Ripken Stadium is costing Aberdeen $50,000 this fiscal year, according to City Manager Doug Miller.
Since construction of the stadium began in 2001, the city has lost at least $250,000 each year, except last year, Miller said. Because of last year?s $1.9 million profit from selling land, the city has made more than $400,000 off the stadium, he said.
Coupled with other recent tax increases, Aberdeen residents have expressed discontent with the situation, and Mayor S. Fred Simmons has said that Ripken Baseball should take ownership of the stadium.
Miller said he is in preliminary talks with Ripken Baseball officials to see if it?s possible to have them take ownership of the stadium, but the process could take 15 years.
“We would certainly explore any option in the future that makes sense for us as a business opportunity,” said Jay Moskowitz, spokesman for Ripken Baseball. “It?s just like any other business venture.”
Aberdeen borrowed money from the state to buy the land and build the stadium, and the original agreement was for Ripken Baseball to pay lease money and a tax for every event held at the stadium, Miller said.
Other businesses that benefit from the tourism the Ironbirds attract are supposed to pay a tax, but the city is not receiving that money yet, Miller said.
Hotels are planned to be one of those businesses.
“What Ripken Baseball does with Little League is sucha major tourism attraction to Aberdeen,” Miller said. “So adding $2 to a hotel stay is [acceptable]. The stadium is supposed to be self sufficient.
“We?re very proud to be the home of Ripken Baseball from a community standpoint and from a tourism standpoint,” Miller said. “As long as we have the IronBirds and Little League, I think people don?t care who owns the stadium.”
