According to an outside study commissioned by the Ripken Stadium Management Board in 2006, the field should have been replaced by 2016. It has not been done. The management board was established by the city after the stadium was built to oversee the facility’s operations and to be the de facto manager; however, a previous city administration abolished the board under the belief it was no longer necessary with Tufton being in charge of nonbaseball events, as well as the IronBirds’ use of the facility.