Aberdeen, Bowie and Delmarva begin process to receive public improvements for ballparks, meet MLB standards by 2025

Not all ballpark improvements are necessarily sexy, eye-catching, or even noticeable. 'I gotta modernize an elevator,' Kyle Torster, the City of Aberdeen's Director of Public Works said last month regarding Ripken Stadium, home of the IronBirds. Yet, such improvements are needed to keep aging ballparks functioning. And in the case of some specific renovations, they're required so minor league teams retain their affiliation with Major League Baseball. MLB dictated in 2021 that each of its minor league clubs play in stadiums that meet certain standards for players and last year, the state of Maryland set aside public money for that purpose, authorizing the Maryland Stadium Authority to issue up to $200 million.