Opening Day Partners, which owns several teams in the indy pro Atlantic League, has made a pitch to the City of Frederick (MD) to lease Harry Grove Stadium, home of the Single-A Frederick Keys. ODP Chairman Peter Kirk was one of the original owners of the Keys and has not ruled out a bid for the club. The lease with the Keys expires in March 2011.
Despite the success of the Altantic, we find it highly unlikely that the city would give up affiliated status, unless the Keys’ current ownership or potential new owners are considering relocation options. Harry Grove opened way back in 1990, after all. Whatever the case, fully entertaining the proposal from the Atlantic League group provides nice leverage to secure better lease terms with the Keys, which pay a relatively modest $30k per year to use the park.
Securing the stadium for the Atlantic League would provide a nice regional portfolio for ODP. The group is working a deal in Rockville (MD), just down the road from Frederick. ODP also owns the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in Waldorf (MD). Read more here.
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