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 and the team have confirmed.
The agreement is slated to go before the Maryland Stadium Authority on Monday in Baltimore at the warehouse next to the ballpark. The state's Board of Public Works, a three-member board chaired by the governor, also is scheduled to meet there later that day.
In a statement, Moore said the 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."
MARYLAND GOV. MOORE CALLS ORIOLES LEASE DEAL 'IMMINENT'
"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. "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 confirmed the agreement in a statement.
"We appreciate the hard work that has gone into bringing this agreement down to the finish line, and we're grateful to the Maryland Stadium Authority, the Governor's team, and, of course, everyone here at the Orioles organization," the team said.
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.
An agenda on the stadium authority's website says the panel will consider a contract that extends the existing lease and includes time to create a development plan.
The board also will consider a draft agreement to memorialize the terms and conditions of a 30-year lease agreement.
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.
