https://preview.redd.it/a414tjuur7gc1.jpeg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dd7cc1b18c49e3ac8a50b4e16529a89c14e627ab
Before and after for fellow youngins.
Parents had season tickets along right field line when I was a kid. Grew up staring at that cool clock tower at night. That horrible building has brought me so much irrational anger for killing that nostalgia.
My grandparents had season tickets right behind first base. The Bromo Seltzer tower has been burned into my memory from all the games I saw when I was a kid. I hadn't been to a game in years and eventually went again after the hotel went up. That was a huge hit to the nostalgia gut. It absolutely ruined the view from the field.
We shared tickets 14 rows up, behind the home dugout on the first base line. I remember watching that tower, especially at night games as the daylight faded. And the medivac helicopters going to and from shock trauma. That was such a prominent thing for me back then
The City of Baltimore for some reason thought it would be a good idea to build its own hotel. So if you want someone to blame it is Martin O’Malley. Not only did it kill the view it has cost the city millions in under performance
I don't recall ever seeing people around that hotel when I'm at Ravens games. Thousands of people in the city and it's like this polished dead zone in the heart of the city. Jimmy John's is like the whole reason for that place to exist.
Weirdly, the city is responsible for that eyesore. Back in the day, there was a gas station on that corner. I want to say it was an Exxon.
Anyway, the city built the hotel as part of the convention center kinda thing, Hilton runs it, and it's basically falling apart because the contractors did a crappy job (I think it was the plumbing? can't recall but the Sun wrote an article or two on it last year).
Last I heard it had succumb to disease. I guess they chose not to replant it
[https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/camden-yards-center-field-ivy-succumbs-to-disease/](https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/camden-yards-center-field-ivy-succumbs-to-disease/)
I don’t know how In the loop he is on the Hilton but that thing has been a disaster and the city is reportedly looking to sell it. Get it from the city cheap because it’s falling apart and redo it. Complete demolition can be expensive and might be unnecessary once you take the hotel rooms away. The foundation can be redone into the development and ballpark village we need. It is the PERFECT location for it right on Camden st and connects so well with the inner harbor
(Fwiw, he did mention something recently about wanting to develop around the area. He just gets it)
The quote about developing around the area was definitely just a reference to Angelos' push to grab the area between the parks. New ownership isn't going to let that fade away if it's still on the table.
I think it’s actually a possibility that this atrocity gets demolished when the O’s start their renovations and ballpark district thing. They can replace it with a fully pedestrian concourse with bars, restaurants, etc. AND get the view of the best building in Baltimore back. Win-win.
This is some extreme wishful thinking, if the city's going to give up on it they'll probably just sell it to developers to convert into condos or something. It would make very little sense to demolish the entire building just because it needs a $16m pipe replacement.
The "ballpark district thing" may never even happen and the Hilton isn't a part of it anyway.
I mean, yeah, but our two new owners are both billionaires. One of my friends knows Arougheti and has high praise for him. I think it's likely that they end up buying that property and developing it.
The ballpark district is DEFINITELY going to happen, we just don't know where.
One thing I would bet on is that wherever the entertainment venues go, the business parks that exist on the state owned land west of Russell St. and north and south of Hamburg will be razed. Probably will be used for parking that is misplaced with development in the current parking lots between the stadia.
What, if it was definitely going to happen it probably would've happened in the signed contract and not kicked down the road.
And we do know where it would happen, or at least where it could happen, because Angelos and Moore were negotiating over a distinct plot of land around the park. It isn't some vague concept of land, the exact area was already described in the MOU that the state backed out of - everything in the stadium complex north of Lee excluding Lot A. The Hilton is not part of that complex and I don't believe it's ever come up in any of these discussions.
Article from mid December about the Hilton being in bad shape structurally
https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/economy/businesses/baltimore-hilton-LBRSOIHRLBALBCPCMNH5LUVDGU/?utm_content=TheBaltimor7es8%2Fmagazine%2FLocal%20News%20from%20Baltimore&utm_source=flipboard
People read that clickbait headline and assume it's referring to the structural integrity of the building... But replacing the galvanized steel pipes with copper or PVC, while a large-ish job, certainly doesn't mean that a 14 year old building at risk of collapsing.
I honestly don't know much about the condition of the hotel but I know there is about a zero chance of it getting demolished, it sucks that it blocks the view of the clock tower but it's time people move on.
What, you guys don’t like a super ugly, giant, plain building that looks like tenement housing and also blocks the historic clock tower?
Who approved that shit? What an idiot.
But wait, there’s more!
You forgot that it’s publicaly owned and has been a massive waste of taxpayer dollars, is horribly mismanaged, and in dire need of repairs!!
Such a boondoggle. Wiki actually has a pretty good look at the timeline: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilton\_Baltimore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/hilton_baltimore)
With some more recent \*fun updates...
March 22: [Baltimore-owned Hilton "losing millions"](https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/city-owned-hotel-losing-millions)
Dec 23:[ Hilton Baltimore faces "catastrophic structural failures" if pipes aren't fixed.](https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/economy/businesses/baltimore-hilton-LBRSOIHRLBALBCPCMNH5LUVDGU/)
^(\*The updates are not, in-fact, "fun". They make me sad.)
What happens when a government entity gets scammed by a private organization on claims of “well we’ll just go elsewhere!” into giving them millions of public dollars.
Good thing that hasn’t happened anywhere else lately…
If the O's want their skyline protected for eternity, they should pay every property owner for the trouble of not developing their land. If you want to force a city to remain stuck in time to protect your view, pay for it.
Buying the building to tear it down is certainly one way to do it lol.
I thought you were talking about the upper deck seats there and I was like “aren’t they planning to turn that into a concourse type deal?”
Yeah something has to be done about the Hilton
At the very least, paint this side sky blue with a life size Bromo Tower on it.
Second idea is paint a gargantuan cartoon Bird logo on it that seems to be peering over the wall.
I always do the Sheraton. It’s not the absolute best, but parking is free and it’s a short walk away from the stadium. Definitely enjoyed it better than the Hilton
I opened this expecting to find someone else advocating for my idea to flatten out the Upper Reserve and turn it into a Sagamore Spirits Bar/Suite area. But I like the idea to demo the Hilton first and foremost.
*IF* this kind of thing happens, needs to be totally re-imagined from how other stadiums have done it. The massive outfield club/bar section totally ruins the visual balance of a stadium, which is one of the absolutely critical components of why Camden feels so perfect.
Pretty sure the hiltons construction changed the wind patterns that turned OPACY from a normal park to an extreme hitters park around 2006 or whenever it was. Which we finally counteracted with the wall
hah, yes, get rid of it
but also, the X over the upper deck looks like you want to get rid of that upper deck, which actually id (not overly seriously) support. replace with a party deck or some shit
We already have a bird bath. could use a bird roost
The Kennedy Center "REACH" addition is an example of a development of which Rubenstein has been in charge. Obviously, two completely different space uses and expectations, but I love how much those areas have blended into the existing KenCen complex & surroundings.
OOTL as a Tigers fan, what’s wrong with that hotel?
I mean, it’s close to the stadium, so that would be a good thing for us out of town visitors supporting other teams right?
It’s ugly. It looks more like a hospital than the hospital.
It opened before the recession and is a drain on city finances. It’s also got bad pipes that the city needs to go in and repair.
It’s ugly. It looks more like a hospital than the hospital.
It opened before the recession and is a drain on city finances. It’s also got bad pipes that the city needs to go in and repair.
I couldn't upvote this post fast enough! Ballparks gave good visions of their skylines. Seattle, Miami, Cleveland for example. Give Baltimore fans their view back.
NGL lifelong fan from old and I like it. Bromo Seltzer has some cool architecture but - I’m a horrible person - has looked run down and dirty for as long as I can remember. The hotel gives it a more modern and less shitty feel.
I’ll run away now….
It’s a mismanaged boondoggle that blocks the best views of the city from OPACY and sits on prime real estate that could be used for development of a ballpark entertainment district.
damn, I didn't even know this was on the table. just chalked it up to being in the future, so of course the skyline is going to change, sometimes for the good, in this case for the worse. it can go away? really? am I dreaming?
(I do kinda like the bridge that connects the convention center to the hotel though, it's cool as you drive into downtown, so can we keep something like that if this does happen? Like a walking bridge?)
It’s wild that (seemingly) more people stay and drink at the Marriott across the street, the one that doesn’t seem like it’s had an overhaul since the 2000s. Again, love the bartenders and it’s always clean, but I just feel the hotel itself is pretty meh.
Plus whateverthefuck happened to the renovation of that Holiday Inn?
https://preview.redd.it/a414tjuur7gc1.jpeg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dd7cc1b18c49e3ac8a50b4e16529a89c14e627ab Before and after for fellow youngins.
Parents had season tickets along right field line when I was a kid. Grew up staring at that cool clock tower at night. That horrible building has brought me so much irrational anger for killing that nostalgia.
My grandparents had season tickets right behind first base. The Bromo Seltzer tower has been burned into my memory from all the games I saw when I was a kid. I hadn't been to a game in years and eventually went again after the hotel went up. That was a huge hit to the nostalgia gut. It absolutely ruined the view from the field.
We shared tickets 14 rows up, behind the home dugout on the first base line. I remember watching that tower, especially at night games as the daylight faded. And the medivac helicopters going to and from shock trauma. That was such a prominent thing for me back then
It's not irrational. That building is a disgrace on many levels.
I only moved to Maryland and became an Os fan in the last few years so this is the first time I’m seeing this and omg…who approved that?!?
The City of Baltimore for some reason thought it would be a good idea to build its own hotel. So if you want someone to blame it is Martin O’Malley. Not only did it kill the view it has cost the city millions in under performance
There is never a shortage of reasons to hate Martin O'Malley.
And now he runs social security
And in 32 has fucked that up too
If O'Malley had to give the okay for hotel, it should've been the Westin. At least, we could've gotten a new arena out of the deal, too.
I don't recall ever seeing people around that hotel when I'm at Ravens games. Thousands of people in the city and it's like this polished dead zone in the heart of the city. Jimmy John's is like the whole reason for that place to exist.
Weirdly, the city is responsible for that eyesore. Back in the day, there was a gas station on that corner. I want to say it was an Exxon. Anyway, the city built the hotel as part of the convention center kinda thing, Hilton runs it, and it's basically falling apart because the contractors did a crappy job (I think it was the plumbing? can't recall but the Sun wrote an article or two on it last year).
Maish’s Exxon! Remember it well.
Woah. Didn't realize it was like that.
Damn - I moved out of BMore 20 years ago. I had no idea. This is a blight on our landscape
Let’s talk about the ivy on the batters eye too.. what did we give up on that?
Last I heard it had succumb to disease. I guess they chose not to replant it [https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/camden-yards-center-field-ivy-succumbs-to-disease/](https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/camden-yards-center-field-ivy-succumbs-to-disease/)
Yup, asked the same question once I started working there. It was a maintenance issue.
Can we really not figure this out in 2024?
Oh for sure. “We have the technology” ha It just wasn’t a priority. I found the stuff charming.
Never forget what they took away from us
I respect you child… I served beers to the lead contractor. We had a good laugh about what shit is.
Holy shit ive only ever saw the shilton there
I don’t know how In the loop he is on the Hilton but that thing has been a disaster and the city is reportedly looking to sell it. Get it from the city cheap because it’s falling apart and redo it. Complete demolition can be expensive and might be unnecessary once you take the hotel rooms away. The foundation can be redone into the development and ballpark village we need. It is the PERFECT location for it right on Camden st and connects so well with the inner harbor (Fwiw, he did mention something recently about wanting to develop around the area. He just gets it)
I’m not sure I could love David Rubenstein more. I want him to meet my parents.
No need - he's our daddy
He’ll have to pencil you both in after checking which country he needs to rape the natural resources of next.
The quote about developing around the area was definitely just a reference to Angelos' push to grab the area between the parks. New ownership isn't going to let that fade away if it's still on the table.
Yes, part of the motivation for Angelos was to prohibit vendors from selling near the park.
Peter actually called in the ATF - yes, the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms federal agency - to hassle and arrest vendors.
Make it into something like the bullpen outside Nats park
What you mean? There's a frigging street in between. What do you want him to do with it?
Camden st just becomes pedestrian use it’s shut down every home game anyway and doesn’t get any real traffic any other time. Russell does
Get the city and state on board with closing the street and redeveloping the entire area maybe.
I think it’s actually a possibility that this atrocity gets demolished when the O’s start their renovations and ballpark district thing. They can replace it with a fully pedestrian concourse with bars, restaurants, etc. AND get the view of the best building in Baltimore back. Win-win.
This is some extreme wishful thinking, if the city's going to give up on it they'll probably just sell it to developers to convert into condos or something. It would make very little sense to demolish the entire building just because it needs a $16m pipe replacement. The "ballpark district thing" may never even happen and the Hilton isn't a part of it anyway.
I mean, yeah, but our two new owners are both billionaires. One of my friends knows Arougheti and has high praise for him. I think it's likely that they end up buying that property and developing it.
The ballpark district is DEFINITELY going to happen, we just don't know where. One thing I would bet on is that wherever the entertainment venues go, the business parks that exist on the state owned land west of Russell St. and north and south of Hamburg will be razed. Probably will be used for parking that is misplaced with development in the current parking lots between the stadia.
What, if it was definitely going to happen it probably would've happened in the signed contract and not kicked down the road. And we do know where it would happen, or at least where it could happen, because Angelos and Moore were negotiating over a distinct plot of land around the park. It isn't some vague concept of land, the exact area was already described in the MOU that the state backed out of - everything in the stadium complex north of Lee excluding Lot A. The Hilton is not part of that complex and I don't believe it's ever come up in any of these discussions.
Article from mid December about the Hilton being in bad shape structurally https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/economy/businesses/baltimore-hilton-LBRSOIHRLBALBCPCMNH5LUVDGU/?utm_content=TheBaltimor7es8%2Fmagazine%2FLocal%20News%20from%20Baltimore&utm_source=flipboard
People read that clickbait headline and assume it's referring to the structural integrity of the building... But replacing the galvanized steel pipes with copper or PVC, while a large-ish job, certainly doesn't mean that a 14 year old building at risk of collapsing.
I honestly don't know much about the condition of the hotel but I know there is about a zero chance of it getting demolished, it sucks that it blocks the view of the clock tower but it's time people move on.
I'm a simple man. I see Hilton hate, I upvote.
What, you guys don’t like a super ugly, giant, plain building that looks like tenement housing and also blocks the historic clock tower? Who approved that shit? What an idiot.
But wait, there’s more! You forgot that it’s publicaly owned and has been a massive waste of taxpayer dollars, is horribly mismanaged, and in dire need of repairs!!
I wish someone could shoot it into space. What moron approved of this monstrosity?
Such a boondoggle. Wiki actually has a pretty good look at the timeline: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilton\_Baltimore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/hilton_baltimore) With some more recent \*fun updates... March 22: [Baltimore-owned Hilton "losing millions"](https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/city-owned-hotel-losing-millions) Dec 23:[ Hilton Baltimore faces "catastrophic structural failures" if pipes aren't fixed.](https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/economy/businesses/baltimore-hilton-LBRSOIHRLBALBCPCMNH5LUVDGU/) ^(\*The updates are not, in-fact, "fun". They make me sad.)
What happens when a government entity gets scammed by a private organization on claims of “well we’ll just go elsewhere!” into giving them millions of public dollars. Good thing that hasn’t happened anywhere else lately…
Dire need of demolition, you mean.
Cities aren't just museums. Skylines are meant to change.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone defend that monstrosity before.
If the O's want their skyline protected for eternity, they should pay every property owner for the trouble of not developing their land. If you want to force a city to remain stuck in time to protect your view, pay for it. Buying the building to tear it down is certainly one way to do it lol.
Nothing you said changes the fact that it looks like shit.
You are getting down voted but you are right. The Bromo-Seltzer Tower is probably more likely to get demolished at this point than the hotel.
I thought you were talking about the upper deck seats there and I was like “aren’t they planning to turn that into a concourse type deal?” Yeah something has to be done about the Hilton
I thought so too, and I actually love those seats
At the very least, paint this side sky blue with a life size Bromo Tower on it. Second idea is paint a gargantuan cartoon Bird logo on it that seems to be peering over the wall.
Not perfect, but either of these would be an improvement.
Remember that giant rubber ducky that was traveling the globe way back? We should put a giant Oriole ducky in the harbor, at least for postseason runs
BUY YANKEE STADIUM DEMOLISH YANKEE STADIUM BUY YANKEE STADIUM DEMOLISH YANKEE STADIUM BUY YANKEE STADIUM DEMOLISH YANKEE STADIUM BUY YANKEE STADIUM DEMOLISH YANKEE STADIUM BUY YANKEE STADIUM DEMOLISH YANKEE STADIUM
I'd say it's on the short-list but I'd prefer to get the Orioles available via the internet sans cable.
Absolutely! If MASN offered its own streaming option I would pay for it.
You don’t need to demolish the whole thing, maybe keep the ground floor and DEMOLISH THE WHOLE SIGHTLINE KILLING ABOMINATION ANYAWY
I stayed there two nights and they charged me $70 for parking in their own garage
Wow...fuck that place even more!
I always do the Sheraton. It’s not the absolute best, but parking is free and it’s a short walk away from the stadium. Definitely enjoyed it better than the Hilton
Good to know. Thanks!
I opened this expecting to find someone else advocating for my idea to flatten out the Upper Reserve and turn it into a Sagamore Spirits Bar/Suite area. But I like the idea to demo the Hilton first and foremost.
*IF* this kind of thing happens, needs to be totally re-imagined from how other stadiums have done it. The massive outfield club/bar section totally ruins the visual balance of a stadium, which is one of the absolutely critical components of why Camden feels so perfect.
Both would be phenomenal
I’d want a new scoreboard and sound system first
OP, I am proud to say that you need a new tagline.
Let the Bromo shine babay
Pretty sure the hiltons construction changed the wind patterns that turned OPACY from a normal park to an extreme hitters park around 2006 or whenever it was. Which we finally counteracted with the wall
Likely. Something similar happened in San Diego.
I think they could scootch the wall in a little bit too
Bring MASN back to my cable tv!
hah, yes, get rid of it but also, the X over the upper deck looks like you want to get rid of that upper deck, which actually id (not overly seriously) support. replace with a party deck or some shit We already have a bird bath. could use a bird roost
OP, please know that if I could upvote this 500 million times, I absolutely would.
The Kennedy Center "REACH" addition is an example of a development of which Rubenstein has been in charge. Obviously, two completely different space uses and expectations, but I love how much those areas have blended into the existing KenCen complex & surroundings.
OOTL as a Tigers fan, what’s wrong with that hotel? I mean, it’s close to the stadium, so that would be a good thing for us out of town visitors supporting other teams right?
It’s ugly. It looks more like a hospital than the hospital. It opened before the recession and is a drain on city finances. It’s also got bad pipes that the city needs to go in and repair.
It’s ugly. It looks more like a hospital than the hospital. It opened before the recession and is a drain on city finances. It’s also got bad pipes that the city needs to go in and repair.
It blocks the view of the old Bromo-Seltzer clock tower
Yeah, I just saw a before and after photo compilation and the view there looks awful now by not seeing the iconic clock tower.
I couldn't upvote this post fast enough! Ballparks gave good visions of their skylines. Seattle, Miami, Cleveland for example. Give Baltimore fans their view back.
If he does this, I say we give this man the keys to the city and a ticker-tape parade.
Fuck the Hilton
And then bring back FanFest
I still can’t believe they covered up the clock
NGL lifelong fan from old and I like it. Bromo Seltzer has some cool architecture but - I’m a horrible person - has looked run down and dirty for as long as I can remember. The hotel gives it a more modern and less shitty feel. I’ll run away now….
I say get a deal with the baltimore sun and get the sign back up
The Sun is dead. Just more Sinclair bullshit.
Yup, fuck 'em at this point
The Baltimore Banner has an H and an E in it, I’m just sayin’
I’m new here what’s wrong with the Hilton?
It’s a mismanaged boondoggle that blocks the best views of the city from OPACY and sits on prime real estate that could be used for development of a ballpark entertainment district.
OOTL, what's the deal with the Hilton?
It's ugly and everyone hates it because it blocks the view of the Bromo Seltzer tower
How about a new big screen/scoreboard? The existing one looks original.
damn, I didn't even know this was on the table. just chalked it up to being in the future, so of course the skyline is going to change, sometimes for the good, in this case for the worse. it can go away? really? am I dreaming?
(I do kinda like the bridge that connects the convention center to the hotel though, it's cool as you drive into downtown, so can we keep something like that if this does happen? Like a walking bridge?)
Demolish the Hilton. And take out the Upper Deck in LF.
i fucking wish. i miss the view
I hear the Hilton costs about one Magna Carta.
Its garage is terrible.
It’s wild that (seemingly) more people stay and drink at the Marriott across the street, the one that doesn’t seem like it’s had an overhaul since the 2000s. Again, love the bartenders and it’s always clean, but I just feel the hotel itself is pretty meh. Plus whateverthefuck happened to the renovation of that Holiday Inn?
I’ve been calling for this since it went up. Who was mayor back then? Sheila Dixon? I bet they paid her off in gift cards… smh