Battling In Baltimore

Four development groups are vying for the chance to build a proposed 18,500-capacity sports and entertainment venue in Baltimore that would replace the aging 1st Mariner Arena.

State and city officials want to replace the SMG-managed facility with the larger one to bring in bigger acts, and possibly a professional hockey or basketball team, according to the Baltimore Sun.

An advisory panel of city and state officials are reviewing the proposals in hopes of awarding the contract by mid-2009.