Since the Bullets’ departure, Royal Farms Arena has been home to several professional franchises-including indoor soccer’s Baltimore Blast (Major Arena Soccer League)-but the city has not successfully courted an NBA or NHL team to replace the Bullets, even as nearby facilities Oriole Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium opened in the 1990’s.
The NBA’s Chicago Zephyrs relocated in 1963 to become the Baltimore Bullets, and while the Bullets did have success in their new city-including an Eastern Conference title in 1971-their stay in Baltimore proved to be short, as they moved to suburban Landover in 1973 and eventually became the Washington Bullets (now the Washington Wizards). When the Civic Center first opened in downtown Baltimore-on the site of Old Congress Hall-it was supposed to attract a third major sports team to the city, and provide a boost in the effort to modernize its surrounding area. While a replacement has been eyed for decades, the venue that first opened in 1962 as the Baltimore Civic Center continues to plug along, attracting major concerts, shows, and performances to Baltimore. To know the history of Baltimore’s Royal Farms Arena is to know how the facility has ably served a major market despite being undeniably obsolete. By Zach Spedden on Main In the Arena, Visits
