[Blogs] Snow Bearing Down on M&T Bank Stadium

[BR News]

The snowstorm blasting Baltimore has sent M&T Bank Stadium workers into a frenzy and the Chicago Bears into a holding pattern.

Yesterday, the Ravens took preliminary action by postponing the start of Sunday’s game from 1 p.m. ET to 4:15 p.m.

Snowfall began before midnight and the Ravens’ contractors, as well as a horde of temporary hired help and a handful of church group volunteers, have been at M&T Bank Stadium since daybreak to shovel and plow.

At its peak, 500 to 600 people have been at M&T Bank Stadium at one time, estimated Ravens Event and Guest Services Manager John Cline. An estimated 700 total workers are chipping in.

Workers shovel for an hour-and-a-half and get a 20-minute break before going back to it. By mid-afternoon Saturday, an estimated foot of snow had dropped on the stadium.

“We’ve had some much, much less significant snows,” Cline said. “There’s never been something this major and especially this close to kickoff.”

A group of four dump trucks have been rotating trips from the stadium to the Patapsco River to get rid of the snow. Any worker who feels they cannot travel home from M&T Bank Stadium is welcome to sleep over on the floor of the club level. Workers are free to choose whether they want to resume clearing snow when they wake up or go home.

The snow is expected to ease up overnight with an accumulation of three to five inches. According to Weather.com, snowfall is expected to stop around 9 a.m. Sunday.

“We’re just trying to stay ahead of it,” Cline said. “The goal is to remove as much snow as humanly possible in the time allowed.”

Meanwhile, the Bears have still not arrived for the game. Baltimore-Washington International Airport closed at 2 p.m. and the state of Maryland is in an official state of emergency.

The Bears’ charter flight from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport was canceled Friday night after sitting on the runway for about two hours, the Chicago Tribune reported. The Bears are planning to depart Chicago at 9 p.m. ET and arrive in Baltimore at about 11 a.m. If the Bears cannot take off tonight, they could wait until Sunday morning.

The snow hasn’t affected the Ravens’ schedule. The team still held its team meeting and morning walk-through at Owings Mills. They players are currently making their way to the downtown hotel.

Parking lots at M&T Bank Stadium will be open at 11 a.m. Sunday morning and stadium gates will open at 2:45 p.m.

[url=http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/?p=2579]View the full article[/url]

[Andrew Keating]

Having moved to Texas, I can admire the snow from afar. i know it's a pain, but I love to see football played in the elements.

[1defense]

I'm in S.C. and somewhat envy the snow you guys get and on the other hand I'm glad not to see it here.The people here freak out when there is ruomor of a dusting.I think the Bears getting held in limbo maybe a help to the Ravens not that I really think the Ravens are going to struggle but every little bit helps.

[REAL FAN!!]

At this point I would like to see the game postponed till say monday nite for all concerned it would give a realistic outlook on getting things done and the Bears getting here

[MsMarvel73]

[quote name='REAL FAN!!' date='19 December 2009 - 07:01 PM' timestamp='1261267263' post='316045']
At this point I would like to see the game postponed till say monday nite for all concerned it would give a realistic outlook on getting things done and the Bears getting here
[/quote]


Why should we have a short week going into our game against the Steelers just because the Bears didn't prepare for this contingency too well. The Packers got to PA fine...the Niners got to Philly in time.

Why should the Ravens be punished because the Bears weren't attentive?

[Moderator 3]

I am definitely opposed to moving the game to Monday night. That is totally unfair to the ticket holders who have to work on Monday and Tuesday. It's too late for most people to arrange time off. Besides, a night game would be even colder than an evening game.

[Moderator 2]

[quote name='Moderator 3' date='19 December 2009 - 07:22 PM' timestamp='1261268544' post='316056']
I am definitely opposed to moving the game to Monday night. That is totally unfair to the ticket holders who have to work on Monday and Tuesday. It's too late for most people to arrange time off. Besides, a night game would be even colder than an evening game.
[/quote]

Agreed--the more I think about this mess the crankier I get!

[Texas Raven Fan]

I miss the snow. All my family is posting pictures to Facebook and it makes me jealous. I would trade 105 degree summers for snow anyday. If we stick to the game plan we used last week, we should eat Da Bears dinner. Go Rice, Mcgahee, and McClain.

[ravenwildman]

Can you imagine the nightmare the grounds team faces now to clear all that snow from M&T? Wow, lol, think about it, you must clear the seats as well as the field. I don't envy these guys!

What do you do with a stadium full of snow? I would love to see how they tackle that problem.

If these guys get it done (which I am sure they are planning to) by game time somebody should recognize who they are and how they got it done.

GO RAVENS!

[K-Dog]

If I am not mistaken the field its self is heated so the only issue would be the stands and parking.

[Ronnie Merson]

not only does the field have heating pipes underneath but they have a tarp on the field im sure. the stands on the other hand...im sure they'll have it permissible by 3:00

[Wacko4Zacko]

So if the Bear CAN make it to Baltimore, but the Bear fans CAN'T, doesnt the Bears Franchise have to refund all thier fans who bought tickets to this game.

[display name]

I am not so worried about whether there will be snow on my seats. I am worried about getting out my front door!