Maryland Treasurer Richard N. Dixon likes the new Ravens stadium just fine, with one exception: The plaque that lists him and other state officials who made the stadium possible isn't big enough.

Miffed that he and other public officials aren't getting a more eye-catching commemoration, Dixon all but ordered the Maryland Stadium Authority this week to install a new, bigger plaque at a cost of as much as $6,000.

"It's probably the biggest building we've built, and I think the plaque on it should be bigger," Dixon said yesterday. "Particularly to reflect the contribution of all the people involved in the stadium."

At a meeting Wednesday of the Board of Public Works, Dixon told stadium authority officials he would get his way, if necessary, by making board approval of a major stadium bond refinancing package contingent on installation of a bigger plaque.

Such a move was not needed, however, as stadium authority officials quickly agreed to Dixon's request.

The current plaque measures about 2 feet by 3 feet and can be found on the north side of the stadium. The bronze plaque resembles those found on many state buildings and lists the three members of the Board of Public Works that approved the stadium project.

Along with Dixon, the plaque lists Gov. Parris N. Glendening and Louis L. Goldstein, the longtime state comptroller who died in July. Goldstein cast many votes in favor of the stadium.

It also lists officials from the stadium authority and the Ravens.

Dixon said he complained to the authority about the size of the plaque in a letter in September, after attending the first football game in the stadium.

"You have to search it out," Dixon said. "It's hard to find, and it's very small."

He brought it up again at the meeting Wednesday, and this time he got some action.

Bruce H. Hoffman, executive director of the stadium authority, said he would move quickly to put up a bigger plaque. He said he was considering a bronze plaque about twice the size of the current one, which cost roughly $2,000. Hoffman said a new plaque would cost $4,000 to $6,000. "He directed us to do it, so I'm going to do it," Hoffman said.

Dixon, a fiscal conservative from Carroll County, said the money would be well spent, as it would commemorate public officials who took potentially unpopular positions to get the stadium built. He said the cost would be a tiny fraction of the price tag of the stadium -- more than $200 million.

A spokesman for Glendening said the governor had no comment on the issue.

As for the current plaque, Dixon suggested that it could be moved to the luxury skyboxes assigned to the stadium authority and the governor.

However, Hoffman said he was inclined to leave the plaque on the north wall and install the larger one on the south side. People won't notice that the edifice has two plaques, Hoffman said, as it takes 10 minutes to make the trek around the stadium.

Asked for his reaction to the unusual demand, Hoffman demurred. "I'm not going to comment. It's just not worth it."

Pub Date: 12/04/98