Not to kick this day off with doom and gloom, but I think baseball in Baltimore is in trouble. This has everything to do with the Nats and the massive market share that franchise has stolen and is actively solidifying as life-long fans... carved-out of the the wealthy and booming areas of Northern-VA, DC, and Montgomery County.
It's no mistake that baseball is allowing this to happen. They know where the money is. They wanted the region's territory to center around DC, not Baltimore.
This year was the first year that I began to notice Camden was looking a little ragged around the edges. The luxury suites are woefully outdated. The hallways around the club/suite section are knocked up and looking dirty. At one game I noted one of the food stations in that section of the stadium had filth on the floor and around the food equipment.... the stadium also has signs of wear... and the diamond-vision is looking small and outdated. Baltimore, in general, is experiencing really tough times. Even the once clean and shiny areas around the stadium are looking ragged – concrete crumbling, weeds, little foot traffic. It's not a magnet for investment. It's not a destination for tourism. It's not a town that suburbanites are heading to – the Baltimore riots and the immediate post-riot drop in stadium attendance at Camden is proof enough. If you need more proof, just go wander
You contrast that with what's happening at Nationals Stadium and DC in general. Billion dollar business are putting offices down in the stadium area. Condos are going up fast... the restaurant/bar scene is exploding. And that really extends across the greater DC area, straight into Bethesda and Northern VA.
While I'm not a fan of the vibe in National's Park, the amenities and state-of-the-art feel is hard to ignore... not to mention the fact that business are packed into their luxury boxes.
Peter Angelos saw this coming 100 miles away. He knew the value of the DC market was invaluable to the Orioles.
This year we heard the first rumblings of actual destinations for the Orioles. And while it was shot down, I think it's only a matter of time before the team succumbs to the strength and pull of the Nationals, and the fact that our Metro area isn't as large or balanced as places such as New York or LA. The Nats are big spenders...and they aren't showing any sign of slowing down. They tripped the luxury tax threshold 3x in four years... this is Yankees/Red Sox/LA territory.
Baltimore is now a perennial small market team.
I give the Orioles 8 years before the MLB helps usher their departure to more fertile grounds. It could be sooner, depending on who ultimately buys the team. Breaks my heart to think that way, but I'm having a hard time seeing this play out any differently.
