Ripken Stadium, a state-of-the-art, family oriented minor league ballpark, opened to rave reviews in June of 2002. The IronBirds enjoyed sellout crowds for each of its 38 home dates and finished second in the NY-Penn League in attendance. Ripken Stadium is home to the Aberdeen IronBirds, the Baltimore Orioles Class A affiliate in the NY-Penn League. The $18 Million ballpark has been packed throughout its inaugural season. In January, 2002, Ripken Professional Baseball purchased the Utica Blue Sox in the NY-Penn League and moved them to Aberdeen. With the generous assistance of Peter Angelos and the Orioles organization, the team fittingly became an Orioles affiliate, the team’s 7th minor league team, most among big league franchises.
Through the past 5 season, Ripken Stadium has been sold out every game; one of only two stadiums to do so in the history of Minor League Baseball. Along with sellout crowds for baseball games, the design of Ripken Stadium allows for a vibrant atmosphere 365 days a year; accommodating over 225 events a year between the stadium and the parking lot (designed as one of the largest open parking lots on the East Coast).
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