The City of Frederick has announced a $39 million project to renovate the 5,400-seat Harry Grove Stadium with the goal of being able to get a minor-league team back in the city in the near future.
The project is being done in collaboration with the Maryland Stadium Authority and Attain Sports, the owner of the MLB Draft League’s Frederick Keys.
The Keys team used to be a part of the Baltimore Orioles farm system, but Frederick lost its High-A team in the MiLB restructuring done in the 2020 offseason.
The proposed renovations are part of a broader initiative by the State of Maryland, which in 2022 authorized the Maryland Stadium Authority to issue up to $200 million for sports entertainment facilities across the state. This initiative prioritizes addressing identified PDL deficiencies in the minor league stadiums located throughout the state.
“We are confident that this investment will not only extend the life of a 34-year-old venue that has been an important part of our community, but also generate positive incremental economic benefits for the state and City, develop young professional athletes in the State of Maryland, and allow families to attend a sporting venue that is safe and that they can take pride in for years to come,” Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor said.
The City of Frederick, the Maryland Stadium Authority and Attain Sports have selected the Baltimore-based design-build team The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, with partner Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, to provide the renovations.
The Canopy Team will assist Attain Sports and the city through the design process.
The design phase is slated to span into 2025, with construction timelines contingent upon design completion, extending into 2026. The work is not anticipated to disrupt the playing season.