Photo courtesy Baltimore Orioles
Orioles chairman and CEO John Angelos doubled down on his past assertion that the team will not leave Baltimore in an interview on 105.7 The Fan, the Orioles’ flagship station.
“I don’t react because it’s untrue. The team would never move,” Angelos said. “It will never move. It’s here. It’s here forever. It’s been here for 66-odd years. It will be here for 66 more or longer.”
Angelos told a local business group in September 2019 that the team is in Baltimore for the long term.
“The Orioles will never leave Baltimore, and no one in the partnership group, in this partnership group, which we’re all local, homegrown folks would allow that to happen or would want that to happen, and that will not happen,” Angelos said in the radio interview.
Last month, the Orioles negotiated a two-year lease extension with the Maryland Stadium Authority, running through 2023.
“It’s absolutely a positive,” Angelos said. “It’s a positive in the view of all the stakeholders.”
The team and MSA said they’d like a long-term lease and the interim agreement forces the parties to act sooner.
“There’s no sense in doing a five- or 10-year extension,” Angelos said. “That’s just going to let things deteriorate, and we don’t want things to deteriorate. It’s too important. This partnership is too important to Baltimore, too important to the economy of Maryland.”
Angelos said that the Orioles, Ravens, state and city leaders would work together to enhance the Camden Yards sports complex.
“We’re going to get it done. We’re going to get it done soon.”
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Well, I’m willing to take him at his word. The moment he EVER decides to run for ANY public office then I’d be worried that he’s a liar.
John Angelos' statements are reassuring - but only to an extent. I feel pretty confident that the Orioles do not intend to, and likely would not, move from Baltimore under the current ownership of the Angelos family.
But, at this point, how confident can we be that the franchise is going to remain in the long term control of the Angelos family? We really have no clear idea of the family's financial situation, and the severe spending cuts by ownership have sparked concerns. Given the Orioles small market and declining attendance, what happens if the sons face a financial squeeze and eventually need to sell, or they receive an offer from some out of town billionaire that's simply too good to refuse?
A town billionaire sounds good to me. The cheapness of this organization is a downer. No matter how good the young guys are they will have to spend some money to complete every year against the powerhouse AL East and it doesn’t look like that is In ownership interests . Hope I’m wrong
If there’s anyone I take at their word, it’s the rich son of a billionaire tort lawyer.
Could not have said it better.. only certainty in life is death
These guys are businessmen and the Orioles are a business. Most businesses would cut back spending when your main source of revenue (gate receipts, parking and concessions) were non existent for a year. As a fan it sucks but I can see the reasoning.
I like the direction of the club as a long time multiple decades fan and can finally see a long term plan. May not be as quick as some would like but to me I like the direction. The Rays are the goal and I’m a believer in the data direction of Elias’ team. The proof will be in his draft picks, trades, international talent, and development of our pitching.
Houston cut payroll way down when Elias was there. And the O's cut payroll in 2019. The virus is certainly not the only reason the O's are cutting spending.
They also eventually won the World Series. And they have gone at least to the ALCS the last 4 years. The plan is to be cheap during the lean years and save the money for when you need it
Actually, they spent a lot money the last two years, just not on Major League salaries the way other teams have done. They added a complete International scouting organization, where scouting begins on players 13-14-15. They re recruited the way colleges recruit football and basketball players or the way the shoe companies woo the Basketball coaches. That is one reason why PA didn't want to do it, the money didn't go to the players or their families, but to handlers and coaches, et al. They also spent big on technology, computer applications, cameras and related hardware. Last, they spent big in another area noted by Rich, minor league coaches, development personnel, all four teams (last year 5) 3-4 people whose focus is on development. None of this stuff is cheap or free.
Agree with ClayDal and Tileman. Not going to worry about things that haven’t happened yet. I like our direction. It’s not instant gratification but steady incremental improvement that I’m looking for. Orioles not going anywhere .
Didn't Irsay basically echo these same sediments ?
Seriously though, this is great news, ..I had my doubts
Are you giving us some “dirt” on Irsay, spellcheck is a pain in the arse....go O’s...
I actually blew that myself.
Not been 1 of my finest days.
Go O's
Not a problem, I do that all the time...go O’s...
Hallbe62, please try not to soil this site by even mentioning that bastards name. To give you an idea of the disdain I hold for him I have no problem telling people the four happiest days of my life are the day I got married, the day each of my children were born and the day I read his obituary. The order of those I leave up to the readers imagination.