The one-year deal keeps the Keys in Frederick, but team officials say it’s one of the most expensive agreements in the Carolina League.
The Frederick Keys (High Class A; Carolina League) and the city of Frederick came to an agreement on a one-year lease for Harry Grove Stadium.
The deal represents a 43 percent increase in rent over last year’s $17,000, putting the new total at around $24,000. That’s much less than the $50,000 the city was originally seeking, a demand later reduced to $30,000. The Keys say the new deal is the most expensive in the Carolina League when you take into account the money spent on ballpark maintenance — some $350,000 in annual expenses and $250,000 in ballpark upgrades in addition to a 10 percent ticket surcharge.
"We are very pleased to reach agreement and compromise with the City of Frederick and continue our strong partnership with them at Harry Grove Stadium, Keys General Manager Dave Ziedelis said. “We are also equally as pleased of the commitment we have made to the City of Frederick in essentially providing the best possible stadium lease for a landlord in our league.”
Left unaddressed: a future lease for the team. During negotiations for this lease the city took a five-year extension off the table.
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