The announcement that classic rocker Billy Joel will play at Oriole Park in late July breaks with a long-standing organizational reluctance to host major concerts, but it’s the right thing to do on a number of levels.
The Orioles will be in the middle of the first full year of what could be a painful rebuilding period, so anything that packs the ballpark for an entertaining evening generates revenue and is great for business in the surrounding Inner Harbor area.
It’s also another sign that the Orioles have entered a new era of proactive ownership. John and Louis Angelos have assumed control of the franchise and clearly want to project a more vibrant image for the organization.