Play Ball: Baysox Break Ground On Stadium Upgrades

When Attain Sports CEO Greg Baroni became owner of the Baltimore Orioles’ Double-A affiliate, the Chesapeake Baysox — then known as the Bowie Baysox — in 2022, he saw ample opportunities and a lot of room for improvement. Three years later, this March 27, the Baysox marked a milestone in that growth during a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate Prince George’s Stadium enhancements.

Upgrades include the construction of a state-of-the-art performance center with enhanced batting arenas and two new videoboards with high-definition visuals and in-game content.

“I just had this vision that this should become the premier destination for minor league baseball around here,” said Baroni, who toured ballparks nationwide with ownership group members Mark Davis and Rich Roberts to gather ideas.

Their travels took them west to see the facilities of the Las Vegas WooSox in Nevada and the Akron RubberDucks in Ohio, and back east to see the Fredericksburg Nationals in Virginia, Lehigh Valley IronPigs in Pennsylvania and Durham Bulls in North Carolina, among other teams.

“What I saw was the evolution from what I call traditional, with lots of posterboards — and I like those old-field things — but some of those modern stadiums have those massive video boards and it was like, ‘We have to get this,’” Baroni said. “And we got digital lighting. It’s really enriching the fan experience.”

Improvements to the player experience have become a priority, too. Baroni surveyed players in the clubhouse about their ideas: outlets to charge their phones, internet service, and a game station and ping pong table. Next up is a weight room, which Baroni expects to be “one of the nicest and largest weight rooms in all of the minor leagues.”

The newest $50 million in upgrades is possible thanks to partnerships with The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) and the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA).

M-NCPPC, MSA and Attain Sports chose Gilbane, with design partner EwingCole, as the design-build team to execute the upgrades. Canopy Team is assisting Attain Sports and M-NCPPC throughout the design process.

In collaboration with M-NCPPC, the Baysox are actively exploring opportunities to expand the use of the new facilities to serve the broader community.

M-NCPPC Deputy Director Steve Carter attended the groundbreaking, as did MSA chair Craig Thompson, acting Prince George’s County Executive Tara Jackson, Bowie Mayor Tim Adams and Orioles representatives: Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Baltimore Orioles Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias and Director of Minor League Operations Kent Qualls.

“One of our missions for keeping Baltimore baseball healthy and ingrained, you need to have first-rate infrastructure and first-rate facilities for our players up and down the organization,” Elias said. “We’ve been doing that everywhere: in the Dominican Republic, Florida, it’s been happening in Camden Yards. But this is going to be one of the best in the league.”

For Baroni, the future is full of excitement as he is enjoying “the thrill of a lifetime” by owning the Chesapeake Baysox, Aberdeen IronBirds, Frederick Keys and Spire City Ghost Hounds in Maryland, along with the Loudoun United FC in Virginia.

Baroni grew up in Southern California and played for his first Little League team, called the Orioles, and was coached by his dad. With the help of aforementioned state and community partners, and the support of others — Ellen Walsh, Attain Sports chief marketing officer and chief of staff, and Senator Angela Alsobrooks, formerly the Prince George’s County executive — his vision is coming to life.

“This project is a testament to the power of collaboration among state, county, local and private partners, and we look forward to seeing the lasting impact it will have on our region,” he said.

“It’s great family-friendly entertainment,” he later said of the minor league baseball experience. “Kids get a chance, and fans get a chance, to make these lasting memories that go on generationally.”