On Wednesday, Baltimore’s Board of Estimates approved a $150 million renovation of the city’s venerable Royal Farms Arena in a deal with facility operator Oak View Group and its partner Thirty-five Ventures, Kevin Durant’s holding company. Durant is a native of Prince George’s County, Maryland.
The arena, known as the Baltimore Civic Center when opened 60 years ago, was the home of the Baltimore Bullets — now the Washington Wizards — for 10 years between 1963 and 1973. In 1969, it hosted the NBA All-Star Game. NBA preseason games have occasionally been held at the arena as well in the years since Bullets moved to Washington.