Ripken firm sues Aberdeen over management of stadium

The sports management company owned by Cal Ripken Jr. and his family has filed a lawsuit against the City of Aberdeen, claiming officials have made operating Ripken Stadium “unbearably difficult” and have not lived up to the terms of a contract agreed to nearly 20 years ago.

Tufton Professional Baseball LLC, owned by Baltimore Orioles great and Aberdeen native Ripken and his family, filed the complaint Wednesday in Harford County Circuit Court.

Ripken is president and CEO of the company, which owns the Aberdeen Ironbirds minor league team that plays at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium.

Ripken had given the city until Tuesday to respond to a letter he sent last week contending Tufton should take over management of non-baseball events at the stadium because Aberdeen had not fulfilled its obligations to upgrade the city-owned ballpark.

A 2016 consultant’s study identified some 50 projects the stadium needs over 10 years, costing about $3.2 million. The largest project — a $1 million replacement of railings — has been completed, but the list of improvements includes other safety upgrades and general repairs.

The suit also states that Aberdeen Mayor Patrick McGrady and the Aberdeen City Council have been difficult to work with in recent years. The earlier letter from Ripken stated that efforts to mediate disputes “failed to produce any resolution.”

The mayor and City Council members met in closed session Monday after the council’s regular meeting, but McGrady did not disclose the subject of the meeting.

On Wednesday, McGrady said, “The city and Tufton continue to be in discussion about the demands they made in the letter.”

City officials did not comment Thursday.