.

A similar modification took place on Flag Court, above the out-of-town scoreboard.  Previously, the shoulder high wall made the diamond difficult to see.  Now, with an unobstructed view of the action from right field, Flag Court has become a wander-around zone as well.

(If you're wondering about the weird angle, it's because I'm hanging out of our Board Room window for this shot.)

But the real crowd-pleaser (particularly among those out of town guests) is the rooftop dining/drinking patio over the batter's eye wall.

This lounge, with barstools, tables, drink rails and flat screen TVs, is like a reality version of your favorite sports bar.  It offers a wonderful view of the field -- particularly home plate, where the batters are watching you as watch them.

But the rivalry on the field is not the only thing that brought these Washingtonians north.

"A Taste of Two Cities," a food truck rally involving nearly 40 mobile restaurants, was staged at the nearby Westport Waterfront on Saturday.

If you are unfamiliar with food trucks, it is a gastronomical phenominum popular with urban hipsters who need their gourmet cuisine available at convenient curbsides. 

Baltimore was a little later to the food truck game than Washington, but the uneasy relationship between tax-paying establishments and their traffic dodging competitors has been formalized through the intervention of the Mayor, herself a food truck advocate.

So about 20 of the finest federal city foodmobiles rumbled north to the shores of the Middle Branch near the Camden Yards complex, for a showdown against their Patapsco counterparts. 
The interesting thing is how cleverly this meeting of the rival cities on a Saturday afternoon was incorporated into the one taking place on the nearby diamond that evening.  Food fans from both sides used the waterfront feast as part of the game day experience.  In fact, the light rail made the doubleheader even more appealling because Westport is just one stop short of the complex.  A lot of folks chose to park their cars early and shuttle between the two locations.

We can't help but wonder if among those Nats fans there may have lurked some nervous DC United boosters as well.  It's no secret that MSA was asked to do a second study of the Westport waterfront location for a soccer-specific stadium if the Red and Black relocate.  If they wanted to check it out, this was a good time to do so.

On Sunday afternoon, the O's came from behind in the 8th inning on Matt Weiter's two run homer and hung on for a 2-1 win.  The O's took two of three from the Nats for the weekend, but if you're really keeping score Baltimore took three out of four from Washington, because . . .



Baltimore won the food truck competition behind the steller performances of the Gypsy Queen Cafe and Miss Shirley's, AND the estimated 12,000 in attendance found one more waterfront location in Baltimore to enjoy a good time before a game at Camden Yards.

As for the Nats and the Federal City Foodies . . . . there's always next year !!!!

Angel's Eye View

This spectacular shot was taken just a nano second before the Blue Angels zoomed over the Warehouse.  It illustrates perfectly how close Camden Yards is to the Inner Harbor and downtown Baltimore.

Directly under the "Blue Angels" script you can see the Baltimore Convention Center, with its skywalk connection to the Hilton Baltimore Hotel (probably getting buzzed as this was taken.)

Wedged between the two back stabilizers is the 1st Mariner Arena.

That's Pratt Street running directly north under the "U.S."  This is the main drag of the Grand Prix of Baltimore track.  It's also part of the free Charm City Circulator Orange route, which takes you all the way to Harbor East.

Conway Street, which enters Camden Yard at the MARC/light rail stop, is under the F/A-18 Hornet's nose.  You can also see the white steeple of the historic Otterbein church.

Just above the gold extension on the wing you can see the masts of two tall ships along the dock.  The brick promenade and the Visitor's Center are just below it.  That's the Sheraton Hotel (also connected to the Convention Center) angled between the wing and the nose of the plane.

So thanks to the Blue Angels for the great show and giving us this aerial perspective of our neighborhood.

An All-Star Audition

The O's are on fire this year, with some fine performances that merit an All-Star nod.  Since it's that time of the year, we think it appropriate to remind those Great Deciders that the Orioles aren't alone strutting their stuff in 2012.  So is the City of Baltimore.  Just as some high-flying Birds deserve All-Star recognition, so does their hometown.

As mentioned earlier, Tim Richardson of Press Box has a story about the O's interest in hosting the 2016 All-Star Game. 

Despite staging a very successful event in 1993, Baltimore is perceived by some as lacking the infrastructure and accommodations necessary for the elaborate week-long celebration and FanFest.

 
Which is why the timing of last week's Sailabration -- commemorating the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 -- could not have been more perfect.

One of the biggest maritime festivals ever produced took place in and around Baltimore from June 12-19.  Hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world came by.  They toured ships and learned from historic exhibits.  Many stayed for the fireworks bursting over the water and Blue Angels soaring over Fort McHenry.

They were able to drive or light rail to Camden Yards and shuttle to the attractions.  Over 121,000 took advantage of the free Charm City Circulator buses and water taxis that transported them between hotels, restaurants, museums, concerts, and other attractions.

Because Baltimore is so bicycle/pedestrian friendly, many chose to walk or pedal around the harbor and downtown.  Excellent signage, helpful volunteers, and social media alerts provided visitors with timely information about activities.

In fact, if Baltimore were auditioning for the role of All-Star host city, last week's Star Spangled Sailabration gave a show-stopping performance.  It demonstrated just how well our sports complex is incorporated into the rhythm of the historic seaport, how easy -- and safe -- it is to get around, and how much there is to do.

Because Camden Yards hosts many events which attract out-of-staters (including the soccer match coming up in a few weeks,) the Stadium Authority prepared some information to help these folks find a place to stay, determine how best to get here, and learn about the many dining/entertainment districts nearby.

As an All-Star host, Baltimore has even more to offer than in 1993.  There are 50,000 hotel rooms within 50 miles (or an hour's drive) of Camden Yards. 

Most are on public transportation routes or close to interstate highways with direct access to the complex.

The light rail that runs through the complex has been double-tracked and expanded since 1993.  It connects BWI airport and Penn Station with thousands of hotel rooms in between.  Intercity bus service is nearby, and commuter service to Washington DC is at Camden Station.

Since 1993, the Convention Center has doubled in size, and connected to a new luxury hotel overlooking Camden Yards. 

We also built M&T Bank Stadium, a short walk from the Warehouse down a tree-lined promenade. In addition to being one of the premiere facilities in the NFL, it's a popular venue for events and exhibits. 

All totalled, Camden Yards has about 1.5 million square feet of activity space within a four block radius.

Finally -- as the Star-Spangled Sailabration proved so well -- Baltimore has a wealth of entertainment and dining options in close proximity to the stadium complex (and many hotels.)  Using the Charm City Circulator maps, we identified them.

We can't claim that Camden Yards has inched any closer to the harbor in the 20 years since our last All-Star game, but it sure seems that way.  Since the Baltimore Grand Prix course encompassed both, it seemed we were almost connected.  (Particularly viewed at 180 mph.)

The Grand Prix is another example of a big (150,000+) multi-day event successfully staged in and around Camden Yards.  Others include Army-Navy football, NCAA lacrosse, and international soccer friendlies.

But within this magnificent setting is the dazzling gem that changed the way we enjoy the Major League baseball experience.  Oriole Park, the ballpark that brought the game back downtown, is even lovelier and more of an attraction than it was 20 years ago.  Much can be attributed to the way our neighborhood has grown up around us.  But ultimately, it is the way you feel when you're here.  Close to the game, close to the town, and part of the history. That's Oriole Park at Camden Yards --an All-Star for the ages.

Generating Jobs -- the Warehouse Way

Governor Martin O'Malley stopped by the Warehouse today for his favorite occasion.  No, not another O's victory (always cause for celebration,) but to announce the creation of 335 new health care service jobs.

Generating these jobs is our long-term teammate XL Health.  XL has been a Warehouse tenant since they were hatched in 1997. They've literally grown up with us.  And "grow" is the operative word here.

Their recent merger with insurance giant UnitedHealth Group will expand XLHealth’s chronic care management operations.  This allows them to bring new services to Maryland residents with Medicare coverage.

About 250 of the new employees will join the HouseCalls program, which provides in-home visits and health condition assessments to Medicare recipients.   XLHealth provides Medicare Advantage plans to more than 100,000 people -- in a segment of the population that is growing exponentially.

(Did you know someone turns 65 every 8 seconds? Scary thought for one who's been hearing the clock tick for awhile.)

XL is also committed to helping clients with chronic conditions and ongoing health needs. The remaining 85 new employees will work with the company’s pharmacist counseling program, which helps members of UnitedHealth Group’s Medicare Advantage program follow instructions for taking their medications.

Maryland values the biotech, health service, and life science sectors that provide so many career opportunities to our residents.  We are blessed with internationally recognized hospitals, medical schools, labs and research centers.  Health care service providers and benefit coordinators like XL Health-UnitedHealth Group are part of this cluster, and good corporate neighbors as well.

UnitedHealth Group CEO Stephen Hemsley unveiled their initiative with Port Discovery to prevent childhood obesity through exercise and wise nutitional choices.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and developing good health habits early in life is much better than seeking treatment after years of neglect.  Port Discovery is a place to make this learning experience fun.

So it was a good day for one of our favorite tenants, and for Maryland as well.  Congrats to XL and their new family, UnitedHealth Group.  You are making Maryland a much healthier place to live.

If you are interested in employment opportunities, go here: www.xlhealth.com/jobs/default.aspx.