Our History

Since 1986, the Maryland Stadium Authority has completed projects in partnership with local governments, universities and the private sector throughout Maryland. These include convention centers, museums, theaters, parks and campus centers in addition to sports arenas. They have been completed on time, on budget. The Maryland Stadium Authority is committed to enhancing the lives of all those who visit our 85 acre Camden Yards Sports Complex- whether for work or for play and for those who utilize the projects we have developed throughout the state. 

The Maryland Stadium Authority was established by legislation and enacted by the State of Maryland July 1, 1986, to select a site and develop financing alternatives for stadium facilities in the Baltimore Metropolitan area. In July 1, 1987, the law was amended to enable the construction of new facilities, including baseball and football stadiums, in the Camden Yards area of Baltimore City. The amendment also established MSA as an independent unit in the Executive Branch of the State government. From then on, MSA has continued to grow and thrive over the next three decades:

1980's

• July 1, 1986: Herbert J. Belgrad named Chairman of the Board of Directors; Edward Cline became Acting Executive Director of the Maryland Stadium Authority 
   
• July 1, 1987: Chris T. Delaporte named Executive Director of MSA
   
• 1988: Memo of agreement with Orioles signed; life officially begins anew at Camden Yards
   
• February 6, 1989: Bruce Hoffman becomes Executive Director of MSA 
   
• June 28, 1989: Camden Yards ballpark groundbreaking- Former Governor Schafer "threw the first pitch" with a wrecking ball painted like a baseball

1990's

• February 6, 1990: Location of home plate determined for OPACY- Orioles Pete Harnisch, Elrod Hendricks & Randy Milligan were on hand for the first unofficial first pitch and ball hit at Camden Yards
   
• April 6, 1992: Opening Day for Oriole Park at Camden Yards
   
• July 13, 1993: MLB All-Star Game
   
• October 1994: MSA staff move into The Warehouse at Camden Yards
   
• 1995: First tenant in The Warehouse at Camden Yards move in (Waverly Press- now Wolters Kluwer)
   
• 1995: John A Moag, Jr. named Chairman of the Board
   
• October 8, 1995: Pope John Paul II visited Baltimore and held mass with more than 50,000 people at OPACY
   
• September 1996: Expansion project completed- Baltimore City Convention Center
   
• July 23, 1996: Camden Yards NFL Stadium (now M&T Bank Stadium) project construction ceremony took place
   
• April 1997: Renovation project completed- Baltimore City Convention Center
   
• 1997: Expansion and renovation project completed- Ocean City Convention Center
   
• August 6, 1998: NFL Stadium at Camden Yards (now M&T Bank Stadium) opens with Steelers v. Ravens
   
• May 1999: WHFStival: First major concert at CYSC (80,000 attendees)
   
• 1999: John Brown, III named Chairman of the Board

2000's

• February 8, 2000: Richard W. Slosson becomes Executive Director of MSA
   
• December 2000: First Army vs. Navy game at M&T Bank Stadium
   
• 2003: Carl A.J. Wright named Chairman of the Board
   
• February 2004: Renovation project completed- Hippodrome Performing Arts Center opens in Baltimore City
   
• March 18, 2004: Alison L. Asti starts as Executive Director of MSA
   
• December 2004: Design and construction project completed- Opening of Montgomery County Conference Center
   
• 2005: Robert L. McKinney named Chairman of the Board
   
• May 14, 2005: Camden Station reopens to the public
   
• July 2007: Frederick W. Puddester appointed Chairman of the Board
   
• September 27, 2007: David A. Raith appointed Acting Executive Director; also continues as CFO
   
• 2008: John Morton, III appointed Chairman of the Board
   
• August 2008: Creation of Maryland Office of Sports Marketing (now Maryland Sports)
   
• December 1, 2008: Michael J. Frenz starts as new Executive Director 
   
• July 31, 2009: first soccer match at M&T Bank Stadium- largest attended sporting event in stadium history

2010's & 2020's

• January 2013: Maryland Sports relocates to The Warehouse at Camden Yards
   
• May 16, 2013: Capital Projects & Development Group (CPDG) tapped to run Baltimore City Schools Revitalization program (21st Century Schools)
   
• December 2013: M&T Bank Stadium became LEED Existing Building: Operations & Maintenance certified- the 1st stadium in the world to do so
   
• March 23, 2015: Thomas E. Kelso becomes Chairman of the Board of Directors
   
• January 5, 2016: CPDG tapped to oversee the demolition of blighted structures located throughout Baltimore City as part of Project C.O.R.E
   
• May 25, 2017: House Bill 1619, Maryland Stadium Authority - Maryland Sports and Affiliated Foundations - Establishment, signed into law
   
• August 2017: The 21st Century School Buildings Program, a partnership with MSA, City of Baltimore, Baltimore City Public Schools, and the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC) celebrate the ribbon-cutting of its first replacement school, Ft. Worthington Elementary / Middle School.
   
• April 16, 2018: Oriole Park at Camden Yards achieves LEED Gold certification for existing building
   
• July 26, 2019: Billy Joel First-Ever Concert at Oriole Park at Camden Yards
   
• April 2020: MSA hosts World Central Kitchen and The Salvation Army at the Camden Yards Sports Complex for humanitarian food relief efforts during COVID-19 stay at home orders.
   
• June 1, 2020: Racing and Community Development Act of 2020 enacted for MSA's Redevelopment of the Pimlico Racing and Laurel Park Racing Facilities
   
• November 2020: Oriole Park at Camden Yards serves as Voting Center for the 2020 General Election.
   
• February 2021: MSA and Baltimore Orioles Agree to an Amendment to the Agreement Regarding Oriole Park at Camden Yards
   
• February 2021: University of Maryland Medical System, Maryland Department of Health, Maryland National Guard, MSA and the Baltimore Ravens transform the Club Level of M&T Bank Stadium into a 55,000 square-foot COVID-19 vaccination center.
   
• October 2021: Legislation effective for funding of a new Multi-Use Sports and Event Facility within the City of Hagerstown. Minor League Baseball’s return with an Atlantic League team will coincide construction completion.
   
• February 2022: The Orioles announced that legendary singer-songwriter Paul McCartney will perform the second-ever major concert at Camden Yards on Sunday, June 12, as part of his 2022 Got Back tour.
   
• April 2022: MSA's departmental bills HB 896 Maryland Stadium Authority - Increase of Bond Authorization - Camden Yards and HB 897 Economic Development – Sports Entertainment Facilities and Events, Prince George’s County Blue Line Corridor Facilities, and Racing Facilities signed into law. 
   
• October 2022: Governor Hogan and Maryland Stadium Authority Break Ground on New Downtown Hagerstown Ballpark
   
• January 2023: Maryland Board of Public Works Approves New Stadium Lease Agreement for M&T Bank Stadium Between Maryland Stadium Authority and Baltimore Ravens
   
• March 2023: Craig Thompson becomes Chairman of the MSA Board of Directors
   
• December 2023:  MSA and Baltimore Ravens announce a collaborative multi-year renovation project at M&T Bank Stadium.
   
• December 2023: Governor Moore Announces Approval of Historic 30-Year Agreement to Keep the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards