*May 5, 1972: Gov. Marvin Mandel signs a bill establishing the Maryland Sports Complex Authority, whose mission it is to build one or two downtown stadiums for the Colts and Orioles. The Authority is empowered to float bonds to pay for the complex, which was expected to be completed by 1975.

Nov. 5, 1974: The Maryland General Assembly passes a charter amendment barring city funds for a new stadium. Mandel has made it clear that no state funds or credit will be applied to a downtown stdium. Stadium authority member Robert C. Rmbry Jr. says, "Referendum or no referendum, there's not going to be a stadium."

*Dec. 19, 1979: New Orioles owner Edward Bennett Williams questions whether $23 million in renovations to Memorial Stadium could correct the park's major shortcomings in parking, access and egress. Mayor William Donald Schaefer says priority should be given to renovating the Stadium. Their statements come amid reports that the Greater Baltimore Committee has revived discussion of a sports complex at Camden Yards as a "fallback plan" to prevent the Orioles from leaving Baltimore.

*Feb. 14, 1980: Schaefer says that a new stadium at Camden Yards gives the city its "best shot" at keeping the Orioles in Baltimore, but he still hopes to persuade Willams to keep the team at a revitalized Memorial Stadium.