The announcement of a memorandum of understanding between the Baltimore Orioles’ and the Maryland Stadium Authority ensures the presence of the storied baseball franchise in Baltimore City will span a century. Since the Orioles’ arrival in 1954 – through World Series celebrations, downtown parades, celebrations of individual streaks, and, most recently, the mourning of a beloved local hero, Baltimoreans and local businesses have rallied behind and supported the team and its players.
Successful sports franchises help boost a city’s civic pride and image. The Orioles’ recent run to the American East title is Exhibit A of this effect. But this agreement is extremely significant because it provides the opportunity to leverage the draw of Camden Yards to make the stadium complex and adjoining communities vibrant mixed-use places to dine, work, shop, and play every week of the year whether there is a game or not. In 2022 3.1 million fans attended Atlanta Braves home games but The Battery Atlanta and Truist Park, seen by many as the future of mixed-use stadium complexes, drew 10 million visitors.
A uniquely Baltimore version of The Battery or other similar mixed-use complexes will provide tangible economic development and quality-of-life benefits for a wide variety of stakeholders. Specifically neighboring communities, local charities downtown businesses, hotels, and restaurants.
NAIOP Maryland supports and encourages these endeavors. Our association looks forward to collaborating with all stakeholders to help the stadium complex and the surrounding communities achieve their full potential.