Treasurer of Maryland calls out the Orioles lease negotiations

[Going Underground]

14 minutes ago, Daddy-O's said:

It could be as simple as an out in the lease if certain crime rates don't decrease.  To treat it as a non-issue is not realistic.

The state board of Maryland would never approve funding with an out in the lease.  Part of the bill that passed to fund the stadiums states that no funding unless you sign a long term lease. The taxpayers would be left holding the bag after making improvements and the team leaves with an escape clause.

[Daddy-O's]

14 minutes ago, Going Underground said:

The state board of Maryland would never approve funding with an out in the lease.  Part of the bill that passed to fund the stadiums states that no funding unless you sign a long term lease. The taxpayers would be left holding the bag after making improvements and the team leaves with an escape clause.

That's the nature of negotiations.  One side asks for something, the other side says no, and after a long period of back forth the reach something in the middle or one side loses.  It rarely goes "can I have this"- "NO" -"okay"

[milbest77]

So when is the deadline for this and what happens if it doesn’t get done?

[Frobby]

4 minutes ago, milbest77 said:

So when is the deadline for this and what happens if it doesn’t get done?

The lease expires at the end of the year.  So the O’s need a lease for next year somewhere in order to play baseball.

[Baltimorecuse]

1 hour ago, Frobby said:

The lease expires at the end of the year.  So the O’s need a lease for next year somewhere in order to play baseball.

And the state needs a tenet or they've got a big white elephant.  

[Tony-OH]

As soon as everyone in this deal can find a way to line their pockets the best, a deal will get done. This is all just white noise during a great season. I'll focus on the field.

[Going Underground]

For people who think that John is selling or moving,why would he be doing this?

.

Lobbyists, Washington meetings reflect Orioles chairman John Angelos’ push for ‘second Baltimore renaissance’
https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-orioles-lobbyists-20230722-biytely6sndn7jmwjh2umfawzy-story.html

Edited July 22, 2023 by Going Underground

[Going Underground]

 

POLITICS

Lobbyists, Washington meetings reflect Orioles chairman John Angelos’ push for ‘second Baltimore renaissance’

Orioles Chairman and CEO John Angelos has reached out to Maryland’s congressional delegation and retained Washington lobbyists to try to help the city redevelop the Inner Harbor and the area immediately surrounding the city’s stadium complex.

It’s part of a push, in concert with the city and state, for what Angelos has called a “second Baltimore renaissance.”

[Going Underground]

 

POLITICS

Lobbyists, Washington meetings reflect Orioles chairman John Angelos’ push for ‘second Baltimore renaissance’

Orioles Chairman and CEO John Angelos has reached out to Maryland’s congressional delegation and retained Washington lobbyists to try to help the city redevelop the Inner Harbor and the area immediately surrounding the city’s stadium complex.

It’s part of a push, in concert with the city and state, for what Angelos has called a “second Baltimore renaissance.”

 

 

 

In June, the Orioles retained the firm of Cornerstone Government Affairs Inc., according to a lobbying registration form filed with the Secretary of the Senate’s public records office.

 

 

The lobbyists’ purpose, the form said, is to work “with Maryland congressional delegation members to build support for federal appropriations and grants for Baltimore City and the surrounding metropolitan areas to support programs to make infrastructure investments, transportation improvements, homeland security infrastructure and services, and general coordination with federal agencies.”

Efforts will focus, the form said, “on supporting the revitalization efhich includes both major league franchise stadiums 

Shocks People: Simple 

Todd Webster, one of the Cornerstone lobbyists named on the form, declined to comment.

Webster, a former chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat, has worked with Angelos for years on various projects, including as a spokesperson for the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. The Orioles own the majority of MASN, which produces coverage of Orioles and Washington Nationals’ games.

 

Angelos who also declined to comment, said in a memorandum last September to the team’s front-office staff members that he hoped to help the city achieve a second “renaissance.” The first renaissance, he wrote, came with the openings of Harborplace, the Inner Harbor development, in 1980, and of Oriole Park at Camden Yards in 1992. Angelos has said he would like the stadium area to be an entertainment hub, even on days when the Orioles aren’t playing.

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The disclosure form did not specify what sorts of redevelopment funds the club is seeking.

 

Money to improve state-owned Oriole Park is available as part of a new state law under which the Maryland Stadium Authority can borrow up to $1.2 billion for stadium improvements — $600 million each for the Orioles and Ravens. However, the funds for the ballpark cannot be accessed until the Orioles have a lease in place that is long enough to pay off the bonds. The current lease extension will run out Dec. 31.

Angelos and Democratic Gov. Wes Moore issued a joint statement last week saying they hoped to reach a deal soon. The vague update prompted Democratic state Treasurer Dereck Davis to demand information Wednesday about what was taking so long. Moore and Angelos’ offices did not respond, other than to refer to their earlier statement.

In the last few weeks, members of the state’s congressional delegation have met separately with Moore and Democratic Mayor Brandon Scott to assess their federal priorities, including revitalizing Baltimore’s downtown and stadium area. Moore and Scott have also periodically met with Angelos.

“The governor’s vision includes investing in our key downtown attractions, like the stadiums and the convention center, as well as supporting the infrastructure, transit, housing, amenities, and jobs that will tie those landmarks together as one community,” said Carter Elliott, Moore’s press secretary.

A rebuilt Lexington Market reopened last fall, more than two years after the start of a project to rebuild the faded attraction. A local developer, David Bramble, is re-imagining Harborplace, the twin pavilions at the Inner Harbor that was once a magnet for tourists but now sits largely vacant. The city and state hope to improve pedestrian access between the Inner Harbor and the stadium area, which also includes Horseshoe Casino and Topgolf.

“The growth is there,” Scott told reporters Wednesday after meeting with Cardin, Van Hollen and U.S. House members at the U.S. Capitol. “We have a brand-new CFG Bank Arena. We see what happened with the new Lexington Market that is there. We also know that the stadiums are going to be getting investment, and we have a hometown, homegrown developer for the [Inner] Harbor.”

 

 

[Roll Tide]

On 7/21/2023 at 10:17 AM, Going Underground said:

The state board of Maryland would never approve funding with an out in the lease.  Part of the bill that passed to fund the stadiums states that no funding unless you sign a long term lease. The taxpayers would be left holding the bag after making improvements and the team leaves with an escape clause.

Yep … that would be dumb the next lease needs to be 20+ years to carry us through the inevitable ownership change that will almost certainly come.