The Maryland Stadium Authority is based at Camden Yards’ Warehouse. avmedved’s stock.adobe.com photo.
Thomas Kelso’s
From 2015 to 2023, the author served as chair of the Maryland Stadium Authority and as chair of Gov. Larry Hogan’s reelection campaign.
The Maryland Stadium Authority is an incredible organization that does fantastic work for Maryland residents. While most of its work is not fully understood by the general public, its track record of best-in-class management of the Camden Yards complex, capital project management for Baltimore City and various counties across Maryland, and statewide recruitment of youth, amateur, and professional sporting events has been well received by the Maryland legislature and every governor from Harry Hughes to Larry Hogan. Indeed, the work to build the Authority and its incredible reputation has been a four-decade continuum from governor to governor and chairman to chairman.. I can personally attest to the bond that exists among former MSA chairs, as well as our mutual appreciation for the roles we each played in shaping the Authority into what it is today.
The MOU signed on September 27th by Gov. Wes Moore (D) and John Angelos changes the MSA’s role at Camden Yards significantly and, to a large extent, the Stadium Authority ceases to exist. Despite the fact that the MSA’s statute states that the Authority’s purpose is to “determine the location of, develop, establish, construct, erect, acquire, own, repair, remodel, add to, extend, improve, equip, operate, regulate, and maintain facilities to the extent necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Authority,” the MOU will give the Orioles the obligation to repair, remodel, add to, extend, maintain, operate, improve, and construct and erect at Oriole Park. This right will be extended to the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium due to the “parity clause” included in the MSA’s lease with the team. Team owners will have these rights now and in the future, despite the fact that the stadiums are owned and financed by Maryland residents, and if they are in disrepair, taxpayers will be asked to spend money to fix what should have been done all along.
This means that the proceeds from bond issuances under the $1.2 billion stadium funding bill, as well as any other money appropriated under the MOU, will be given to the teams to spend as they see fit, with no meaningful oversight by the MSA staff, Board of Public Works, or MSA Board of Directors. It also means that the teams will have the right to maintain the stadiums as they see fit, even if their decision jeopardizes the stadiums’ long-term viability. MSA-run procurements for contractors and vendors will no longer exist. This implies that there will be no meaningful safeguards for minority business participation.There are no requirements for minority hiring or prevailing wage requirements in contracts. By eliminating the role of the taxpayer, the Board of Directors is able to focus on what they do best: overseeing and voting on issues that are important to them. This was not the intention when House Bill 896 was passed in 2022.
This also means that the MSA, as it was created by statute and as we have come to know it, will cease to exist. Governors Hughes and Schaefer’s vision, as well as the dedication to building the MSA by each succeeding governor, each legislature, 8 board chairs, scores of board members, and, most importantly, the incredible MSA staff, will be undermined. It also implies that many long-serving, accomplished, and hardworking MSA employees will be let go. In fact, the process of eliminating these jobs began the day after the MOU was announced and continues to this day, despite the fact that no public body has approved a lease.
The employees who have been affected have done outstanding work for the Authority. They have families, rely on the benefits provided as part of their pay, and rely on Maryland pensions. Because these are primarily professional stadium management experts, the offer to transfer them to other state agencies will never be comparable in terms of job satisfaction. There is no way to make these employees whole. Who treats hardworking and accomplished employees in this manner?
If you agree with me, I ask that you join me in asking the governor to reconsider eliminating the MSA’s role at Camden Yards and to immediately halt any actions that would result in the elimination of the incredible people who do this work for the authority.
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