If you enjoyed the Metallica concert this week, you might want to thank Gov. Larry Hogan.
The state of Maryland offered to provide up to $150,000 to defray the costs of bringing the band to M&T Bank Stadium for its Wednesday concert, the first stop of a national tour.
The Maryland Stadium Authority approved the expenditure at a meeting earlier this year.
The Baltimore Ravens franchise, which leases M&T Bank Stadium, requested the state funds to reimburse the team for costs associated with holding the concert and paying the promoter.
The stadium authority has a practice of approving funds to help mitigate costs of bringing concerts and other big events to M&T Bank Stadium. Directors say big shows help draw thousands of people downtown at a time when the stadium would otherwise be dormant, and the state money is recouped in the form of admission tax on ticket sales and other expenditures by concertgoers.
The state also offered to pay up to $150,000 to the Ravens when Beyonce performed at the stadium last year.
This story has been corrected to clarify that the stadium authority approved the funds for the concert in an underwriting role, but has not spent the money.
