Long-term lease agreement being advanced for approval to keep Orioles in Baltimore

BALTIMORE - The Baltimore Orioles and the Maryland Stadium Authority have reached an agreement on a lease extension that will keep the baseball team at Camden Yards for at least the next three decades.

The long-term agreement is being advanced for approval to the Maryland Stadium Authority Board and then to the Maryland Board of Public Works on Monday, according to a statement released from the Governor's Office.

"This historic agreement embodies the three core principles I laid out at the beginning of this process: this is a long-term deal that will keep baseball in Baltimore for all to enjoy, that puts all Maryland taxpayers at the top of mind, and that benefits the entire City of Baltimore," Gov. Wes Moore said in the statement.

The Maryland Sports Authority has scheduled a special meeting on Monday morning to consider a 30-year lease extension.

The agenda for the meeting shows an outline of a new lease, which includes approvals for ground lease agreement and master development plan.

The Orioles issued a statement to our media partner The Baltimore Banner that reads: "We appreciate the hard work that has gone into bringing this agreement down to the finish line, and we're grateful to the Maryland Stadium Authority, the Governor's team, and, of course, everyone here at the Orioles Organization."

The current lease at Camden Yards expires on December 31.

On Wednesday, Gov. Moore told WJZ that a deal is "imminent."

He made it clear that he is working on a long-term deal. He says a short-term deal has been off the table for nine months. 

"We are going to keep the Orioles here for a long time," Moore said.

Last week, the governor put the breaks on a new lease after Senate President Bill Ferguson raised concerns about some of the conditions surrounding the lease. 

"I know for many this process has been long, and the team that worked on securing this deal has done so diligently with the best interests of the taxpayer in mind," Moore said.

There are three criteria Moore says are non-negotiable for him when getting this Orioles' deal done - the best deal for taxpayers, creating winners on and off the field and keeping the team in Baltimore.

"We've been working all throughout the weekend and the week with all the partners, and we feel very confident that a deal is imminent," said Moore, who chairs the three-member board.

In September, the team dramatically announced a new 30-year deal to stay at the ballpark — a message to that effect appeared on the scoreboard in the middle of a game the night the team clinched the AL East. The next day, the governor's office released details of a memorandum of understanding involving Moore, the team and the Maryland Stadium Authority.

The September agreement included a 99-year development rights agreement for areas surrounding the ballpark, including the warehouse and Camden Station. That was a sticking point for Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Baltimore Democrat, whose district includes the stadium.

The Orioles won 100 games last season for the first time since 1980. They also won the American League East for the first time since 2014.

"The Orioles are a treasured part of the Baltimore community and I know I speak for all Marylanders when I say we are so excited to see the impact they will make on the City of Baltimore and across the state for years to come," Moore said. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.