Herbert Belgrad, Chair of the Maryland Stadium Authority,
said he "has been told by prospective ownership groups seeking a
team for Baltimore that they are in contact with three" NFL
franchises interested in relocating to the city, according to
this morning's Baltimore SUN. Belgrad, appearing before a State
Senate Committee, asked the committee not to deauthorize bonds
appropriated for the construction of a new NFL facility, saying
there is still "serious interest in bringing a team here."
Belgrad said Orioles Owner Peter Angelos is "actively engaged"
with three teams that have contacted him, and attorney Robert
Schulman is talking with two teams. By deauthorizing the bonding
authority, Beglrad said the city "would send the wrong message"
to the NFL, adding: "It would convey to our opponents that they
have succeeded." Projected costs for a new stadium run close to
$181M, and Belgrad said the state would pay another $10M on
property acquisition, as well as a $1M "temporary modification"
to Oriole Park for an NFL team to play there while a new stadium
is built. Action to kill the authorizing legislation is not
expected to pass (Jon Morgan, Baltimore SUN, 1/25).
