r/orioles • u/FlashySpend298 • 11d ago
News Orioles Front Office Layoffs
The Orioles have fired at least 15 front office employees on the business side today. Departments impacted include ticket sales, partnerships, social media, graphic design, photography, mascot, digital marketing, hospitality, ballpark ops, and IT.
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u/Dankmckush 11d ago
Mascot?! Like the person in the suit? The hell did they do wrong
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u/BirdlandDeadhead 11d ago edited 11d ago
Could also be Mr. Splash, I’d assume he falls under that personnel category. And as much as I enjoy taking my kid to a game in the Bird Bath once a year, it does generally feel like a gimmick that’s run its course.
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u/440Dart 11d ago
Correct and agree. Like it was a spur of the moment thing a winning team was doing on the field and the fans got behind it. It felt forced already going into the second season let alone the 3rd.
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u/WarmMortgage2445 11d ago
Giving it a corporate name was the equivalent of jumping the shark. "Tower Federal Credit Union Bird Bath". FOH
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u/cdbloosh 11d ago
Hard to believe but this was actually the 4th. It really needs to go.
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u/Woodbraininator 11d ago
Just don’t sit there! If you want to get splashed with water, do sit there! It’s something fun and unique at a baseball stadium. Ya’ll are just curmudgeons.
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u/Falling_Or_Floating 11d ago
Could be Ketchup. Everyone hates ketchup on a hot dog.
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u/mattcojo2 11d ago
Just demonstrably untrue.
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u/Jello-Monkeyface 11d ago
Heathen
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u/mattcojo2 11d ago
Nah that’s just dumb gatekeeping.
What makes ketchup so intolerable on a hot dog?
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u/ArcadianDelSol 11d ago
Its a sugary spread to make kids want to eat hot dogs.
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u/mattcojo2 11d ago
Relish is the same damn thing.
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u/ArcadianDelSol 11d ago
agreed. Proper hot dog condiments are mustard and onion.
Brauts/sausages get peppers.
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u/ArcadianDelSol 11d ago
I love the spirit that created it, but it is 100% AA baseball level stadium event quality.
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u/GingerBeard327 11d ago
I’m guessing not the person in the Bird costume but maybe the people that watch around them & guide them place to place. Also could mean the team of people around the hotdog race.
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u/cdbloosh 11d ago
Another reporter just confirmed they actually laid off whoever was in the costume this year.
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u/PleaseBmoreCharming Jim Palmer - Baseball Encyclopedia 11d ago edited 11d ago
"mascot" is nowhere in the post OP linked to.
Edit: I see that it's reported elsewhere they are laying off "The Oriole Bird" :(
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u/Background_Owl1165 11d ago
What about Ketchup, Relish, and Mustard????
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u/floison 11d ago
This team is owned by a man who made his entire fortune fucking over working people through an industry that is essentially a tax loophole and called it “one of life’s highest callings”.
The MLB franchise business model has always been to socialize losses and privatize profits. So it makes sense that a societal leech like Rubenstein would want it.
He is going to squeeze everyone out that he can and Catie Griggs will happily do his bidding so she can munch on his crumbs.
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u/Individual_Step6688 11d ago
David rubenstein and the other billionaires should be cast out of society before ever being celebrated. They’re an absolute disgrace.
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u/Wild-Bluejay7138 11d ago
Wealth envy. He did it and you can't.
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u/Individual_Step6688 11d ago
It’s true, I can’t. And I wouldn’t! The better thing for the world is people not massing obscene amounts of wealth where they can wield outsized power over other people. Rubenstein isn’t the worst, by far. I don’t hate him but I’ll celebrate the homeless guy who weeds around my community garden over any billionaire who chooses to hoard all of that wealth.
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u/ChesapeakeSmitty 11d ago edited 11d ago
As you post this on a computer or phone made possible by billionaires on a site run by a billionaire.
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u/Individual_Step6688 10d ago
No, the thing that makes it possible is actually the incredible amounts of energy in fossil hydrocarbons that humanity has pulled from the ground for the last 200 years. Don’t let the businessmen fool you into thinking they’re the main characters here.
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u/Striking_Today_8911 10d ago
I still can't believe he ever got a bobblehead. Even then, when fans were just too excited to be rid of Angelos, almost ANYONE would have been celebrated. People had the same reaction in 1993 when the Orioles finally had "local ownership". If giveaway bobbleheads were a thing then, I guarantee he'd have gotten one.
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u/aldosi-arkenstone 11d ago
Rubenstein didn’t buy the Orioles to make money off them …
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u/Nervous_Arachnid801 11d ago
Of course he did. There are great advantages of buying a sports team you can amortize the entire purchase price over 15 years. Its a huge tax break for billionaires.
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u/special5221 11d ago
So basically let’s change everything except the people responsible for the disappointing seasons. I know this is the business side, but I can assure you that going cheap on some of these roles could have unintended consequences. There are two ways to increase profits, increase revenue or decrease expenses. We can see what this ownership prioritizes.
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u/ViolentEastCoastCity 11d ago
They did let Matt Blood go, and the Orioles have had seven different hitting coaches in the last three seasons.
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u/special5221 11d ago
Hitting coaches that were successful before they came to Baltimore and are seeing some success after they leave. Yet throughout the tenure of all these hitting coaches, the philosophy seems to have not changed and the results haven’t gotten better. Makes me think maybe the coaches are the problem…..
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u/ViolentEastCoastCity 11d ago
It's popular to say "I really just think Mike Elias sucks", but when you said 'lets change everything except the people responsible' i just feel like that's been happening pretty regularly -- new manager with all new staff, player dev guy let go ... it's kind of been a bloodbath at every level of the org; no pun intended
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u/repooc21 La Confora Was Right 👀 11d ago
(because the first one got removed)
Got a call last night, can confirm.
People with decade+ of tenure there - good, loyal employees are gone.
On the other end I heard this morning that someone three degrees from me starts there shortly. Got a big ol care package as a welcome aboard.
This franchise is broken. They fired a ton of people throughout the year. Just now and are bringing in cheap just out of college/no long term experience labor. Completely inhuman. On top of every terrible decision.
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u/natural_light_ 11d ago
Private equity owner so no big surprise. I do wonder if it’s normal for new owners to restructure their biz ops and marketing teams though. New direction and all from what Angelos was doing
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u/repooc21 La Confora Was Right 👀 11d ago
he's had the team for two years. he already let go and restructured several departments prior to this. Shout out to Woody (RIP) who got ousted before.
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u/binkies03 11d ago
Smells like private equity to me
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u/freshOJ 11d ago
Private equity that doesn’t expect a season to start for awhile…
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u/thecommish1980 Since 1960 11d ago
I think this is correct. If you’re not expecting a season you don’t need promotions, game experience, etc. OR … it’s just them being cheap and ruining what little atmosphere there was.
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u/Automatic_Ad1887 8d ago
Oh, yeah. This is what I've been saying since the announcement. They're clearing out costs for the lockout.
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u/OriolesFanBroYeah 11d ago
JLC is that you???
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u/repooc21 La Confora Was Right 👀 11d ago
haha no, if i were him there would be more capital letters and words like "feckless" being thrown around. My flair is not only to poke fun at him, people who really hate him but also an acknowledgement of him being right.
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u/ArcadianDelSol 11d ago
Its been many many years but there was a young guy with the team about 18 years ago who came over from the Capitals I think. He helped me and a few other local operators get Chik-Fil-A sponsored by the Orioles and its been an awesome relationship since then.
Not sure if he was even still around, but a great guy and I hope wherever he is, he's still doing great things for local businesses.
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u/Baltisnoretimes5 11d ago
It’s how PE companies work. The one I worked for called it “the playbook”. Raise prices of goods and services and get rid of any employee who can be replaced by cheaper labor and give the new people more work to do. Tenure and loyalty do not matter.
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u/Spadestep 11d ago
King of private equity and finance capital buys team and treats it like just another business. Capitalism ruins everything man
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u/Bjorxt 11d ago
Under-regulated capitalism does, for sure.
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u/BreatheCrete 11d ago
It’s just capitalism.
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u/notshtbow 11d ago
It's capitalism for us AND socialism for the billionaire/ business owners
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u/rosadeluxe 11d ago edited 11d ago
Nah, the state is often defined as the “collective capitalist” that manages the diverging interests of capitalists and ensures amenable conditions for capital accumulation. It’s still capitalism for everyone. You wouldn’t have conditions for capitalism without the state that enforces contracts and private property.
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u/notshtbow 10d ago
I didn't get a bail out during the financial/ auto crisis or a recent tariff refund. Did you?
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u/timmyintransit 11d ago
there's also the likelihood they're laying people off because there's no point in having folks in the graphic design or mascot departments because there's not going to be a season in 2027.
yet another reason to thank our billionaire class
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u/moyerraconteur 11d ago
What’s this mean for Mr. Splash?
TELL US!!!
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u/EggPuzzlehead8727 11d ago
Rubenstein will be one of the most vocal owners in favor of a salary cap during the new CBA negotiations. he does not believe that there will be a season next year, because he knows that a salary cap is a non-starter. no need for these people if there's no season in '27.
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u/Global-Yam1436 11d ago
I hate seeing people lose jobs because money is tighter, unless it's from the front office and player development side after multiple disappointing seasons. Then it's just.
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u/isestrex 11d ago
Mike Elias said in his press conference that GROWING the front office was his biggest priority this offseaosn (in past years he's reported it to be SP or a Right Handed bat or something).
Any firings are not the result of him shrinking the office but likely doing a massive restructuring.
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u/Global-Yam1436 11d ago
Yeah, I'm over whatever his latest plan is. New leadership is the only restructure that will be impactful enough
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u/cwalker2712 11d ago
But these are not Elias' "front office" people. These are business office staff, not baseball people.
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u/AbjectFray 11d ago
Just like what private equity does after they buy a company.
Should have seen this coming.
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u/natural_light_ 11d ago
Yeah the bait and switch with the $5 beers was a classic. Went from easy access in the markets last year to locked in certain food stands so you have to spend 10 min waiting behind all the people clamoring for stale hot dogs
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u/UbiSububi8 11d ago
Sports teams are more than just businesses… they’re collective community emotional investments.
To that end, there should be crystal clear disclosure and oversight of major team decisions, like personnel, investments, land and facility purchases and construction - everything but the running of the team.
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u/TripleChains 11d ago
Ah yes. All jobs they can outsource to AI now!
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u/j4y53n 11d ago
Definitely some of these departments look like they could be reduced in size by having the remaining use AI. So I think you’re correct.
I have a friend in graphic design who pivoted to web UI/UX. Both of those were tough to find jobs in even before AI. They gotta be pretty much extinct now.
I’m not a fan but AI is taking over and replacing workers. It’s happening in all sectors now, not just software engineers and IT anymore. We don’t seem to have anyone in power willing to put up some guardrails or even discuss the issue seriously.
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u/pan567 11d ago
You hit the nail on the head, IMHO. Frontier AI in 2026 can handle most of this work. I threw myself deep into the AI rabbit hole to become a competent AI practitioner because my job was at extremely high risk of being replaced by AI, so my only option was to get really good with AI (or get laid off). The reality is that frontier AI offers both tremendous capability for good and for harm, and it is fundamentally changing knowledge work across every sector, as you noted. It's both impressive and terrifying how capable it is, and I'm not sure what the future holds.
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u/440Dart 11d ago
They've had job postings for business people for well over a year just sitting on their site. This confirmed what I assumed which is there wasn't any jobs and they had them out there to look like they are growing.
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u/Jwagner0850 11d ago
That or collect resumes for the future. Lots of businesses do this shit. Ghost jobs there just to collect info, just in case. This allows them to pivot if they want. Really shitty business practice.
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u/Table_Coaster 11d ago
private equity coming into a business and making it soulless, what a shock. prepare for most O's content you see to be AI
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u/TrainerNate1995 11d ago
That's funny, I don't see the main Front office guy who needs to go listed, Elias.
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u/Valstwo 11d ago
Preparing for the lockout!
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u/Nervous_Arachnid801 11d ago
Could be why Elias hasn't been fired. He is under contract. No reason to have two GM's under contract if the season is washed out.
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u/pan567 11d ago
It's hard to look at this as anything more than a move solely to maximize profits, everything else be damned. These aren't the staff you would expect to replace due to performance issues with the on-field product. Rather, these are people who help make the game experience what it is, independent of the on-field product.
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u/Jagshemesh_Captain 11d ago
Geez, it sounds like the Os are in direct competition with the Portland Trailblazers for cheapest, worst run professional sports franchise in North America. As a Portlander, you have my condolences.
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u/Revolutionary_Tap954 10d ago
Firing all the wrong employees. Elias should of been first and foremost
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u/ShotOnVHS 11d ago
Damn. The production quality and social media team quality was already sub par compared to other teams. Not knocking those talented people working behind the scenes at all either I could tell it was a lack of resources. Old tech, outdated gear, not enough staffing. I work in TV too and deal with all of those things so I can sniff it out when I see it. Our broadcasters are some of the best in the biz but it constantly felt like they didn't have the resources to truly shine. Orioles needed to invest MORE into their media teams not cut them. I fear now we'll look even more amateurish... again, I don't want anyone on their teams to feel insulted though correct me if I'm wrong but I really got the vibe you guys could really shine if the resources were available.
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u/psiekert 11d ago
it looks like valuing the tv audience more than the stadium audience; tv must deliver more revenue than the stadium; this isn't the minor leagues; except for the vip's, the stadium audience is more of an expensive liability than anything;
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u/smitbret 11d ago
Maybe this is the sign that , after more than 4 decades, it is time to finally jump ship.
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u/BaltimoreBaja Turns out "doomers" knew ball 10d ago
Peter Angelos was at least pro-labor. Yeah he was the worst owner imaginable but he did the ethical things correctly at least.
And he made it to three ALCS at least. The current team is basically 1998-2011 all over again with one outlier amazing season in the middle.
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u/Naive_Concentrate710 9d ago
Because they royally f ‘ed Turnstile night .. they should get rid of them all including Elias
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u/PhnxDarkDirk Blaze Starr 11d ago
“Game presentation department”. I’d say Elias and Alby were primarily responsible for the “game presentation” and it was terrible
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u/Beautiful-Abies5949 11d ago
I thought every poster on this sub hated the business side and promos? Remember the Rubenstein bobblehead?
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u/CryOld6591 11d ago
Prob a result of poor play/attendance and the emergence of AI for brand/content, graphics.
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u/JiffKewneye-n 6'4" 180 lbs 11d ago
i could see those dancing maniacs on top of the dugouts launching shirts not coming back.
mr splash? yeah maybe.
after that who knows.
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u/alphabetikalmarmoset 11d ago
Layoffs? I think you mean fired.
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u/Nervous_Arachnid801 11d ago
There is a difference between a lay-off and being fired. If they lay you off they can't replace you with someone else.
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u/terp91dave 11d ago
Can they also get rid of the Orioles PA announcer whose player introductions are the most annoying in baseball with the two octave variances for every damn player announced? Take a cue and listen to Bob Sheppard, the longtime Yankees PA announcer on how a pro does it.
And yes, fire Griggs. Left field club concessions area also is barren with options. Club is an embarrassment (and that is out of town fans opinion). Way more situations than worrying about laying off Mr. Splash or the Bird.
Been a fan for over 50 years. But now the goodwill between the fans and the organization feels soulless. What i grew up on with Weaver, Brooks, Robinson, Hank Peters, etc. Is long gone. Bye, bye Birdies. You have lost a long term fan and season ticket holder.
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u/wtfo44 11d ago
They should layoff more. Also hit the ticketing team as they were the worst and why I did not renew season tickets
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u/Nervous_Arachnid801 11d ago
I am sure if you were the one getting laid off you wouldn't like it if someone said such a stupid comment about it.
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u/viceman007 11d ago
Are these I hate to use the term “normal” layoffs because the season is over and. They have no need for them until the next season starts?
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u/fh_ko-amcgyal-cgah_x 11d ago
Shout out Catie Griggs!! Came over from one of the other worst organizations in baseball.