Hayes Gardner
@hayesgardner.bsky.social
Writing for The Baltimore Banner. Poynter once described a sentence I wrote as "not an especially graceful one."
Past: Baltimore Sun, Louisville Courier Journal, Ames Tribune | AmeriCorps | Grinnell College alum
Past: Baltimore Sun, Louisville Courier Journal, Ames Tribune | AmeriCorps | Grinnell College alum
Reposted by Hayes Gardner
DC sports coverage -- it's happening
www.thebanner.com/banner-pr/ba...
www.thebanner.com/banner-pr/ba...
February 12, 2026 at 6:53 PM
DC sports coverage -- it's happening
www.thebanner.com/banner-pr/ba...
www.thebanner.com/banner-pr/ba...
NEW | D.C. United is pushing for professional soccer teams in Baltimore.
They’d need a place to play, though.
www.thebanner.com/sports/dc-un...
They’d need a place to play, though.
www.thebanner.com/sports/dc-un...
D.C. United pushing for professional Baltimore soccer teams
Baltimore is one of the nation’s few major cities without a professional outdoor soccer team, and soccer-starved residents have long pined for a local team.
www.thebanner.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:21 PM
NEW | D.C. United is pushing for professional soccer teams in Baltimore.
They’d need a place to play, though.
www.thebanner.com/sports/dc-un...
They’d need a place to play, though.
www.thebanner.com/sports/dc-un...
NEW | T. Rowe Price is laying off employees again. www.thebanner.com/economy/t-ro...
T. Rowe Price is laying off some marketing employees
T. Rowe Price, the Baltimore-based asset management firm, is cutting some marketing jobs.
www.thebanner.com
February 6, 2026 at 7:23 PM
NEW | T. Rowe Price is laying off employees again. www.thebanner.com/economy/t-ro...
Under Armour issued its most promising earnings report since Kevin Plank's return nearly 2 years ago.
"We believe that the most disruptive phase of our reset is now behind us.”
www.thebanner.com/economy/unde...
"We believe that the most disruptive phase of our reset is now behind us.”
www.thebanner.com/economy/unde...
Under Armour says ‘most disruptive phase’ of turnaround is behind it
On Friday, the Baltimore-based sportswear company released its most promising earnings report since Kevin Plank took back the CEO reins in April 2024. Its stock price promptly rose 15%.
www.thebanner.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Under Armour issued its most promising earnings report since Kevin Plank's return nearly 2 years ago.
"We believe that the most disruptive phase of our reset is now behind us.”
www.thebanner.com/economy/unde...
"We believe that the most disruptive phase of our reset is now behind us.”
www.thebanner.com/economy/unde...
The world’s two largest cruise companies have played musical chairs with their ships and, at least for the next two years, the dust has settled.
Carnival will soon have a significantly larger foothold than Royal Caribbean at the Port of Baltimore. www.thebanner.com/economy/carn...
Carnival will soon have a significantly larger foothold than Royal Caribbean at the Port of Baltimore. www.thebanner.com/economy/carn...
A cruise ship swap is coming to Baltimore
The world’s two largest cruise companies have played musical chairs with their ships and, at least for the next two years, the dust has settled. Carnival will have a larger foothold in Baltimore City ...
www.thebanner.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:51 PM
The world’s two largest cruise companies have played musical chairs with their ships and, at least for the next two years, the dust has settled.
Carnival will soon have a significantly larger foothold than Royal Caribbean at the Port of Baltimore. www.thebanner.com/economy/carn...
Carnival will soon have a significantly larger foothold than Royal Caribbean at the Port of Baltimore. www.thebanner.com/economy/carn...
Reposted by Hayes Gardner
Hey, look, it's GOOD media news. @thebaltimorebanner.com and @bannermoco.bsky.social are coming to Prince George's County. 🗞️
www.thebanner.com/banner-pr/th...
www.thebanner.com/banner-pr/th...
The Banner announces expansion to Prince George’s County
The Banner announced it will take its award-winning journalism into Prince George’s County this spring, continuing its ambition to serve readers across Maryland.
www.thebanner.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:29 PM
Hey, look, it's GOOD media news. @thebaltimorebanner.com and @bannermoco.bsky.social are coming to Prince George's County. 🗞️
www.thebanner.com/banner-pr/th...
www.thebanner.com/banner-pr/th...
Standing roughly 10 feet tall and spanning a couple of acres, the undulating assemblage of snow near M&T Bank Stadium looks otherworldly.
It’s chunky. It’s vast. And it needs to be gone in time for soccer star Lionel Messi’s visit to Baltimore next month. www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
It’s chunky. It’s vast. And it needs to be gone in time for soccer star Lionel Messi’s visit to Baltimore next month. www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
How Baltimore is melting mountains of snow
Standing roughly 10 feet tall and spanning a couple of acres, the undulating assemblage of snow near M&T Bank Stadium looks otherworldly.
www.thebanner.com
February 4, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Standing roughly 10 feet tall and spanning a couple of acres, the undulating assemblage of snow near M&T Bank Stadium looks otherworldly.
It’s chunky. It’s vast. And it needs to be gone in time for soccer star Lionel Messi’s visit to Baltimore next month. www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
It’s chunky. It’s vast. And it needs to be gone in time for soccer star Lionel Messi’s visit to Baltimore next month. www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Camden Yards after a snow
February 3, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Camden Yards after a snow
Michael Frenz, who has been executive director of the Maryland Stadium Authority for the past 17 years, will retire in April.
www.thebanner.com/economy/stad...
www.thebanner.com/economy/stad...
Longtime executive director of the Maryland Stadium Authority retiring
With the retirement of Michael Frenz, executive director of the Maryland Stadium Authority, the state has begun a nationwide search for his replacement.
www.thebanner.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Michael Frenz, who has been executive director of the Maryland Stadium Authority for the past 17 years, will retire in April.
www.thebanner.com/economy/stad...
www.thebanner.com/economy/stad...
An apparatus powered by Baltimore's underground steam system — and dubbed the "Snowtorious B.I.G." — was again deployed to melt snow outside M&T Bank Stadium and Oriole Park last week.
www.thebanner.com/community/tr...
www.thebanner.com/community/tr...
‘Snowtorious B.I.G.’ uses steam heat to devour snow at M&T Bank Stadium
After blizzards in 2009 and 2010, the Maryland Stadium Authority had the idea to hook up steam lines to a dumpster, then deposit snow into it. It called the apparatus "Snowtorious B.I.G."
www.thebanner.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:52 PM
An apparatus powered by Baltimore's underground steam system — and dubbed the "Snowtorious B.I.G." — was again deployed to melt snow outside M&T Bank Stadium and Oriole Park last week.
www.thebanner.com/community/tr...
www.thebanner.com/community/tr...
Reposted by Hayes Gardner
Household items are making their way outdoors in Baltimore. Do you save your parking spot after a snowstorm?
www.thebanner.com/community/tr...
www.thebanner.com/community/tr...
Random junk marks the spot in Baltimore’s snow parking wars
To chair, or not to chair? Baltimore residents turn to children's kitchenettes, tiki torches and good, old lawn chairs to preserve hard-won parking spots as the dig-out from Storm Fern continues.
www.thebanner.com
January 29, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Household items are making their way outdoors in Baltimore. Do you save your parking spot after a snowstorm?
www.thebanner.com/community/tr...
www.thebanner.com/community/tr...
NEW | It takes a multimodal dance to get shiploads of salt from northern Chile’s Atacama Desert to wintry roads in the mid-Atlantic. We visited the Port of Baltimore yesterday at 4:30 a.m. to learn about it. www.thebanner.com/economy/dist...
Inside the sprint to distribute road salt after a storm
The Port of Baltimore ranks No. 2 in the nation for imported road salt. A “truck ballet” plays a role in transporting it from a South American desert to neighborhoods in the mid-Atlantic.
www.thebanner.com
January 30, 2026 at 1:09 PM
NEW | It takes a multimodal dance to get shiploads of salt from northern Chile’s Atacama Desert to wintry roads in the mid-Atlantic. We visited the Port of Baltimore yesterday at 4:30 a.m. to learn about it. www.thebanner.com/economy/dist...
NEW | Despite tariffs, the Port of Baltimore handled a record number of containers in 2025.
www.thebanner.com/economy/tari...
www.thebanner.com/economy/tari...
Despite tariffs, Baltimore handled record number of containers in 2025
More containers — the lifeblood of international shipping — than ever made their way through Baltimore last year. And the port set a record for ship visits, too.
www.thebanner.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:32 PM
NEW | Despite tariffs, the Port of Baltimore handled a record number of containers in 2025.
www.thebanner.com/economy/tari...
www.thebanner.com/economy/tari...
Lawn chair season
January 26, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Lawn chair season
For roughly 2,000 cruise ship passengers, Sunday's snowstorm meant a longer vacation.
Nearly a foot of snow would've made unloading at the Port of Baltimore difficult, so a two-week Carnival cruise was extended one day.
www.thebanner.com/economy/carn...
Nearly a foot of snow would've made unloading at the Port of Baltimore difficult, so a two-week Carnival cruise was extended one day.
www.thebanner.com/economy/carn...
Snowstorm means extra cruise day for Carnival Pride passengers
Carnival Pride, one of the Port of Baltimore’s two regular cruise ships, was scheduled to dock Sunday, unloading suntanned passengers and picking up new ones headed south. But the winter weather disru...
www.thebanner.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:58 PM
For roughly 2,000 cruise ship passengers, Sunday's snowstorm meant a longer vacation.
Nearly a foot of snow would've made unloading at the Port of Baltimore difficult, so a two-week Carnival cruise was extended one day.
www.thebanner.com/economy/carn...
Nearly a foot of snow would've made unloading at the Port of Baltimore difficult, so a two-week Carnival cruise was extended one day.
www.thebanner.com/economy/carn...
Reposted by Hayes Gardner
The story of how Maryland bought a horse farm it won’t use involves a former Florida Congressman, a “prominent veterinarian,” self-dealing, a high-powered attorney, Gov. Wes Moore, a state authority that no longer exists and some trout.
for @thebaltimorebanner.com
www.thebanner.com/sports/maryl...
for @thebaltimorebanner.com
www.thebanner.com/sports/maryl...
How Maryland bought a $4.5M horse farm it’s not going to use
The purchase of a horse farm, Shamrock Farm, involves a partner at Venable, the Pittsburgh Steelers, a Florida Republican, Gov. Wes Moore and a state authority that no longer exists.
www.thebanner.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:31 PM
The story of how Maryland bought a horse farm it won’t use involves a former Florida Congressman, a “prominent veterinarian,” self-dealing, a high-powered attorney, Gov. Wes Moore, a state authority that no longer exists and some trout.
for @thebaltimorebanner.com
www.thebanner.com/sports/maryl...
for @thebaltimorebanner.com
www.thebanner.com/sports/maryl...
The Sphere — that luminous, ginormous orb of entertainment ostensibly suited only for Las Vegas — might soon send a smaller sibling rolling into Maryland.
Here's what to know: www.thebanner.com/culture/thin...
Here's what to know: www.thebanner.com/culture/thin...
What to know about the smaller Sphere planned for Maryland
The Sphere’s owner has been planning to create similar venues around the world. Content created for the Las Vegas venue could be shown in the smaller National Harbor Sphere, too.
www.thebanner.com
January 22, 2026 at 2:30 PM
The Sphere — that luminous, ginormous orb of entertainment ostensibly suited only for Las Vegas — might soon send a smaller sibling rolling into Maryland.
Here's what to know: www.thebanner.com/culture/thin...
Here's what to know: www.thebanner.com/culture/thin...
NEW | There's an office in Anne Arundel County that, on the surface, looks like any other workplace. Inside this one, though, engineers and project managers are finalizing designs for the new Key Bridge.
www.thebanner.com/economy/key-...
www.thebanner.com/economy/key-...
Inside the Hanover office park where the new Key Bridge is being designed
A nondescript office park in Hanover serves as the design headquarters for the new Key Bridge. As many as 100 engineers and project managers work inside to orchestrate logistics, map out the bridge’s ...
www.thebanner.com
January 21, 2026 at 3:56 PM
NEW | There's an office in Anne Arundel County that, on the surface, looks like any other workplace. Inside this one, though, engineers and project managers are finalizing designs for the new Key Bridge.
www.thebanner.com/economy/key-...
www.thebanner.com/economy/key-...
Reposted by Hayes Gardner
NEW: Maryland state government plans to buy Laurel Park for $50M to use as a thoroughbred training center.
The state already bought a farm in Carroll County for that same purpose, spending $4.5M.
Scoop from @hayesgardner.bsky.social & @leeosanderlin.bsky.social:
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
The state already bought a farm in Carroll County for that same purpose, spending $4.5M.
Scoop from @hayesgardner.bsky.social & @leeosanderlin.bsky.social:
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Maryland plans to purchase Laurel Park in horse training center switcheroo
Maryland officials said Tuesday they have reached a tentative agreement with Stronach Group, the Canadian company that owns Laurel Park, to acquire the property.
www.thebanner.com
January 21, 2026 at 12:20 PM
NEW: Maryland state government plans to buy Laurel Park for $50M to use as a thoroughbred training center.
The state already bought a farm in Carroll County for that same purpose, spending $4.5M.
Scoop from @hayesgardner.bsky.social & @leeosanderlin.bsky.social:
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
The state already bought a farm in Carroll County for that same purpose, spending $4.5M.
Scoop from @hayesgardner.bsky.social & @leeosanderlin.bsky.social:
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
NEW | Maryland plans to buy Laurel Park from The Stronach Group and convert it into a horse racing training center.
This marks a pivot from building the center at Shamrock Farm, which the state paid $4.5 million for last year.
w/ @leeosanderlin.bsky.social: www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
This marks a pivot from building the center at Shamrock Farm, which the state paid $4.5 million for last year.
w/ @leeosanderlin.bsky.social: www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Maryland plans to purchase Laurel Park in horse training center switcheroo
The state previously paid $4.5 million for Shamrock Farm in Carroll County
www.thebanner.com
January 21, 2026 at 2:01 AM
NEW | Maryland plans to buy Laurel Park from The Stronach Group and convert it into a horse racing training center.
This marks a pivot from building the center at Shamrock Farm, which the state paid $4.5 million for last year.
w/ @leeosanderlin.bsky.social: www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
This marks a pivot from building the center at Shamrock Farm, which the state paid $4.5 million for last year.
w/ @leeosanderlin.bsky.social: www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
NEW | Hidden within the Port of Baltimore is a liner-sized, yacht-shaped ship that once housed a nuclear power plant. It hasn't sailed in decades, but still regularly attracts the nautical and nuclear curious.
Its days here, though, could be numbered.
www.thebanner.com/economy/ns-s...
Its days here, though, could be numbered.
www.thebanner.com/economy/ns-s...
What will happen to the Savannah, a nuclear-powered ship?
A historic nuclear-powered passenger ship has been docked in Baltimore since 2008, but it could soon be on the move. Savannah, Georgia, is among those in contention.
www.thebanner.com
January 17, 2026 at 4:47 PM
NEW | Hidden within the Port of Baltimore is a liner-sized, yacht-shaped ship that once housed a nuclear power plant. It hasn't sailed in decades, but still regularly attracts the nautical and nuclear curious.
Its days here, though, could be numbered.
www.thebanner.com/economy/ns-s...
Its days here, though, could be numbered.
www.thebanner.com/economy/ns-s...
Reposted by Hayes Gardner
New: Exelon and Constellation are in an arms race in Maryland’s capital. With their deep pockets and small army of lobbyists, they’re in a fight to bend energy policy to their liking and to ratepayers are caught in the middle. W/ @adampwillis.bsky.social
www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
How Exelon and Constellation influence Annapolis
Exelon and Constellation are among the state’s top campaign donors — the second and third biggest, according to campaign finance records.
www.thebanner.com
January 15, 2026 at 12:30 PM
New: Exelon and Constellation are in an arms race in Maryland’s capital. With their deep pockets and small army of lobbyists, they’re in a fight to bend energy policy to their liking and to ratepayers are caught in the middle. W/ @adampwillis.bsky.social
www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy can agree on one thing: They want the Francis Scott Key Bridge built faster.
www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
Wes Moore and Sean Duffy both want to accelerate Key Bridge rebuild
Their statement, however, did not specify a new timeline for construction of the Key Bridge.
www.thebanner.com
January 16, 2026 at 2:10 AM
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy can agree on one thing: They want the Francis Scott Key Bridge built faster.
www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
Camden Yards readying for the 2026 season
January 13, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Camden Yards readying for the 2026 season
Terry Hasseltine, who ran Maryland's sports tourism arm for 17 years, abruptly exited that role in late December. The circumstances are opaque.
Events he ran operated at big financial loss, IRS documents show. They don't explain what led to his departure, but could offer clues.
Events he ran operated at big financial loss, IRS documents show. They don't explain what led to his departure, but could offer clues.
Sports tourism events struggled financially before official’s abrupt exit
Maryland Stadium Authority official Terry Hassletine’s departure creates uncertainty for major events.
www.thebanner.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:53 PM
Terry Hasseltine, who ran Maryland's sports tourism arm for 17 years, abruptly exited that role in late December. The circumstances are opaque.
Events he ran operated at big financial loss, IRS documents show. They don't explain what led to his departure, but could offer clues.
Events he ran operated at big financial loss, IRS documents show. They don't explain what led to his departure, but could offer clues.