After yesterday’s announcement by the Orioles and Maryland Governor Wes Moore indicated that Moore and Orioles chairman John Angelos had reached a deal to keep the Orioles at Camden Yards for another 30 years, the details of the agreement released today paint a less certain picture of the agreement. As noted by Jeff Barker of The Baltimore Sun, the agreement isn’t a new lease. Rather, it’s a “memorandum of understanding” that the Orioles will remain at Camden Yards for the next 30 years, with Barker adding that the agreement is legally non-binding.
Per Barker, Governor Moore’s office indicated that, in addition to the long-term lease not yet being complete, an extension of the current lease “for at least a year or two” may be necessary because the sides have not yet agreed upon the deal’s final terms. As the Orioles note in their press release, the memorandum includes a 99-year agreement that gives the Orioles to invest private capital into developing the area around Camden Yards, including the warehouse and Camden Station. Barker adds that the Orioles figure to pay $94MM to the state over the length of the agreement.
Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner notes that the terms of the memorandum, which he describes as “an agreement on some issues and a promise to continue working toward a long-term lease,” stipulate that the Orioles would no longer pay rent to use the ballpark, and in exchange would take over the costs of upkeep for the stadium, which are currently the responsibility of the state of Maryland. Kostka adds that the sides still expect to have a lease signed before the current deal expires on December 31, though many of the details of the agreement are still being worked out, including oversight of the aforementioned development prospect, which will include both the Maryland Stadium Authority and the Orioles.
Today’s announcement that no lease has been signed is something of a surprise, given the club’s announcement of a deal during last night’s win over the Red Sox that saw the Orioles clinch their first AL East title since 2014. That being said, the memorandum signed by both sides of the negotiations represents what should be an important milestone toward getting a deal completed in advance of the club’s current lease expiring at the end of the 2023 calendar year. The state of Maryland, Angelos, and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred have all routinely emphasized that there is no risk of the Orioles departing Baltimore, even as negotiations regarding the club’s lease at Camden Yards have dragged towards the eleventh hour of the current deal.
Can we not just have one thing that is purely good? JFC always something with this organization.
Amen, @steveguy13.
smh. A non legally binding “memorandum of understanding” is not a signed lease. sigh. I’m going to try to be optimistic and see this as a step towards the goal, but sheesh.
This, is why we can’t have nice things.
That’s a pretty disgusting thing to say over a baseball stadium, have a little respect for your maker
So far, a lot of nothing about nothing. Who really expects the O’s to move?
@deweybelongsinthehall
I expect them to move.
If any town should know about teams moving its Baltimore. Overnight style!
They aren’t going to move because they don’t have MLB support nor do the Angelos’ have a pile of cash sitting around. The majority of their wealth is tied up in the O’s. Maryland hasn’t been especially stingy with their offer to the O’s either.
We’re not the As.. people in Md actually go to the games
With the Commish waffling on possible expansion, this “understanding” puts the pressure on Nashville to provide a free world-class stadium for either the Orioles or Nationals — who remain on the sale block and a totally untenable TV
Untenable TV contract.
According to Nielson DMA ranking, Nashville ranks 27th in tv audience market between Pittsburgh and Baltimore. So, if the city gets a new team it will become just another beggars of MLB. What is worse for the ‘team’ is it does not have room to grow wnen there are a lot of Cards and Braves fans in surrounding areas.
With the Commish waffling on possible expansion, this “understanding” puts the pressure on Nashville to provide a free world-class stadium for either the Orioles or Nationals — who remain on the sale block and a totally untenable TV deal.
What a FU***NG mess! John Angelos thinks the fan base is not smarter than a 5th grader. This is all about his greed, fueled by his narcissistic Napoleon complex.
He is buddy buddy with the governor (regular donator to Wes Moore and the Democratic Party) and is doing everything he can to delay, delay, delay so that he then holds all the leverage, therefore allowing him to further line his pockets with taxpayer cash.
It tells you all you need to know about him personally, that on the night the Orioles would clinch the AL East, he decides to try to make it all about himself and announce a new lease was signed. Per usual, now that the details are out, even that was a lie.
It’s disgusting.
SELL THE TEAM, JOHN!!!
How does waiting give him any leverage? The team has to have a place to play. If the lease expires, there is no alternative site, no other ballpark that meets MLB standards for them to play at. The city can name their terms, and he either accepts or pounds sand. If he doesn’t agree, book concerts and tractor pulls. It will take years to build another ballpark, so forfeit away.
Angelos has the leverage because he supplies the MLB team that uses the field, warehouse, etc. It’s not like there are 25 MLB franchises waiting in line to make OPACY their new home.
The Orioles, and only the Orioles, can fully utilize the entirety of the space and not have it become a net loss for the state financially speaking. Sorry, but tractor pulls are not going to cut it lol.
Uh, you seriously think the O’s would just… not play? No games, no money. C’mon, try to use your brain. Angelos has no leverage, period. MLB will not let the O’s move. The other owners would not approve it either. MLBPA would sue the pants off him if the team just stopped playing baseball because the lease ran out. Grow up. Thought we were done with this ignorant posturing yesterday.
No such thing as the “Skins” anymore either, btw.
Ok, “King”, speaking of irrelevant names in todays world. Thanks for the attempt at lecturing. Far from a bowing at the throne bootlicker type, so take it somewhere else.
I’ll take that response as validation that logic escapes you. And that you aren’t cultured…
I understand the logic. The problem is the Angelos family. They do not have anyone else’s interests or logic in mind other than their own. Do you not see that? Are you kin to them or something?
My passport has more stamps than the post office. 30+ countries and counting. Only the moon has circled the globe more than I.
You both sound like morons
Typical Angelos. Say there is a deal getting fans excited to put pressure on Governor to agree with Angelos’s ridiculous ask. Still wish they would tell him we are giving you nothing see you later but know that only the Oakland mayor was brave enough to put long term city interests ahead of the 10% of the population who cares about baseball.
Good. Move them to New York and name them the Highlanders.
Angelo’s is pulling his bs again.
There is no “land” to develop. Why is the governor humoring this mule? Tell the Orioles to sign or hit the road!
Angelos and the governor are pals. That’s why. He donates to the Democratic Party. Political posturing that benefits no one except for their pockets.
Such a liar. Developing the area around the stadium would be economically great for Baltimore
Who’s the liar? Me or jorge78?
If me, you sound offended that I’m speaking the truth.
You. You’re the liar. The benefit to the City and its residents is obvious.
I’m not lying. You just refuse to see that what I’m saying (which is 100% fact checker true btw) is not mutually exclusive from what you are claiming.
Sure, the Orioles fans and some local residents may benefit. Fans get to see their team play still, a few new jobs created. Maybe some freshly paved streets. But it’s fractions of a penny to the dollar compared to what the state, Moore and Angelos will make.
We need some teams in Europe and Asia. Move them to the UK and they can still play in the AL East.
Like him or not , selfish and greedy or not, Angelos is not stupid.
Don’t worry Os fans.
Ignore the off field noise. It’s just white noise.
Enjoy the team for years to come.
They’re not going anywhere.
LOL. So, just keep the blinders on and “trust the science”, so to speak? Someone need to keep the heat on Angelos rather than hope it all works out. I’m not sure what reality you’re living in.
Not the unintelligent one you’re living in.
Hey we’re talking baseball teams here , as in rich folks toys , not public health policy.
Edp007 that’s why I put it in quotes because since public/political policy and public taxpayer money are both heavily involved and driving the business end of the deal.
Angelos must be called out and held accountable here, much like we try to do with our politicians.
They should have announced an MoU yesterday, positioning it as a positive step toward an expected deal. Instead, leaking a deal yesterday only to “walk it back” a few steps today as only an MoU turns the whole affair into a negative. Maybe they can blame it on one of their announcers again.
Stupid comment. Apparently you’ve never been in a business negotiation. An MOU is a serious agreement. Also the announcement was “agreed to a deal” not “signed a lease” – nothing is being walked back. This is an agreement in principle.
I am OK with the holding out of the negotiations for a better ballpark deals. If we travel to some of the better ballpark situations in baseball, Camden Yards is awesome, but it has some catching up to do now. It was the role model for a new generation of parks, but that’s now been 30 years ago. And for the longterm health of the club, which can support a flourishing baseball organization, whatever they can do to match up is great. We want to see the farm system, player dev, and these young Orioles continue to flourish. All that requires revenue streams.
One weird peeve of mine is that, I remember when the new screen was installed, but it’s one of the smaller screens in baseball, I think. When you go to some parks, you realize how much can be done in a stadium these days.
They agreed in principle on main points. Now they hammer out details. This is pretty basic stuff in negotiations. While not legally binding, it shows good faith on both parts
A “memorandum of understanding” from an Angelos is like Lucy with a football. Good luck, O’s fans.
Thank you. Just don’t tell “KingOmar” that. He’ll get his panties in a wad.
They should try to get a new stadium. But the warehouse background is iconic. So it would be weird if they didn’t have that in RF.
It’s crazy that we may never see another stadium turn 100 years old. 2062 will be the next time we see a stadium turn 100.
John Angelos and Gov. Moore come across as a bit slimy in all of this considering they were both clapping and fist pumping on the “Jumbotron” when the announcement that a new lease had been agreed to was shared with the crowd.
So the Orioles might, maybe, could remain in Baltimore for the next 30 years? Yay?