Ripken family remains in ownership group
Aberdeen, MD – October 1, 2024 – Attain Sports, led by experienced minor league baseball operator and accomplished business leader Greg Baroni, today announced it has purchased controlling interest in IB Professional Holdings, the owner of the Aberdeen IronBirds, Class A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, from Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. and former Major League Baseball (MLB) veteran Bill Ripken. The Ripkens will remain a part of the ownership group with a minority stake. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Attain Sports are well-established and respected sports team operators. The group owns the Bowie Baysox, Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles; the Frederick Keys, a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League; the Spire City Ghost Hounds of the Atlantic League Professional Baseball (ALPB); and the Loudon United Football Club of the United Soccer League.
“Today marks an exciting day for me personally and for our entire organization. The opportunity to grow Attain Sports by welcoming a terrific team like the IronBirds, and to partner with Cal and Bill Ripken, is very meaningful,” said Greg Baroni, CEO and Managing Partner, Attain Sports. “We look forward to continuing to deliver baseball as affordable family entertainment with a commitment to community engagement, exceptional customer service, and innovative experiences right here in Aberdeen.”
Cal Ripken, Jr. added, “Bill and I are proud of what we have been able to bring to our hometown. Since 2002, through the IronBirds and our Ripken Experience Aberdeen youth baseball complex, we have been able to bring so many people to our town and provide wonderful experiences for baseball fans of all ages. Now that I am a part of the Orioles ownership group and thoroughly enjoying this phase of my life, I want to put a lot of time and energy into the Orioles, assisting in any way that I can. I am thrilled that we were able to partner with such a well-respected operator like Greg and Attain Sports.”
In 2001, right after playing his final game with the Orioles, Ripken purchased the Utica Blue Sox and moved them to his hometown where they became the IronBirds, an Orioles affiliate. The IronBirds play at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium. Ripken partnered equally with the State of Maryland and the City of Aberdeen to get the ballpark built. Adjacent to the ballpark is the Ripken Experience Aberdeen, a state-of-the-art youth baseball complex featuring replicas of some of the most notable MLB ballparks of the modern era.
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About Attain Sports
Attain Sports brings a community-focused, values-driven, and player-centric approach to connect diverse groups and create impact through the power of sports. Attain Sports owns and manages three baseball teams: the Baltimore Orioles Double-A affiliate Bowie Baysox, the MLB Draft League Frederick Keys, and Atlantic League baseball team, the Spire City Ghost Hounds, based in Frederick, Maryland. Additionally, the company is the controlling owner of the United Soccer League (USL) Championship Club, Loudoun United FC. For more information, please visit attainsports.com.
Media Contacts
John Maroon, Maroon PR
443.690.8943 | [email protected]
Ellen Walsh, Attain Partners
703.857.2178 | [email protected]