Upgrades Integral in Securing Long-Term Partnership with Baltimore Orioles’ Minor League Affiliate
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan today attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Wicomico County’s Arthur W. Perdue Stadium, unveiling a series of facility improvements that have helped save the home of the Delmarva Shorebirds, the minor league Class A affiliate for the Baltimore Orioles.
“I am thrilled to stand here today and see for myself the hard work that will help assure that the Delmarva Shorebirds call this beautiful stadium home for at least the next 20 years,” said Governor Hogan. “The state, the Wicomico County government, and the Shorebirds worked together to make these facility improvements – showing the great success we can achieve when we work hand-in-hand with the private sector.”
The facility improvements completed in this phase include clubhouse modernization, new field lighting, and turf restoration. These upgrades were required as part of a long-term agreement between the Shorebirds and the county.
The total cost for all of the renovations is estimated at $4.25 million, with $2.03 million provided by the state. Included in that estimate are renovations that are not yet completed such as spectator seating improvements, video board replacement, and fan amenity upgrades.
A 2014 study by the Maryland Stadium Authority found that renovations to Perdue Stadium would increase stadium earnings from $4.6 million to around $5.2 million.
“By investing in this stadium, this team, and this county, we are not only protecting the existing economic activity and tax base, but we are also improving the marketability and revenue-generating potential of the facility for decades into the future,” Governor Hogan said.
The Arthur W. Perdue Stadium opened in 1996 in Salisbury, Maryland. The stadium hosts more than 100 events annually, attracting an attendance of more than 240,000. The stadium infuses $13.4 million into the local economy, and yields $693,000 in state tax revenue annually.
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80,000 dollars was to Terminix to perform "Bird remediation" .....WOW what kinda birds require 80,000 dollars? How did it get that bad to begin with?
ReplyDeleteThe stadium lights had birds nesting in them (think fire hazard), as well as areas on and near the roofs and the scoreboards, etc. All of the anti-bird stuff had to be applied using ladders, scaffolding and aerial buckets. It ain't cheap.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the tax payer of Wicomico footed the bill for this!!
ReplyDeletePut up some nesting spots for hawks - no more bird problem.
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