Business Booms As Orioles Win In Friday's Playoff Game Brings More Visitors To Baltimore
BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- The Orioles will host the New York Yankees in their first playoff series. O's fans are still celebrating Friday night's big win over the Rangers, but the team has its sights set on the next showdown.
Rochelle Ritchie has more on the impact the playoff push is having on Charm City.
Sunday night, downtown Baltimore will be flooded with a sea of orange and black as the Orioles take on the Yankees. Fans are ready and businesses are preparing for what could be a record crowd.
View Slideshow: Orioles Knock Out 2-Time AL Champion Rangers 5-1 In Wild Card Game
It's O's fever around Baltimore City after the team beat the Texas Rangers 5-1 Friday night, landing them a spot in the playoffs.
"Nobody expected them to get this far," Josh Myers said.
And those who did have tickets to a high anticipated game:
"I've been waiting for this for a really long time so it's exciting to be back," one O's fan said.
"My niece has the seats and she asked me to go and I said, 'Of course!'"
View Slideshow: Baltimore Orioles Fans Go Orange
With the Orioles heading to the playoffs battling for a win, local businesses are already cashing on hopeful fans.
Like Steven King, dressed in orange and black from head to toe.
"I have O's Bird necklaces like you wouldn't believe," he said.
His fan gear costs more than $100-- money in the bank for local sport shops.
"We're four blocks from the stadium. We'll be much busier tomorrow and Monday," Geri Durham of the Sports Shop said. "Sales are up. Sales are definitely up."
The O's unexpected winning season is causing a spike in visitor and ticket sales.
"Over 2 million tickets sold for O's games. That was a nice record boost for us," Tom Noonan of the Baltimore City Visitor Center said. "So a lot of people are staying downtown. They're staying in hotel rooms, they're eating in the city."
As Orioles and Yankees fans pour into the city, hotels are on standby as O's fever spreads across the country.
"I think we can have an increase of up to 25 percent, increase of rooms that will be brought into the hotel over this weekend," Joe Pagone of the Hotel Monaco said.
And the O's hope to yank a win from those Yankees Sunday night at Camden Yards.
Related Story: Orioles, Yankees Rekindle Playoff Memories Of 1996
