Fans at Camden Yards on Saturday were expecting a major splash of local star power, but they left feeling a bit dry.
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers was highly publicized to appear as the "guest splasher" in the Baltimore Orioles' famous "Bird Bath" section. However, when the time came, Flowers never made it to the hose. Following mounting confusion and criticism from disappointed attendees, the Orioles stepped forward on Monday to set the record straight and issue a public apology.
What Happened at Camden Yards
The promotion was designed as a massive celebration of Baltimore sports, pairing a joint jersey giveaway with an appearance by one of the Ravens' brightest young stars.
Flowers did show up to the ballpark as promised. He participated in the joint jersey promotion and successfully threw out the ceremonial first pitch. However, when the game got underway, his scheduled appearance in the left-field "Bird Bath" splash zone was quietly canceled.
Because the cancellation wasn't announced to the crowd, speculation quickly began to circulate online, with some fans wondering if the NFL star had simply skipped out on his commitment.
The Orioles Take the Blame
In a statement released on Monday, the Orioles organization made it clear that Flowers did absolutely nothing wrong, placing the blame entirely on their own front office.
The team revealed that the decision to pull Flowers from the "Bird Bath" duties was made by the front office well in advance of the game.
"Zay was at Oriole Park on Saturday to celebrate the joint jersey giveaway and threw out the first pitch, as promised. The decision to change the rest of his schedule for the evening was ours, made in advance, and Zay did everything we asked of him," the team stated, via the Associated Press.
The Orioles expressed deep regret for how the situation was handled, admitting that their failure to communicate the schedule change directly to the fans in that section created an unfair impression of Flowers. "Any suggestion that he let fans down is misplaced, and we regret that our failure to communicate clearly created that impression. That mistake is ours alone," the statement continued.
Making It Right for the Fans
To repair the relationship with disappointed ticketholders, the Orioles are taking immediate action. The franchise announced that it is offering complimentary tickets to a future home game for all fans who were seated in the "Bird Bath" section during Saturday's game.
While fans missed out on seeing the Ravens playmaker spray water into the crowd, the prompt apology and ticket compensation show the Orioles are committed to keeping their fan base happy.
