A long-term agreement between the Baltimore Orioles and the Maryland Stadium Authority for a new lease at Camden Yards is moving forward for a vote by state officials next week, Gov. Wes Moore announced.
Quick Read
- Upcoming Vote on Lease Agreement: A long-term lease agreement between the Baltimore Orioles and the Maryland Stadium Authority is set for a vote by state officials next week, as announced by Maryland Governor Wes Moore.
- Approval Process: The agreement will first go before the Maryland Stadium Authority on Monday and is expected to be presented to the state’s Board of Public Works later the same day.
- Governor’s Statement on Agreement Principles: Governor Moore highlighted that the agreement adheres to three core principles: ensuring a long-term deal to keep baseball in Baltimore, prioritizing the interests of Maryland taxpayers, and benefiting the City of Baltimore.
- Details of Agreement Still Unreleased: As of now, the governor’s office has not released specific details about the agreement.
- Importance of the Orioles to Baltimore: Governor Moore emphasized the Orioles’ significance to the Baltimore community and expressed enthusiasm about the team’s continued impact on the city and the state.
- Current Lease Expiration: The Orioles’ current lease at Camden Yards, owned by the state of Maryland, is due to expire at the end of the year.
- Previous Announcement of New Deal: In September, the Orioles announced a new 30-year deal to stay at Camden Yards, highlighted through a scoreboard message during a game. Following this, the governor’s office released details of a memorandum of understanding between the Governor, the team, and the Maryland Stadium Authority.
- Development Rights Agreement: The September agreement included a 99-year development rights agreement for areas around the ballpark, including the warehouse and Camden Station. Concerns about this aspect were raised by Senate President Bill Ferguson and are being addressed by the Moore administration.
- Increased Bond Authorization for Stadiums: Last year, Maryland increased bond authorization for both M&T Bank Stadium and Camden Yards, allowing borrowing of up to $600 million for each stadium.
The Associated Press has the story:
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore: Orioles lease at Camden Yards heads to a vote
Newslooks- ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)
A long-term agreement between the Baltimore Orioles and the Maryland Stadium Authority for a new lease at Camden Yards is moving forward for a vote by state officials next week, Gov. Wes Moore announced.
The agreement is slated to go before the Maryland Stadium Authority on Monday. It also is expected to go before the state’s Board of Public Works later that day.
“This historic agreement embodies the three core principles I laid out at the beginning of this process: this is a long term deal that will keep baseball in Baltimore for all to enjoy, that puts all Maryland taxpayers at the top of mind, and that benefits the entire City of Baltimore,” Moore said in a statement.
The governor’s office has yet to release details about the agreement.
“I know for many this process has been long, and the team that worked on securing this deal has done so diligently with the best interests of the taxpayer in mind,” the governor said in a statement. “The Orioles are a treasured part of the Baltimore community and I know I speak for all Marylanders when I say we are so excited to see the impact they will make on the City of Baltimore and across the state for years to come.”
The Orioles’ lease at Camden Yards, which is owned by the state of Maryland, expires at the end of the year. In September, the team dramatically announced a new 30-year deal to stay at the ballpark — a message to that effect appeared on the scoreboard in the middle of a game the night the team clinched the AL East. The next day, the governor’s office released details of a memorandum of understanding involving Moore, the team and the Maryland Stadium Authority.
The September agreement included a 99-year development rights agreement for areas surrounding the ballpark, including the warehouse and Camden Station. That was a sticking point last week for Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Baltimore Democrat, whose district includes the stadium, and the Moore administration said it would work to address those concerns before moving forward.
Last year, the state increased bond authorization for M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens, and Camden Yards. The measure allowed borrowing of up to $600 million for each stadium.
