Growing up, hometown pride never came naturally. It's difficult to embrace a city often defined by polluted waters, violent crime, and crabs. That changed when Turnstile made their long awaited visit to Camden Yards. As the band celebrated 16 years together alongside the Baltimore Orioles, there was finally a reason to feel proud to call Baltimore home. Here's a recap of the day's events.
Turnstile Night marked the first Orioles game of the year. Getting to the gates on time paid off as the familiar smell of old beer and hot dogs filled the air, bringing with it the unmistakable feeling of being back in the city. Anticipation was high as Turnstile took the field to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. All five members tossed their baseballs simultaneously, creating a chaotic but memorable moment that set the tone for the rest of the evening. It was the kind of crossover between baseball and music that fans are likely to remember for years to come.
Dressed in custom Orioles jerseys, Turnstile joined Mr. Splash in the Bird Bath, the team's designated splash zone. Armed with pool noodle water guns, the band soaked fans after every Orioles extra base hit, continuing one of the ballpark's most popular traditions. Watching from above, it was hard not to envy the fans in the Bird Bath. By the time it became clear just how much fun the section was, the seats had long since sold out. My friends and I instead watched the game from the upper deck, with tickets costing about the same price.
The only real disappointment came with the merchandise rollout. Many fans do not live in Baltimore and often rely on public transportation or make the drive from surrounding counties and neighboring states. Attending a game is already an expensive outing, so the announcement that the exclusive jerseys were unavailable shortly before the gates opened left many frustrated. Fans took to Reddit to share stories of traveling several hours, including from out of state, only to miss out on the giveaway. To the Orioles' credit, the organization's public relations team responded quickly by offering complimentary tickets to affected fans. Those who qualified can now expect to pick up their jerseys on August 22.
The email was as follows,
Due to a supply chain issue, we regret to inform you that the shipment of the Orioles x Turnstile special package jersey will not arrive in time to be distributed at tonight’s game. Your game are still valid for tonight’s game and we encourage you to come out and see Turnstile here tonight at the Yard for in-game activations, including throwing out the Ceremonial First Pitch and Guest Splashing in the Tower Federal Credit Union Bird Bath. To ensure you receive your Orioles x Turnstile jersey(s), jersey pickup has been rescheduled to Saturday, August 22nd at 7:05 when the Orioles take on the Tampa Bay Rays. We will provide complimentary tix to this game.
That goodwill was short lived. The Orioles simultaneously offered a limited edition Turnstile ballpark T shirt for purchase, and it sold out before the game even began. Fans who missed out on the delayed jersey giveaway were not given the option to exchange their jersey for the T shirt or receive a discount toward one. Instead, anyone who still wanted the promised jersey would have to return on August 22. For fans who had already paid for tickets and made the trip specifically for the promotion, the handling of the situation felt like a slap in the face.
It was not all bad news. During the top of the fifth inning, fans had the chance to vote for a song to be played throughout the ballpark, with Turnstile's "Never Enough" ultimately getting the nod. Outside of that moment, however, references to the band became increasingly limited as the game went on.
Even so, the evening delivered plenty to enjoy. The Orioles closed out the night with a win over the Kansas City Royals, making Turnstile Night a memorable celebration despite its shortcomings. If there is one takeaway for Major League Baseball, it is that collaborations like this deserve to happen more often.
Turnstile The Never Enough Tour Pt. 2 w/ Agnostic Front, Clipse, and many more openers begins on September 9th in Milwaukee, WI and continues throughout the United States into mid-October. The announced dates can be seen below.
09/09 Milwaukee WI @ The Eagles Ballroom
09/11 Detroit MI @ Russell Industrial Center Lot
09/12 Toronto ON @ Woodbine Park
09/15 Pittsburgh PA @ Stage AE Outdoor
09/16 Cincinnati OH @ The Icon Festival Stage at Smale Park
09/19 Tampa FL @ England Brothers Park
09/20 Miami FL @ Factory Town Infinity Room
09/23 Queens NY @ Forest Hills Stadium
09/26 Portland ME @ Thompson's Point
09/29 Raleigh NC @ Red Hat Amphitheater
10/03 Oklahoma City OK @ The Zoo Amphitheatre
10/06 Lawrence KS @ The University of Kansas on the Hill
10/07 St. Louis MO @ Arsenal BG Ballpark
10/14 Ventura CA @ Ventura County Fairgrounds
10/15 Las Vegas NV @ The Amp at Craig Ranch Regional Park
10/18 Santa Ana CA @ Observatory Festival Grounds
10/24 TBA @ TBA
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