Ravens, Baltimore County Reach Landmark Agreement to Keep Team Headquarters in Owings Mills for Decades
By Brian Hradsky
The Baltimore Ravens will remain headquartered in Owings Mills for decades after reaching a major long-term agreement with Baltimore County that could generate up to $120 million in public and private investment for the team’s training facility.
The agreement will modernize and expand the Under Armour Performance Center while keeping the Ravens’ football operations in Baltimore County for as many as 40 additional years. The lease extension will begin Aug. 1, 2028, and includes renewal options designed to align the team’s headquarters agreement with its long-term lease at M&T Bank Stadium.
The Ravens are expected to privately invest up to $70 million in the project. Baltimore County plans to contribute up to $25 million over 10 years, pending approval from the Baltimore County Council.
The Ravens and Baltimore County have also formally requested up to $25 million from the Maryland Department of Commerce through existing economic development programs.
“This agreement builds on a partnership that has made Baltimore County stronger for nearly three decades and ensures the Ravens will continue to call Baltimore County home for generations to come,” Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier said in the announcement.
Ravens continue investing in Owings Mills
The deal represents another major investment in a facility that has become one of the NFL’s premier year-round headquarters.
The Ravens have operated in Baltimore County since the franchise arrived in Maryland in 1996. The Under Armour Performance Center opened in 2004 and houses the organization’s football operations, coaching staff, scouting department, business employees and training facilities.
Over the past three decades, the Ravens have invested more than $390 million in the Under Armour Performance Center and M&T Bank Stadium. That total includes approximately $134 million invested in the team’s Owings Mills headquarters.
The latest project will establish a framework for future renovations and possible expansion of the Owings Mills campus. Any improvements will still be subject to the necessary legislative, zoning and regulatory approvals.
Maintaining a modern facility is an important part of competing in the NFL. Training centers serve as more than practice locations. They provide weight rooms, rehabilitation areas, meeting spaces, dining facilities, offices and technology used by players, coaches and personnel executives throughout the year.
Ravens President Sashi Brown said the agreement will help the franchise maintain the type of facility needed to attract and retain players, coaches and staff.
“The Ravens have called Baltimore County home since our inception, and that continuity matters,” Brown said. “With more than three decades of shared history and strong community relationships, we’re committed to building on that foundation for years to come.”
Agreement includes community benefits
The arrangement also includes $2 million in community benefits and requires the Ravens to partner with Baltimore County on five community events or activations each year.
Those commitments will add to the organization’s existing work throughout Maryland. The Ravens regularly host youth football programs, charitable events, community initiatives and open training camp practices at the Owings Mills facility.
Approximately 24,000 fans are expected to visit the campus during the 2026 training camp. The Ravens expanded public access this summer by increasing the number of fans who can attend practices and implementing a transportation system from the Owings Mills Metro Centre.
The team’s presence also supports hundreds of jobs and generates local and state tax revenue. Baltimore County believes the agreement will help retain a major employer while strengthening Owings Mills as a destination for professional sports, tourism and future business development.
“The Baltimore Ravens is not only a beloved professional sports franchise in our state, but one of Maryland’s strongest economic generators,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said. “This landmark agreement underscores the Ravens’ long-term commitment to the Baltimore region and the state.”
County funding still requires approval
Baltimore County’s proposed $25 million investment has not yet received final legislative approval.
The Baltimore County Council is expected to hold a work session on the proposal Sept. 1, followed by legislative consideration Sept. 8. The state’s proposed $25 million contribution also remains under discussion with the Maryland Department of Commerce.
Should all funding components receive approval, the project would include up to $70 million from the Ravens, $25 million from Baltimore County and $25 million from the state.
The announcement follows the Ravens’ 2023 agreement to remain at M&T Bank Stadium through the 2037 NFL season. That stadium lease also contains two five-year extension options, potentially keeping the team in Baltimore through 2047.
Together, the stadium lease and the new Owings Mills agreement provide long-term stability for nearly every major part of the organization.
MSB Take
The agreement is significant for the Ravens, Baltimore County and the entire state of Maryland.
NFL facilities have become increasingly important as franchises attempt to provide players and employees with the best possible working environment. The Ravens have traditionally been viewed as one of the league’s most stable organizations, and continuing to improve the Under Armour Performance Center should help preserve that reputation.
It is also important that the agreement contains commitments beyond football. The community funding and annual events give the Ravens another opportunity to strengthen their connection with residents throughout Baltimore County.
The public investment will receive scrutiny, as it should. Baltimore County and the state must demonstrate that the economic and community benefits justify the taxpayer contribution.
However, the Ravens are also committing up to $70 million of their own money while agreeing to remain in Owings Mills for decades. That is a considerable private investment and a strong statement about the franchise’s future in Maryland.
The Ravens have called Baltimore County home since their inaugural season. This agreement could ensure that the Castle remains the center of the organization for another generation of players, employees and fans.
