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With the two cities so close, it’s led to territory disputes for years over the franchises.
WASHINGTON — This weekend, it’s the Battle of the Beltways.
It’s a reminder that while both cities’ fans live near each other, the pro-sports teams don’t consider each other rivals. But the teams’ owners are certainly rivals for the fan base.
To explain this nuanced pro-sports rivalry, we went to two sports radio guys. DC radio’s 106.7 The Fan’s Grant Paulsen and Baltimore radio’s 105.7 The Fan’s Rob Long.
“The cities mostly have a resentment toward one another from a sports standpoint based on ownership and boxing each other out for territory,” Paulsen said.
“I hated the fact that I had to go to D.C. to cheer for sports teams when I’m not from D.C.,” Long said. “See, in Baltimore, we are not part of the DMV.”
The real rivalry comes from the teams competing for fans and households along B-W Parkway.
“Between us, there is Arundel County, Howard County, Montgomery County,” Long said. “That’s a lot of space and a lot of money.”
“It’s a fight over the eyeballs,” Paulsen said. “I mean, these owners want the attention of those fans.”
That’s why after the Washington Senators left D.C., the Baltimore Orioles moved in on their territory.
“I think there is a feeling like Peter Angelos, the former owner of the Orioles did everything in his power not to allow D.C. to have a baseball team,” Paulsen said. ”There is a resentment toward him for making life difficult on that happening.”
In Baltimore, in 1984, the Baltimore Colts moved to Indianapolis in the middle of the night, leaving the city without football.
After several attempts to bring a team back got shot down, Baltimore fans cast legendary then-Washington team owner Jack Kent Cooke as the villain.
“I felt like the the football team in D.C. was shoved down my throat, and because of that, I was resentful and I became a Cowboys fan,” Long said.
In 2024, Baseball is back in D.C. and Football is back in Baltimore. Maybe it’s time to heal.
The one thing we have in common is ‘you got your team,’” Long said. “I understood and I’m hoping the folks in DC understood when we got the Ravens.”
“I understand that resentment because more recently we’ve lived it here,” Paulsen said.
“Commander fans are talking a lot of trash ─ talking a LOT of trash. Just remember and I get it. It’s been a long time since you all been relevant,” Long smiled.
