"Direct Connection" is made by MPT to serve all of Our diverse communities And is made possible by the Generous support of our members.

Thank you.

Live from Maryland public Television, this is "Direct Connection" with Jeff Salkin.

[*] >> Jeff: Good evening And welcome to your "Direct Connection."

THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES ARE FLYING HIGH WE'LL HEAR FROM OWNER JOHN ANGELOS ABOUT THE TEAM AND WHEN A NEW LEASE MIGHT BE SIGNED THAT IS COMINGS UP.

BUT FIRST TONIGHT, JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT YOUR HEALTH IS Dr. ROBERT REED, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER LUNG TRANSPLANT PROGRAM AND PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

DOCTOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> OH, THANKS.

THANKS FOR REMEMBERING.

>> Jeff: INDEED THIS IS NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH AND TRANSPLANTS OF COURSE HAVE BECOME ROUTINE OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES BUT THEY CAN'T BE DONE WITHOUT A DONOR.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

IT REALLY TAKESES A MAJOR COMMITMENT AND THE DONOR IS WHERE IT ALL STARTS.

IT REALLY IS THE ONE GOOD THING THAT CAN COME OUT OF A TRAGEDY FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES GOING THROUGH WHAT FAMILIES GO THROUGH WHEN THERE IS A DONATION.

AND IT'S DONATE LIFE MONTH BECAUSE IT'S SPRING.

AND SPRING IS THE TIME WHEN WINTER TURNS INTO SPRING AND LIFE BEGINS ANEW.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE THE TOP CONDITIONS THAT LEAD SOMEBODY TO WINDUP ON THE LIST FOR A LUNG TRANSPLANT?

>> WELL, THE MOST COMMON REASONS TO EXPERIENCE THE RESPIRATORY FAILURE THAT PEOPLE GET THAT MAKES THEM NEED A LUNG TRANSPLANT ARE PULMONARY FIBROSIS A SCARRING CAN BE OF THE LUNGS.

CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE, COPD, TYPICALLY A SMOKING CONDITION.

PULMONARY HYPER TEXT OR CYSTIC FIBROSIS IS A GENETIC CONDITION THAT LEADS TO I ALUNG TRANSPLANT.

>> Jeff: ANY POSITIVE TRENDS AS FEWER PEOPLE SMOKE AND MEDICAL THERAPY ADVANCES ARE YOU SEEING A CHANGE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WINDUP ON THE TRANSPLANT LIST?

>> GOSH, I THINK ONE OF THE REAL REMARKABLE BREAKTHROUGHS HAS COME WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS.

THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS DRUG TRY CAFTA THAT CAME OUT AND IT TOOK A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE QUITE SICK AND WAITING FOR LUNG TRANSPLANTS AND MADE THEM HEALTHY AND SO HEALTHY IN FACT THEY NO LONGER NEEDED A LUNG TRANSPLANT AT ALL.

>> Jeff: THOUSANDS OF MARYLANDERS ARE ON THE TRANSPLANT WAITING LIST.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO DONORS TO MAKE PEOPLE IF THEY HAVE NOT DONE IT ON THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE RETHINK THAT DECISION?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S EASY TO SIGN UP AS EASY AS MAKING THAT DECISION WHEN YOU GET YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE.

IF YOU DID NOT MAKE THAT DECISION AND THINKING OF OTHER THINGS WHEN YOU WERE IN LINE THAT MAKES SENSE.

YOU CAN GO TO REGISTER ME.ORG ON-LINE AND DO THAT.

OR IT'S ALSO AN IMPORTANT STEP TO JUST HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOUR FAMILY.

IT CAN SOMETIMES BE UNSETTLING FOR A FAMILY TO FIND OUT THAT YOU WERE AN ORGAN DON FOR NOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN FACING THE TRAGEDY OF YOUR PASSING AND TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AHEAD OF TIME PREPARING THEM FOR IT AND ALLOWS THEM TO SEE IT AS COMFORTING.

>> Jeff: LET ME REMIND OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT LUNG DISEASE AND LUNG TRANSPLANTS GIVE US A CALL AT THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN OR SEND AN E-MAIL TO... LIVE QUESTIONS TO MPT.ORG.

WHEN DONORS HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT SIGNING UP DO THEY WANT TO MAKE 12459 CALL MAKE THAT CALL AND CHECK THE BOX WHAT ARE CONCERNS YOU MIGHT HEAR ABOUT THE PROCESS OF THIS?

>> GOSH, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

AND SOME PEOPLE JUST DON'T TRUST THE SYSTEM.

BUT THIS SYSTEM IS A BIG COMPLEX SYSTEM WITH A LOT OF LOGISTICS, YES.

BUT IT'S ONE THAT IS REALLY DESIGNED TO TRY TO GET THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT FOR THE MOST PEOPLE POSSIBLE.

IT'S REALLY TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE.

>> Jeff: WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT OF COVID ON YOUR PROFESSION?

AS A PULMONOLOGIST YOU SEE PEOPLE WHOSE LUNGS WERE DAMAGED FROM THE DISEASE.

DID ANY OF THEM WINDUP GETTING TRANSPLANTS?

>> THEY SURE DID.

WE HAD A NUMBER OF PATIENTS WHO WERE OTHERWISE YOUNG AND HEALTHY AND THEY GOT COVID.

AND LIKE SO MANY OTHERS DURING THE PANDEMIC THEIR LUNGS WERE DESTROYED.

AND A FEW OF THOSE WE WERE ABLE TO HELP WITHOUT A TRANSPLANT.

BUT THERE WERE SEVERAL WHOSE LUNGS WERE DESTROYED AND WE TRANSPLANTED SEVERAL AND THEY ARE DOING GREAT TODAY.

>> Jeff: HOW DO GENERALLY SPEAKING RECIPIENTS OF A LUNG TRANSPLANT DO OVER THE INTERMEDIATE TERM AND THE LONGER TERM?

>> IT IS A HIGH-RISK HIGH REWARD SITUATION MEDICALLY.

IT IS A CONDITION WHERE YOU HAVE TO TAKE MEDICATIONS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE IF YOU DECIDE YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE A FEW WEEKS OFF, THE LUNG REJECTS AND YOU ARE BACK INTO A STATE WHERE YOU CAN'T BREATHE AND YOU ARE IN TROUBLE.

BUT IF YOU ARE COMMITTED TO IT, IT CAN BE THE ANALOGY OF SPRING IS A GOOD ONE, IT CAN BE A SECOND SHOT AT LIFE.

YOU CAN HAVE SOMEBODY WHO WAS REALLY QUITE LIMITED AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY CAN GO OUT AND THEY CAN GOLF, THEY CAN SHOP THEY DON'T NEED OXYGEN ANYMORE.

THEY CAN GO TO FAMILY EVENTS AND LIVE A LIFE THAT WITHOUT THE TRANSPLANT NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE.

>> Jeff: WHAT YOU DO UNIVERSALS A LOT OF TOUGH DECISION MAKING.

AND IF SOMEBODY IS A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU LOOK AT TO MAKE THE DETERMINATION?

ARE THERE CUTOFFS FOR AGE OR SMOKING HISTORY OR ANYTHING ELSE?

>> WELL, THERE ARE.

TO MAKE IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE, OUR GROUP TAKES A VERY OPEN MINDSET.

WE DON'T MAKE ARBITRARY CUTOFFS DUE TO AGE OR OTHER CONDITIONS.

WE TAKE A WHOLE LOOK AT THE PERSON AND WE ASK IS THIS TRANSPLANT LIKELY TO DO YOU GOOD?

AND IF IT IS THEN WE GIVE IT REAL CONSIDERATION.

>> Jeff: IS THERE A HIGHER RATE OF REJECTIONS WITH LUNGS AS OPPOSED TO KIDNEYS, LIVERS, OTHER TYPES OF TISSUE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS A TOUGHER ORGAN TO MANAGE I AM KNEW LOGICALLY IT IS EXPOSED TO A LOT OF BLOOD AND ARE YOU BREATHING CONSTANTLY IT'S EXPOSED TO THE OUTSIDE ENVIRONMENT.

A KIDNEY IS NOT.

UNLIKE A KIDNEY FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S NO DIALYSIS FOR THE LUNG.

IF IT FAILS, YOU CAN'T CONTINUE ON.

>> Jeff: ABOUT A YEAR AGO THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER MADE NATIONAL NEWS WITH A HEART TRANSPLANT WHERE THE DONOR IF YOU WOULD WAS A PIG.

IT WAS CALL IT XENO TRANSPLANTATION AND IT WORKED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

AND SOME SEE IT AS THE NEXT FRON FRONTIER.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AHEAD WHEN IT COMES TO LUNGS?

>> XENO TRANSPLANTATION IS REMARKABLE.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN KIND OF A JOKE IN THE TRANSPLANT COMMUNITY THAT XENO TRANSPLANT IS THE FUTURE AND IT ALWAYS WILL BE.

>> Jeff: THAT IS WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT NUCLEAR FUSION IT'S TWO DECADES OFF.

>> HERE WE ARE.

AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE BEGINNING OF THE FUTURE.

AND AND THERE ARE REMARKABLE STEPS BEING MADE, HISTORIC STEPS BEING MADE IN THE DIRECTION OF XENO TRANSPLANTATION.

I THINK LUNG WILL BE ON THE TAIL-END OF THE ADVANCEMENTS ALONG THOSE LINES.

IT IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT TOUGHER ORGAN TO MAKE THAT WORK.

BUT A LOT OF THINGS WE DO TODAY WOULD HAVE BEEN INCONCEIVABLE 200 YEARS AGO.

SOME DAY WE'LL PROBABLY GET THERE.

>> Jeff: WE KNOW PEOPLE CAN DONATE A KIDNEY.

WE GET TWO OF THEM.

PEOPLE CAN DONATE A PIECE OF A LIVER.

[AUDIO INTERRUPTION].

>> YOU CAN GIVE A LOBE OF A YOUNG TO A CHILD.

AND THAT'S BEEN DONE.

OUR CENTER DOESN'T DO THAT.

AND WE REALLY FOCUS ON DONORS WHO DONATE AFTER THEIR LIFE HAS PASSED.

>> Jeff: AND SOME ADVICE TO KEEP ALL OF OUR LUNGS HEALTHY AND STAY OUT OF YOUR OFFICE?

>> DON'T SMOKE.

EXERCISE.

DON'T BREATHE IN ANYTHING OTHER THAN GOOD, CLEAN AIR.

>> Jeff: AND THE BEST PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO FIND OUT IF THEY HAVE NOT SIGNED UP AS A DONOR AND ARE THINKING ABOUT IT, WHERE DO YOU GO?

>> I THINK REGISTER ME.ORG IS A GOOD PLACE TO GO AND THE DMV AGAIN IS ANOTHER GOOD PLACE TO SIGN UP.

AS IMPORTANT AS SIGNING UP, IS HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOUR FAMILY, BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE NOT THERE TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT YOU WANTED WITH YOUR BODY AFTER YOU DIED, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE LOVED ONES YOU LEAVE BEHIND KNOW YOUR PREFERENCES.

>> Jeff: AFTER ROBERT REED THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND LUNG TRANSPLANTS PROGRAM.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

NOW THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES ARE MAKING WAVES PUTTING UP A RECORD OF 14-7 THIS SEASON.

BIG QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE FRANCHISE REMAIN AND WE HAD A CHANCE TO PUT THOSE QUESTIONS TO ORIOLES OWNER JOHN ANGELOS.

Mr. ANGELOS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE ARE INTO BASEBALL SEASON SO WE'LL TALK BASEBALL IN A LITTLE BIT.

BUT I WANT TO START WITH BALTIMORE PART OF BALTIMORE ORIOLES, TELL US WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH LEASE NEGOTIATIONS?

>> WELL, WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF GOOD PROGRESS ON THAT FRONT, JEFF, AND IT'S REALLY NICE TO BE HERE.

AGAIN, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE SAW EACH OTHER I THINK IT WAS PRECOVID.

AND AT LEAST FOR AN INTERVIEW.

AND YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE ORIOLES AND OUR TV AND RADIO NETWORK AND OTHER RELATED ENTITIES AND THE STATE AND THE CITY IS NOW IN ITS 32nd YEAR BY THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT.

AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER 30 YEARS.

FASHIONING THE NEXT ITERATION OF THE PARTNERSHIP IS OBVIOUSLY LOOKING AHEAD THE WORK THAT WAS DONE BY ALL OF OUR PREDECESSORS WAS OUTSTANDING AND REALLY KNOCKED THE COVER OFF THE BALL TO USE THAT BASEBALL EUPHEMISM.

AND OUR ROLE, I THINK THE GOVERNOR'S ROLE AND ALL OF HIS TEAM AND MY ROLE AND OUR PARTNERSHIP GROUP IS TO MAKE IT AT LEAST AS GOOD.

AND TAKE IT TO THE NEXT GENERATION, WHICH I THINK MEANS COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, 365 LIVE, WORK, PLAY, MORE EVENTS THAN 81 BASEBALL GAMES AND EIGHT FOOTBALL GAMES THEY WANT TO GET MORE CONCERTS AND FESTIVALS AND MORE ALTERNATIVE USES OF THE BALL PARK YEAR-ROUND.

>> Jeff: WELL, TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT.

BECAUSE YOU RECENTLY HOSTED GOVERNOR MOORE AT THE ORIOLES COMPLEX IN SARASOTA AND ALSO IN ATLANTA TO LOOK AT THE BALL PARK REGION THERE.

WHAT WAS THE TAKEAWAY FROM THAT?

>> WELL, SO I'VE BEEN DOING ATLANTA PREVIOUSLY WHEN THE BRAVES FIRST DEVELOPED THEIR WHAT THEY REFER TO AS THE BATTERY, WHICH IS REALLY A COMBINATION OF RESIDENTIAL, RETAIL, RESTAURANTS, BARS, OFFICE BUILDINGS, HOTEL AND ALL REVOLVING AROUND THE BRAVES BALL PARK, I WENT THERE FOR A LEAGUE MEETING IN 2018 AND THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT THEN.

AND I ACTUALLY SUGGESTED TO GOVERNOR HOGAN'S CHAIRMAN OF THE STADIUM AUTHORITY THAT HE TAKE HIS TEAM THERE WHICH HE DID.

AND THEN WHEN GOVERNOR MOORE CAME INTO OFFICE, I MADE A SIMILAR SUGGESTION.

THE GOVERNOR WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO BE PUBLIC ABOUT MAKING HIS FIRST TRIP OUTSIDE OF MARYLAND AND WE DID A TWO-DAY VISIT.

ONE DAY IN ATLANTA LOOKING AT WHAT THE BRAVES AND THEIR PARTNERS HAVE CREATED.

AND ANOTHER DAY AT OUR YEAR-ROUND TRAINING COMPLEX AND SPRING TRAINING HOME IN SARASOTA FLORIDA WHERE WE HAVE HAD A SIMILAR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA, SARASOTA COUNTY AND THE CITY FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS.

>> Jeff: THIS ALL SOUNDS POSITIVE.

BUT IT MAY BE A GOOD TIME TO REPEAT YOUR FORT MCHENDRY QUOTE IN LIGHT OF THE OAKLAND ATHLETICS AND WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO AROUND HERE.

WE'RE ALL SCARED FROM THE BALTIMORE COLTS MOVE.

IS THERE ANYWAY THAT THIS BASEBALL TEAM DEPARTS FOR A BETTER DEAL SOMEWHERE ELSE?

>> NO.

SO I WOULD -- I DON'T WANT TO QUOTE MYSELF AND I WILL PROBABLY BUTCHER MY ONLINE, I THINK THAT WAS SORT OF AN OFF THE CUFF REACTION OR RESPONSE TO A MEDIA QUESTION OR A QUESTION FROM AN AUDIENCE.

BUT IT REALLY REFLECTED THEN AND OF COURSE REFLECTS NOW.

AND DEFINITELY INTO THE VIEW OF THE PARTNERSHIP GROUP.

WE ARE ALL LOCAL PEOPLE.

AS I'VE MENTIONED, MORE AND MORE THAN I THOUGHT I WOULD, I HAVE LIVED EVERYDAY OF MY LIFE IN NOT ONLY MARYLAND BUT BALTIMORE CITY.

NEVER LIVED OUTSIDE THE CITY.

LIVE WITHIN EYE SHOT -- VIEW OF FORT McHENRY TODAY.

AND NO, THAT'S NEVER GOING TO CHANGE.

AND YOU ARE RIGHT, SOME OF THE NEWS ABOUT TEAMS LIKE THE A'S, AND YOU KNOW IT'S NO -- THE A'S HAVE BEEN IN THE BAY AREA FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

THAT A LOCAL PART OWNERSHIP GROUP.

THE FAMILY THERE I'M SURE AGONIZED OVER THAT.

AND IT DOES LOOK LIKE THERE IS GOING TO BE A CHANGE.

OF COURSE THEY STILL HAVE THE GIANTS ACROSS THE BRIDGE.

AND SO THERE IS BASEBALL IN THAT COMMUNITY.

BUT, YEAH, I'M SURE A TOUGH DECISION BUT CERTAINLY NOT A DECISION WE WOULD EVER MAKE.

AND OUR GOAL IS TO TAKE THIS SUPER SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP DRAWING 75 MILLION VISITORS TO DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE WHICH IS A BIG, BIG NUMBER.

YOU ADD-ON ANOTHER 17 MILLION OR SO FOR FOOTBALL.

AND YOU ARE PUSHING 90, 100 MILLION FOR THE COMBINED CAMDEN YARDS.

THERE IS NO REASON TO WANT TO DO ANYTHING EXCEPT DOUBLE DOWN ON THAT REINVEST IN IT AND GET THE STATE TO GET BEHIND IT EVEN FURTHER AND DO IT FOR ANOTHER GENERATION.

>> Jeff: I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS MADE PEOPLE NERVOUS IS THAT ATTENDANCE HAS BEEN DOWN AND IT'S BEEN DOWN BECAUSE THE TEAM WAS GOING THROUGH A REBUILD, THE PRODUCT WAS NOT GREAT BUT MAYBE IT WAS ALSO DOWN BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE CHALLENGES IN BALTIMORE CITY.

I KNOW YOU CARE DEEPLY ABOUT BALTIMORE AND I KNOW THERE IS A NEW $5 MILLION SCHOLARSHIP COMMITMENT WHEN YOU LOOK AT BALTIMORE CITY, WHAT TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING?

>> WELL, I THINK IF YOU LOOK -- LET ME START THAT IS A REALLY GOOD OBSERVATION.

LET ME COMMENT ON THAT FOR A MOMENT AND THEN LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BALTIMORE PART OF THE ORIOLES.

YOU KNOW, THE ORIOLES AT CAMDEN YARDS REACHED 50 MILLION VISITORS IN THE FIRST 17 YEARS OF THE BALL PARK.

WHICH AS FAR AS I KNOW IS A RECORD FOR ANY SPORTS VENUE ANYWHERE.

IT'S CERTAINLY IN THE UNITED STATES AND MAYBE IN THE WORLD.

THAT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE TO GET UP AND COME TO YOUR VENUE AND WALK THROUGH AND ALL THE PEOPLE WERE COMING TO DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE.

NOW, YOU AND I ARE OLD ENOUGH FOR BETTER OR WORSE TO REMEMBER AS YOU MENTIONED THE COLTS LEAVING.

BUT WE'RE ALSO WE REMEMBER THE VIBRANT DEBATE AROUND THINGS LIKE HARBOR PLACE, WHICH WENT TO A PUBLIC REFERENDUM.

OR THE CREATION OF CAMDEN YARDS WHICH WENT TO A RELATIVELY CLOSE VOTE OF THE MARYLAND STATE LEGISLATURE.

THOSE WERE BIG IDEAS AND GRAND VISIONS I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE FELT GOOD AND SOME PEOPLE WERE SKEPTICAL ABOUT.

AND THEY FAR EXCEEDED WHAT THE PROJECTIONS AND THE ASPIRATIONS WERE AND THEY PUT BALTIMORE I WOULDN'T SAY ON THE MAP BUT BACK ON THE MAP IN THE 80s AND 90s.

THE THREE THINGS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO LESS ATTENDANCE AT CAMDEN YARDS SINCE THAT 50 MILLION IN THE FIRST 17 YEARS.

ONE, WAS THE RELOCATION OF THE MONTREAL EXPOSE TO WASHINGTON D.C. JUST 30 PLUS MILES AWAY FROM CAMDEN YARDS.

THAT HAD A HUGE DIMINUTION ON ATTENDANCE.

TWO, DURING OUR MOST RECENT SUCCESSFUL RUN PRIOR TO THE REBUILD WHICH WAS FROM 2012-2016, WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW BUT NOT EVERYONE WE WON MORE GAMES THAN ANY TEAM IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE NOT WITHSTANDING THE FACT WE ARE IN THE MOST DIFFICULT DIVISION AGAINST THE RED SOX, YANKEES, AND TORONTO.

AND TAMPA A SMALL BUDGET LIKE OURS IS SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF THEIR OWNERSHIP GROUP STEWARD STERNBURG AND HIS TEAM HAVE OVERDELIVERRED AND OVERACHIEVED.

DURING THAT 12-16 RUN WE OBVIOUSLY HAD THE BALTIMORE EXPERIENCE CIVIL DISTURBANCES AROUND THE FREDDIE GRAY TRAGEDY AND OTHER PROTESTS.

AND THAT CERTAINLY QUELLED FROM THAT POINT FORWARD RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR FIVE-YEAR WIN STREAK.

THAT QUELLED ATTENDANCE.

AND REALLY HAS A BIG OVERHANG FOR THE CITY GENERALLY EVEN TODAY, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE YEARS LATER.

THAT WAS THE SECOND THING AND THE THIRD THING AS YOU SAID WE SORT OF WENT A BRIDGE TOO FAR IN 2017, 2018 COMING OUT OF THAT FIVE YEARS AND DECIDED TO REALLY GO FOR A FULL STRIP DOWN, FULL PROPER REBUILD.

TEAR THE TEAM DOWN TO THE STUDS, AND MODERNIZE AND SLEF IN OUR MINOR LEAGUE AND INTERNATIONAL VENUES AND OUR FLORIDA VENUE.

REVERT TO A SYSTEM A FORM OF BEST PRACTICES THAT WE WERE HOPING WOULD GET US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND FOUR OR FIVE YEARS BUT FORTUNATELY WE ARE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE AND WE THINK WE'VE TURNED THE CORNER ON THE REBUILD IN TWO TO THREE YEARS.

PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT COVID.

>> Jeff: WELL, THAT LEADS TO MY BIG BASEBALL QUESTION WHICH IS: HOW HIGH ARE YOU AIMING?

AND I ASK AS YOU KNOW SOMEBODY WHO STILL HAS HIS 1983 WORLD SERIES TICKET STUB.

I WATCH A LOT OF GAMES AND A FEW IN-PERSON AND I'M DELIGHTED YOU'VE TURNED THE CORNER AND YOU'VE TURNED THE CORNER EARLY.

MY QUESTION IS AND GIVEN WHAT HAPPENED THAT MAY BE CAUSED THE REBUILD, THE CHRIS DAVIS CONTRACT THAT WENT SO POORLY, IS IT SOMETHING THAT THIS OWNERSHIP GROUP WOULD CONSIDER DOING A BIG CONTRACT FOR SOMEBODY?

I THINK THE FANS WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU EXTENDATELY RUSHMAN FOR 25 YEARS AT THIS POINT.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED?

>> OF COURSE.

AND YOU KNOW, PROBABLY NO ONE WILL REACH THE HEIGHTS OF ADDITIONALLY WILL NOT REACH THE HEIGHTS OF JIM PALMER CELEBRATING 50 PLUS YEARS IN THE ORGANIZATION AND STILL AS YOU MENTIONED, BROADCASTING ON MASEN, THAT LONGEVITY IS RARE.

BUT IT'S THE GOAL TO HAVE CONTINUITY TO HAVE YOUR YOUNG STARS THE PLAYERS YOU DRAFT AND YOUR ORGANIZATION DEVELOPS STAY WITH THE TEAM THROUGHOUT THEIR CAREER.

THAT IS 100% PART OF THE MISSION.

NOW, IT'S ALSO PART OF THE MISSION TO BE AS SUCCESSFUL IN A LEAGUE THAT IS VERY UNBALANCED AND HAVE MUCH PARITY AT ALL.

BEING COMPETITIVE AND SUCCESSFUL IN THE NBA OR THE NHL OR NFL, IS A VERY DIFFERENT TASK THAN IT IS IN BASEBALL.

BECAUSE WE REALLY HAVE HAVES AND HAVE NOTS.

WE HAVE TEAMS WITH 500 MILLION IN REVENUE AND TEAMS WITH 100 MILLION IN REVENUE AND WE DON'T HAVE REVENUE SALARY AND SALARY FLOORS AND CAPS AND THAT IS OUR PROBLEM TO SOLVE.

BUT WHAT THAT MEANS IN PLACES LIKE CLEVELAND, PITTSBURGH, BALTIMORE, TAMPA AND ON, IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO COMPETE, SUSTAINABLY IN THE BASEBALL LEAGUE THAN IT IS IN THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE.

AND AS WE SOLVE THAT OVER TIME THAT WILL ONLY HELP A MARKET LIKE PITTSBURGH OR BALTIMORE.

AND OTHERS BUT UNTIL THAT TIME IT HAS TO BE A COMBINATION OF SIGNING BIGGER CONTRACTS FOR YOUR YOUNGER STARS.

AND THEN ALSO MAKING PRUDENT TRADES AND CONTINUING TO BE AS EFFECTIVE AS MIKE ALIE YEAHS AND HYDE HAVE BEEN IN THE DRAFT AND IN THE INTERNATIONAL SIGNING.

AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A COMBINATION OF THOSE THINGS.

BUT CERTAINLY, SIGNING PLAYERS LONG-TERM IS VERY MUCH AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE APPROACH.

>> Jeff: I'M DOWN TO ABOUT A MINUTE.

AND I WANTED TO ASK WHAT BROADLY SPEAKING, WHAT DO YOU WANT THE FANS OF MARYLAND TO KNOW?

I KNOW YOU'VE ANNOUNCED A CONCERT SCHEDULE AND YOU CAN GET A $4 HOT DOG AT THE BALL PARK WHICH DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A GREAT DEAL BUT RELATIVE TO BALL PARK FOOD THAT IS A GOOD DEAL.

>> WELL, OUR PRICES ARE HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN BOTH FOR TICKETS AND MERCHANDISE ET CETERA AVERAGE OR BELOW AVERAGE AS WE THINK THEY SHOULD BE IN THIS MARKET.

IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT DOESN'T MAKE TOO, TOO MUCH SENSE FOR US TO OVEREXTEND OURSELVES AND RAISE PRICES.

ONE THING YOU DIDN'T MENTION IN ADDITION TO BRUCE SPRING 16 AND THE OTHER CONCERTS WE'VE HAD AND I VALUE TO THE BASEBALL GOER, WE'VE HAD FOR YEARS NOW, AND WE REALLY PIONEERED THE KIDS CHEER FREE PROGRAM WHERE KIDS 9 YEARS AND UNDER YOUNGER, COMING WITH THE PARENT PAYS FOR THE TICKET AND THE KID GETS IN FOR FREE.

AND NO TEAM HAS SOMETHING AS FAN FRIENDLY OR CONSUMER POSITIVE AS THAT PROGRAM.

AND WE HAVE OTHERS THAT COMPLIMENT IT.

AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHAT MY ANSWER WOULD BE TO YOUR QUESTION WHAT SHOULD THE FANS EXPECT?

I THINK CAMDEN YARDS HAS BEEN VOTED A FEW TIMES AS NUMBER ONE VENUE IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

OUR VENUE IN SARASOTA HAS BEEN VOTED NUMBER ONE IN VENUE IN SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL.

A LOT HAS TO DO WITH THE QUALITY OF THE FAN EXPERIENCE.

USHERS YOU REMEMBER THE COLTS AND THE 83 WORLD SERIES WE REMEMBER BACK THEN AND BEFORE THAT AND STILL TODAY, WE HAVE USHERS THAT WIPE OFF PEOPLE'S CHAIRS BEFORE THEY SIT DOWN.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING IN OUR EVENT STAFF AT THE ORIOLES THAT HAVE BEEN THERE, 30, 40, 50 PLUS YEARS.

AND WE'RE GOING TO STAY THAT WAY.

THERE IS A LOT OF CONTINUITY.

A LOT OF INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY.

I REMEMBER BEING AT COLTS GAMES IN THE UPPER DECK AT MEMORIAL STADIUM WHEN I WAS 10 YEARS OBVIOUSLY.

I HAVE ALL THESE SAME MEMORIES.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE ACCESSIBLE.

I THINK IN THE NEXT ITERATION OF CAMDEN YARDS CALL IT 365 LIVE, WORK, PLAY, THERE SHOULD BE COMMERCIAL, VIBRANCE AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT AND CIVIC VIBRANCE.

IT SHOULD BE A ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE AND WE SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE ALL OF US SHOULD, THE ORIOLES, THE RAVENS, THE ARENA, ANY ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA PROPERTY THAT PROGRAMS AND PUTS PEOPLE IN SEATS AND HEADS IN BEDS AND DRIVES TOURISM IMPACT SHOULD GET CREDIT WHEN THEY DO MORE AND THEY SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR DOING AS MUCH AS THEY CAN.

AND THAT'S HOW I WANT US TO BE JUDGED IN THE LONG RUN.

THAT WE WERE THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX WE WERE ASPIRATIONAL WE WANTED TO TAKE WHAT THE OUR PREDECESSORS DID AT HARBOR PLACE AND MAKE IT EVEN BETTER FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

IF WE DO THAT, AND MAKE IT AN EXCITING PLACE TO BE, WE WILL HAVE DONE OUR PART AND LEAVE IT TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

>> Jeff: JOHN ANGELOS IS THE CHAIRMAN AND C.E.O.

OF THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS, JEFF.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH STATE CIRCLE AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M. AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AT MPT NEWS.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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