Baltimore Arena Now ‘CFG Bank Arena’
The Baltimore Arena has a new name: CFG Bank Arena. Oak View Group (OVG), which is leading an approximately $200-million renovation of the arena, made the announcement yesterday with Ray Lewis and Pharrell Williams on hand.
CFG Bank Arena, which was first constructed in 1961, was named Royal Farms Arena in recent years. It was also previously 1st Mariner Arena, Baltimore Arena, and Baltimore Civic Center.
In a social media post, CFG Bank Arena said:
Introducing CFG Bank Arena: Baltimore’s premier destination for sports and live entertainment! We are proud to announce our naming rights partnership with Baltimore’s own The CFG Bank, a company that believes in playing an active role in the continued growth of our city and the bright future that stands before us. We can’t wait to welcome you to CFG Bank Arena in early 2023!
CFG Bank, which was founded in 1927 and is currently located just north of the city in Baltimore County, will be relocating to Port Covington in South Baltimore, according to reports. In a social media post CFG Bank said:
We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Oak View Group as the naming rights partner for Baltimore Arena – now CFG Bank Arena. We are so much more than a traditional bank and this partnership is a great example of our entrepreneurial approach and how we do things differently to make change happen for the better. We look forward to continuing to support the growth of Baltimore through the excitement and benefits CFG Bank Arena will bring to our community. Stay tuned for more updates!
The first event at CFG Bank Arena will be the CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments on February 20, 2023. Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band will play at the arena on April 7th, and blink-182 will have a show on May 26th.
Renovations to the arena include “adding seats and suites, refurbishing concourses, upgrading concessions areas, and changing the building’s appearance,” according to an OVG press release.
The release further states: “Additional upgrades to the facility will include focuses on sustainability such as using locally sourced materials, LED lighting, low flow and waterless fixtures, and more; world-class acoustics to amplify the audio experience; next-generation touchless and self-serve technologies for food & beverage and merchandise purchases to minimize transaction times; renovations to the venue’s back of house; structural, mechanical, electrical, lighting and fire protection upgrades; as well as construction encompassing, plumbing, electrical, fire protection, lighting; and updates to the Arena’s telecommunications infrastructure, wireless network, and video/network/security systems.”
The arena has three sides of seating with two decks, and one side with a stage and wall. The stage is currently being demolished.
The capacity will go from 12,289 for basketball games to approximately 15,000.
The Bethesda-based Clark Construction Group is the general contractor on the project. The company has a Baltimore office at Stadium Square in South Baltimore. Clark Construction has set up an OxBlue construction camera in the interior of the arena.
Brisbin Brook Beynon is the architect and Intreegue Design is the landscape architect for exterior spaces.
Thirty Five Ventures is an equity investor in the project. Thirty Five Ventures was founded by Brooklyn Nets player and Maryland native Kevin Durant as well as Rich Kleiman.
Renderings from CFG Bank Arena
About the Author: Kevin Lynch
Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, skateboarder, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin.
