Baltimore Orioles: 2020 Sports Seasons and the Role of the Governors

After the ridiculous tiered pay cut idea, talks about reopening the Baltimore Orioles and the MLB reopening have quieted.

As we wait for word on whether we will ever get to see the Baltimore Orioles play in 2020, it is helpful to know that it’s not just the owners and the players who have a say in the decision.

The governors do, too.

The Maryland Stadium Authority has the final say about whether or not the Orioles and the Ravens get to play in those jewels on either side of Martin Luther King Jr BLVD.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan told ESPN:

"“We own Camden Yards. We own M&T [Bank] Stadium for the Ravens. So I’m the largest sports landlord here in our region. We, the governors of all the states, whether they own the facilities or not, will be the determining factor as to whether or not they are allowed to play sports.”"

At this point in the COVID-19 pandemic, all states are open, but most still have limitations. On May 29, Maryland restaurants could open for outdoor dining. According to CNN, youth sports leagues and social organizations could also open in the state. This bodes well for the Orioles, if the owners and players can come together on an agreement.

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The NFL shared their schedule on May 7 with the hopes of Week 1 beginning on September 10. Preseason games are expected to begin on August 6. The first Ravens game is scheduled to be broadcast on August 14 when they play the Buffalo Bills in Baltimore.

The NBA is expected to reopen with competitive play on July 31. Many teams have already begun practicing, with full permission from their governors.

Of the the NFL, NBA, and MLB, it seems that baseball would be the easiest to begin. There is occasional man-to-man contact, but not to the degree that is in football and basketball. In the early spring games, it’s common for players to wear full balaclavas in the northernmost stadiums. It seems that players could wear lightweight ones around their necks while playing and pull them over their noses and mouths when in the clubhouses, dugouts, and huddles.

Sports would be a useful distraction right now. We all know how healing it at can be to watch a beloved team play, especially in Baltimore. Hopefully, the MLB players and owners can come to an agreement soon, as we flip the calendar to June tomorrow.