Edwin F. Hale, Sr.

Owner

An avid sports fan and Baltimore native, Edwin F. Hale, Sr. is the proud owner of the 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2008  Champion Baltimore Blast. After owning the Blast for eight seasons, he saw one of his dreams come true on April 18, 2003 when his Baltimore Blast defeated the Milwaukee Wave to win the League Title. He only had to wait one more year for his team to win the Championship again, becoming the first back-to-back champs since the Wave did it in 2000 and 2001. His team also won the championship in 2006, and again last season - for the fourth time in six years. Hale is currently in his second stint as owner of the Blast, having repurchased the team in the spring of 1998. Prior to the 1998-99 season, he owned the Blast from 1989 to 1992. Hale, 61, kicked off his involvement in Baltimore soccer on September 15, 1989 when he purchased the Baltimore Blast of the original Major Indoor Soccer League. Under his direction between 1989 and 1992, the team earned two division championships and averaged 8,500 fans at home games at the then-Baltimore Arena. During his involvement in the original MISL, Hale served as Chairman of the League's Executive Committee and Marketing Committee and was regarded as one of the League’s most active and dedicated soccer executives. Hale's initial involvement with the Blast ended at the conclusion of the 1991-92 MISL season. In 1998, he signed an agreement for sole ownership of Baltimore’s National Professional Soccer League franchise and changed the team’s name back to the Blast. This summer, after the dissolution of the MISL, Hale was instrumental in the creation of the National Indoor Soccer League and he is already working on expansion for the 2009-10 season. In addition to owning the Blast, Hale owns the naming rights to Baltimore’s premier indoor Arena and stood alongside then-Mayor Martin O’Malley on January 4, 2003 when the Arena officially became known as 1st Mariner Arena. Hale's professional experience is highly respected in the Maryland business community. Since May of 1995, he has served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of 1st Mariner Bancorp. 1st Mariner Bank has 50 branches including locations throughout Maryland, Southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia and Massachusetts. Known throughout the community for his professional successes and charitable endeavors, Hale was named Ernst & Young’s “Master Entrepreneur of the Year” in 1996. He has also been recognized by several charitable organizations for his dedication to the community in which he grew up. Hale is chairman and CEO of BACVA (Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association), founder, chairman and CEO of the Maryland Business Council and was chairman of Miss USA in 2005 and 2006 (owned by NBC and Donald Trump). In addition to his above involvements, Hale, a real estate developer, is currently working on Canton Crossing, a project that includes the 1st Mariner Bank Tower, located across the street from the Blast corporate offices in Du Burns Arena. Born in Highlandtown, Hale attended Sparrows Point High School, Essex Community College and the American International College in Springfield, Mass. He resides in Canton and has three children, a son, Edwin Jr., and two daughters, Ashley and Alexandra. He also has three grandsons.