Baltimore Orioles fans are voicing their disappointment after Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers did not appear in his scheduled role as a "guest splasher" for the team's Bird Bath Splash Zone on Saturday. Fans who purchased tickets specifically for this experience reported spending hundreds of dollars, only to be met with the absence of the announced guest.
Flowers, who was announced on June 18 as a guest splasher and also slated to throw out the first pitch, ultimately did throw out the first pitch. However, his failure to participate in the Splash Zone event, a popular feature at Camden Yards since 2023 where attendees are sprayed with water, led to frustration among those in attendance.
An Orioles spokesman told The Baltimore Sun that while the team had included Flowers' appearance in its initial announcement, they did not continue to promote it after it was understood he might not participate. The team stated they will "work with any fans who reach out for a satisfactory solution." Representatives for Flowers and the Ravens did not comment to the Sun.
Some fans expressed that the lack of clear communication contributed to their disappointment. Sarah Stanton, whose family of 11 spent over $800 on tickets, told The Sun that they came to the game specifically because Flowers was scheduled to be there. Another fan, Chris Meyers, whose fiancée spent $400 on tickets, noted that the team did not clearly inform attendees of Flowers' absence from the Splash Zone. Fans in the affected section chanted "We want Zay" during the game, but were instead met by mascots.
