Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71
Arthur W. Perdue Stadium 6400 Hobbs Rd. Salisbury, MD 21804
Year Opened: 1996 Capacity: 5,200
Eastern Shore Baseball At Its Finest
Delmarva may not be a term that most people recognize. But essentially it designates the Eastern Shore of Maryland, along with the neighboring areas of Delaware and Virginia. This peninsula is known as the DelMarVa Peninsula. The Shorebirds stadium is right outside of Salisbury, MD, the county seat of Wicomico County and the largest city in Maryland’s Eastern Shore region.
The stadium is named for the founder of Perdue Farms, Arthur Perdue. Perdue is headquartered in Salisbury. Arthur’s son Frank Perdue, and now his grandson Jim Perdue are known far and wide as the national spokespersons for the brand.
The stadium opened in 1996 as a Single-A affiliate of the Montreal Expos. Eventually, the Shorebirds became the Single-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, playing in the South Atlantic League. The team also draws from the many visitors to the region during the summer months as nearby Ocean City swells to between 320,000 and 345,000 visitors, and up to 8 million vacationers annually.
Food & Beverage 4
The food prices are very similar to most minor league baseball stadiums. They are very fair and offer many choices. Most entrees are $4 and up and won’t break your wallet. Be on the lookout for the numerous Family Pack options for both hot dogs and chicken tenders. Another great choice is the Jumbo Crab Pretzel. Sodas are $4 and $5.75, depending upon the size. You are on the “Eastern Shore” so choosing chicken and/or crab is always a good idea.
Atmosphere 4
Delmarva prides itself on offering a family atmosphere and a place where the entire family can enjoy baseball. The true fan can enjoy the quality play, while the kids can enjoy the carousel, bounce houses, and face painting offered. In-game promotions are also offered to keep the atmosphere fresh and fun. The team tries to keep it happening in between innings to not distract from the game.
There are orange bleachers for general admission sections and green seats for assigned seating. The cheap seats get great views, as well as the fans paying for the more expensive ones. The stadium will seem very similar to Harry Grove Stadium in Frederick and Prince George’s Stadium in Bowie, both also Orioles team affiliates.
Neighborhood 3
Perdue Stadium is not located in the heart of the city but at the busy junction of US Highway 50 and Route 13. There is nothing in walking distance to the stadium so you will have to drive to enjoy pre and post-game festivities.
A good local choice is the Evolution Brewing Company and their quite nice tasting room. They also offer a full restaurant option next door to that. Another option is the Market Street Inn in downtown Salisbury.
I would also recommend stopping over to Ocean City and trying the dizzying array of food options located in this tourist town. OC Wasabi is a personal favorite that offers an amazing sushi roll that contains fried soft-shell crab. Or try the numerous crab options in the area.
Fans 4
The fans are pretty traditional minor league fans for this area. Some are very knowledgeable about the game, while others are there as part of a family or a group and may be less interested in the actual game.
This is a Baltimore Orioles fan base, so expect to hear the loud “Ohhhhhhh” chant during the appropriate place in the National Anthem. Locals feel that the song is to do with as they please while showing support to the home team. It is good-natured, so who could disagree?
Access 3
Since the stadium is located at the convergence of US Highway 50 and Route 13, traffic can usually be pretty easy to handle. But be aware that on summer weekends there is a large amount of traffic heading east towards Ocean City, as well as traffic heading west at the end of said weekends. Plan carefully as traffic has been known to back up to Washington, DC, and Baltimore, many hours away. It really can be that bad.
There is plenty of parking, but the team does charge to park. I don’t see why they need to do this, but the price is less than $5.
Return on Investment 4
Prices are not the cheapest minor league games around but still offer decent value.
The best values are the general admission tickets that cost $8. These seats are close to the action, and give you flexibility to move around and/or get more food. Other options run from $11 to $13, which is pretty good value.
Be on the lookout for ticket promotions and other events that can make your game experience better. The team is active in the community, and there are many ways to attend the game.
Extras 4
The Eastern Shore Baseball Hall Of Fame is also located at the stadium. Make sure to stop in and see the numerous players and teams that have played on the DelMarVa Peninsula. It is worth a couple of points right there.
Kids will love the fully stocked kids' area with a carousel that has a great view of the field.
The team runs some great promotions, so check the calendar to see what is happening when you attend a game.
Final Thoughts
Arthur W. Perdue Stadium is a great stadium and the Delmarva Shorebirds go out of their way to make the stadium a place where both casual and hardcore baseball fans can be entertained and enjoy a quality game experience.