MARYLAND STADIUM AUTHORITY

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

The Maryland Stadium Authority plans, finances, builds, and manages sports facilities, convention centers, entertainment venues, and other projects in Maryland.

Formed by the General Assembly in 1986, the Authority was authorized to select a site for new sports stadiums in the Baltimore metropolitan area, and acquire, construct, and operate these facilities (Chapter 283, Acts of 1986).


[photo, Gate C entrance, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Eutaw St., Baltimore, Maryland] Camden Yards in downtown Baltimore was chosen by the Authority in 1987 as the site for separate baseball and football facilities (Chapters 122, 123, and 124, Acts of 1987). Having entered into a long-term lease with the Orioles baseball team, the Authority acquired the site and constructed Oriole Park at Camden Yards as a baseball park that opened April 6, 1992. For the use of the Ravens, the National Football League team, the Authority also managed Memorial Stadium (former home of the Baltimore Orioles) from 1996 to 1997.


Gate C entrance, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Eutaw St., Baltimore, Maryland, July 2001. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.


[photo, M & T Bank [Ravens] Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland] The Ravens’ new home in the sports complex at Camden Yards, Ravens Stadium at Camden Yards, opened September 6, 1998. PSINet Inc., purchased stadium naming rights on January 22, 1999, and the Stadium was renamed PSINet Stadium. On February 28, 2002, the Stadium reverted to its original name, Ravens Stadium at Camden Yards, and was known as such until M&T Bank Corp. purchased naming rights on May 6, 2003. The current naming-rights agreement on M&T Bank Stadium extends through 2027.

Following the Ravens' move to the new stadium, its old site at Memorial Stadium (at 33rd Street in northeast Baltimore) remained vacant. Demolition of Memorial Stadium began in 2001 and was completed on February 15, 2002.

M&T Bank [Ravens] Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland, May 2015. Photo by Sarah A. Hanks.


As a public corporation of Maryland, the Authority may issue tax-exempt bonds for financing its operations. Proceeds from the sale of Authority bonds and revenues collected or received from any other source, including a tax on gate receipts at Oriole Park, are deposited in the Maryland Stadium Authority Financing Fund. The Fund is a revolving fund for carrying out the purposes of the Authority.

Subject to approval by the Board of Public Works, the Authority may hold an ownership interest in and operate a professional football or major league baseball team or team franchise, on a temporary basis, during a transition of the team or team franchise to private ownership.

The Authority consists of seven members who serve four-year terms. Six are appointed by the Governor with Senate advice and consent. One is chosen by the Mayor of Baltimore with Senate advice and consent. The Governor names the chair. With the Governor's approval, the Authority appoints the Executive Director (Code Economic Development Article, secs. 10-601 through 10-655).

On October 1, 2022, the Authority's membership increased from seven to nine members (Chapter 17, Acts of 2022).

Work of the Authority is assigned to ten groups: Capital Projects Development; Capital Projects and Planning, Facilities; Finance; Human Resources; Information Technology; Internal Audit; Marketing and Communications (& Maryland Sports); Procurement; Public Safety and Security.


CAPITAL PROJECTS DEVELOPMENT GROUP

First organized as Project Management, the Capital Projects Development Group reformed under its present name in 2014.

The Group oversees matters relating to the Baltimore City Convention Center, the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center (Hippodrome Theatre Complex), the Montgomery County Conference Center, and the Ocean City Convention Center.

Projects that have been completed by the Authority include:

Current projects include:


[photo, Baltimore Convention Center, West Pratt St., Baltimore, Maryland]

Baltimore Convention Center, West Pratt St., Baltimore, Maryland, April 2001. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.


Additionally, the Maryland Stadium Authority oversees the construction and revitalization of certain Baltimore City public schools, and the demolition of blighted structures throughout Baltimore City as part of Project C.O.R.E. (Creating Opportunities for Renewal and Enterprise).

Under the Capital Projects Development Group are Projects and Studies, and School Projects.

PROJECTS & STUDIES
At the request of the Governor, General Assembly, or counties and municipalities, the Maryland Stadium Authority's functions have evolved and expanded over the past 35 years to include numerous economic, development and planning studies in addition to many construction projects and programs. To date, the Maryland Stadium Authority has completed $3 billion in projects across the State that were delivered on-time and on-budget. To local officials, Authority studies provide information, not recommendations, to help with investment and benefits decisions for their communities.

SCHOOL PROJECTS


MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS GROUP

The Marketing and Communications Group formed in 2013. It is responsible for sports branding, media monitoring, and website and social media content and controls. The Group supports functions of the Public Information Office, public outreach and messaging, and produces the Maryland Stadium Authority's annual report.

MARYLAND SPORTS
In October 2017, Maryland Sports was established by statute (Chapter 575, Acts of 2017).

Maryland Sports works to bring regional, national and international sporting events to Maryland. Also, for the National Association of Sports Commissions, Maryland Sports serves as the State's sports commission.

Since February 2021, Maryland Sports also is responsible for administering the Youth and Amateur Sports Grants Program and the Michael Erin Busch Sports Fund (Chapter 33, Acts of 2021; Code Economic Development Article, secs. 10-612.1 and !0-612.2). The purpose of both the Program and the Fund is to bring new youth and amateur sporting events to Maryland, attracting participants, sports fans, and tourists.

The Maryland Stadium Authority may establish affiliated foundations to work with Maryland Sports. Such affiliated foundations are not units of State government or instrumentalities of the State. To promote sports in Maryland, however, they may solicit and receive contributions from businesses, individuals, government entities, and nonprofit organizations (Chapter 575, Acts of 2017; Code Economic Development Article, sec. 10-612).

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