Baltimore cuts ties with Grand Prix organizer, demands $1.7 million
What began as a starry-eyed relationship between City Hall and a group of local promoters has descended into bitter divorce as the city today terminated its agreement with Baltimore Racing Development (BRD) and demanded “immediate payment” of $1.7 million owed to the city.
“Like many Baltimoreans, I hoped that BRD would restructure, recapitalize and begin to pay taxes and debts by the December 31 deadline,” Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said in a statement issued by her press office.
But failing to “take the appropriate steps to put the company on a sustainable path forward,” Rawlings-Blake said she was forced to sever ties with the group – and end its five-year contract with the city four years early.
BRD currently owes $12 million to its creditors and had little chance of offering a plan to settle unpaid city taxes and other obligations by the December 31 date that the mayor had demanded.
The group’s shareholders and managers have been finalizing an agreement with Felix J. Dawson, a former Constellation Energy executive, who had put forth a reorganization plan.
Mayor Lauded the Financing Model in 2010
Rawlings-Blake’s recent comments about BRD contrast with the enthusiasm she expressed for the Grand Prix promoters when her administration reached an agreement to stage the race in 2010.
- Mayor Rawlings-Blake announces the Grand Prix event in 2010. (Associated Press)
“Once I saw that the financing model was strong and feasible, I knew it was something that we could get behind,” she said at the time.
Rawlings-Blake continued to defend BRD in the face of heavy criticism by candidates who opposed her in the Democratic mayoral primary held two weeks after the event.
Today she reiterated that the race was a success, generating $47 million in direct and indirect economic impact, a figure developed by the city’s tourism agency, Visit Baltimore.
Today’s termination places the future of the race into question, although the city has indicated it hopes to find another organizer of the event, which remains on Indy Car’s 2012 schedule.
Campaign Contributions
According to the city, BRD owes $700,000 to reimburse for unspecific city services, $487,971 in admissions and amusement taxes, a $250,000 event fee and $50,862 for parking at city-owned facilities during the race weekend.
The city is seeking “an additional $250,000 because services that were to be provided by BRD in the Event Management Plan were not provided by BRD to the extent planned and required,” today’s statement said.
The above figures do not include the $7.75 million in state and federal highway funds that Baltimore allocated to prepare downtown roads for the race as well as additional funds lent to BRD by the Maryland Stadium Authority.
The highway allocations were justified by city officials who said the race would be held for five years and generate more than $250 million in economic benefits to the city.
The Brew documented last August that the race did have a salutary effect on Rawlings-Blake’s reelection. Investors, lawyers, contractors and others connected to the race contributed at least $24,200 to her campaign coffers.
Another $18,000 in contributions made their way to other notable race boosters, including City Councilman William H. Cole IV ($5,500), City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young ($4,700) and Gov. Martin O’Malley ($7,000).