M&T Bank As A Visiting Fan...

[SteeLVeinS]

Guys,
I know I will probably be chastized for even posting over here but I have an honest question. I'm a Steelers fan that lives about 40 min from Baltimore and I love the rivalry that Pitt & Balt have. I usually travel every year to Pittsburgh for what I consider the best games every season. Being only 40 min from Baltimore, I would love to come to M&T for the games as well. I'm not a disrespectful fan that will heckle and all that other crap. I understand I'm a visitor and respect that. My question is, how much would I have to tolerate if I ventured into M&T Stadium in Black and Gold? I have been to other fields (including other AFCN teams) and catch the usual stuff. However, the Pittsburgh / Baltimore rival isn't exactly the same as say, Cleveland.

I'm looking for honesty with this as this would be great if I can venture into M&T and have a good time and even talk some factual football with Ravens Fans. Any input would be great!!

Heres to a great season for the AFCN!!!

<----- love this!!!

[JacktheRaven]

You'll be OK. Maybe depending on where you sit. Steeler fans do travel well, but not at M&T. As a season ticket holder, we don not sell our tickest to steeler fans.
They'll be about 5000 steeler fans to about 65,000 Raven fans. Good luck.

[Moderator 2]

Honestly? The worst behavior I have seen at the stadium is Ravens-Steelers and its a night game so people on both sides will have been drinking all day and that is never good lol. If you show up decked out in a Hines Ward jersey, face painted, beads and screaming obscenities at those around you, jumping up and gesturing you will have a problem and SAFE will escort you out. If you show up with say a sweatshirt and hat, remain low key and make nice with those around you you will get some good natured verbal razzing. I see both of these play out every year, and good luck getting tickets.

Last year a Steeler fan sat next to my dad and was starting crap as she got to the seat he was not even looking at her, so pretty much it is up to you. I'm pretty sure it will be extremely hard to get a ticket to the game.

[Brendan Ayres]

[quote name='SteeLVeinS' date='04 June 2010 - 03:36 PM' timestamp='1275676574' post='417853']
Guys,
I know I will probably be chastized for even posting over here but I have an honest question. I'm a Steelers fan that lives about 40 min from Baltimore and I love the rivalry that Pitt & Balt have. I usually travel every year to Pittsburgh for what I consider the best games every season. Being only 40 min from Baltimore, I would love to come to M&T for the games as well. I'm not a disrespectful fan that will heckle and all that other crap. I understand I'm a visitor and respect that. My question is, how much would I have to tolerate if I ventured into M&T Stadium in Black and Gold? I have been to other fields (including other AFCN teams) and catch the usual stuff. However, the Pittsburgh / Baltimore rival isn't exactly the same as say, Cleveland.

I'm looking for honesty with this as this would be great if I can venture into M&T and have a good time and even talk some factual football with Ravens Fans. Any input would be great!!

Heres to a great season for the AFCN!!!

<----- love this!!!
[/quote]

As long as you behave in a somewhat respectful manner, you'll be fine. If not, you may be in for a rough day.

On a side note, my friend last year witnessed a Ravens fan sneak up on a Steelers fan and clock him in the face while he was trying to take a leak. That "Steelers fan" turned out to be an undercover Baltimore police officer, and the Ravens fan was arrested on the spot.

They are trying to keep things as civil at the stadium as they can (good luck there). As long as you can take some harmless heckling and don't get out of line, you'll enjoy one of the best game day experiences in the NFL.

[lowrider]

[quote name='Brendan Ayres' date='04 June 2010 - 02:50 PM' timestamp='1275677421' post='417862']
As long as you behave in a somewhat respectful manner, you'll be fine. If not, you may be in for a rough day.

On a side note, my friend last year witnessed a Ravens fan sneak up on a Steelers fan and clock him in the face while he was trying to take a leak. That "Steelers fan" turned out to be an undercover Baltimore police officer, and the Ravens fan was arrested on the spot.

They are trying to keep things as civil at the stadium as they can (good luck there). As long as you can take some harmless heckling and don't get out of line, you'll enjoy one of the best game day experiences in the NFL.
[/quote]
pahahahahahahaha awesome story. What an idiot!!!!

[robbcs3]

Even on your best behavior your probably in for a rough day. I know a steeler fan that took his wife and 3 year old to a game, didnt say a word to anyone, and still got ripped apart. Maybe you should wear a Ravens jersey and not tell anyone!

[Runnin Raven]

I'd keep an extremely low profile personally. I hate to say it, but there's a whole lot of ignorance in this world. Your opinion of the Ravens and their fans will only worsen. You'll go home and tell stories about all the lowlifes you encountered...I hear that crap from my Steeler fan coworkers who have been to the Bank. People don't go to those games looking for a feel-good elbow rubbing moment with Steeler fans. Steeler fans have disrespected this franchise from DAY ONE and love to toot their own horn about it, so they're generally asking for it. You sound respectful though. If you're lucky you'll sit next to a mature tolerant type who enjoys the game for what it is. But there will be plenty of loudmouths around you too. Also, as much as it might pain you, put some Ravens regalia on your vehicle if it has a PA license...I've heard of Ravens fans from PA have their vehicles damaged because they were assumed to be Steeler fans.

That's my honest take. Maybe its not that bad, but this is what I've seen.

[JacktheRaven]

[quote name='Moderator 2' date='04 June 2010 - 01:49 PM' timestamp='1275677392' post='417861']
Honestly? The worst behavior I have seen at the stadium is Ravens-Steelers and its a night game so people on both sides will have been drinking all day and that is never good lol. If you show up decked out in a Hines Ward jersey, face painted, beads and screaming obscenities at those around you, jumping up and gesturing you will have a problem and SAFE will escort you out. If you show up with say a sweatshirt and hat, remain low key and make nice with those around you you will get some good natured verbal razzing. I see both of these play out every year, and good luck getting tickets.

Last year a Steeler fan sat next to my dad and was starting crap as she got to the seat he was not even looking at her, so pretty much it is up to you. I'm pretty sure it will be extremely hard to get a ticket to the game.
[/quote]

[JacktheRaven]

Steelvein already said that he is not disrespectful. He's already a steeler fan that lives 40 min. form M&T, sounds like he's not too smart. Maybe we should give him a break.

[Malkavian Raven]

If it's any indication, I vaguely remember a visiting NFL fan that said there were people actually spitting on them and their kids. Those morons doing the spitting are a needle in a haystack however. Most M&T goers will just give you the welcoming "boo" and few comments here and there. Nothing to take too personally, you shouldn't have any problems.... except getting tickets.

I can't say anything about cars being damaged though. I've been there (a couple of seasons ago), had an Indiana plate on Dodge Caliber, no harm done; but I did have Poe suction cupped to the back window.

[SteeLVeinS]

I appreciate the input. Everything most of you are saying is exactly what I've been hearing for the past 3 years that I've lived so close. I work with a bunch of Raven's fans and what you guys are saying is pretty much what they say. I definitely wouldn't show up with beads and face paint but probably a jersey and hat. I can take heckling because I can give it back all in good fun. I draw the line at sucker punches and spitting though. That will send anyone into the wrong place. Just sucks that I live so close and it can potentially be such a bad experience. I have been to every Pitt / Balt game (in Pitt of course) since 2004 and love everyone of them. In fact I would rank the Monday Night OT game in Pitt two years ago as the best game I've ever been to and I've been to 20+ games in the last 7 years. Maybe I'll just get one of my buddies at work whos a Raven fan to go with me, maybe he'll catch all the crap for bringing a Steelers fan... LOL...

I have also heard that getting tix to the Steelers games are very difficult so it may be out of the question anyways.

I appreciate any other incite any of yous may have. Looking forward to the season. Hopefully one of our three QB's will be in a good enough stride that yous won't beat up on us too bad in week 4!!

[CustomUserName]

[quote name='Brendan Ayres' date='04 June 2010 - 02:50 PM' timestamp='1275677421' post='417862']
As long as you behave in a somewhat respectful manner, you'll be fine. If not, you may be in for a rough day.

On a side note, my friend last year witnessed a Ravens fan sneak up on a Steelers fan and clock him in the face while he was trying to take a leak. That "Steelers fan" turned out to be an undercover Baltimore police officer, and the Ravens fan was arrested on the spot.

They are trying to keep things as civil at the stadium as they can (good luck there). As long as you can take some harmless heckling and don't get out of line, you'll enjoy one of the best game day experiences in the NFL.
[/quote]

Wow, you sucker punch somebody, and still can't lose them in a stadium of about 70,000 people.

EDIT: BY "YOU" I mean anybody in general, didn't realize my wording.

[JacktheRaven]

I don't think the steelers will have a good season. Fans and media get caught up in the past. They think, because of their past, that teams will be good every year. The Cowboys and Pats prove my point. Cowboys have been picked to win every year, since they last won in the 90's. The steelers and the Pats are teams in decline.

[edreedfromtheu]

[quote name='SteeLVeinS' date='04 June 2010 - 02:36 PM' timestamp='1275676574' post='417853']


I'm looking for honesty with this as this would be great if I can venture into M&T and have a good time and even talk some factual football with Ravens Fans. Any input would be great!!

Heres to a great season for the AFCN!!!
[/quote]

Others have touched on it, but I'll give my opinion...

It really will depend on which section you end up sitting in. The main type of hecklers is high school and college aged boys in groups of 4 or more. If you're around them, you'll almost surely get things yelled at you and hopefully that's all.

The one big thing you can do is not START any heckling. If you're just sitting back watching the game, and haven't offended anyone... then you're a lot less likely to get heckled in a mean-spirited way when/if the Ravens end up having a good play or score a touchdown, etc.

And while I don't agree with it... if you cheer too wildly(even if not directed at any Ravens fans) then you might get unfair treatment.

Common sense would say... if you've seen how Ravens fans get treated at Heinz Field, you can expect pretty much the same the other way around in Baltimore.

I'd love to say as long as you take care of your part and don't offend anyone, you'll be just fine and be able to enjoy the football game. But... there's always that outside chance you happen to get stuck in the same section as those few fans every team has that just there to cause trouble instead of watching the game.

[ROH522155]

Ive been to one Ravens game. I wasnt in the stands I was on field level but our fans seem pretty hostile

[1/28/01]

My wife and I ventured out to Heinz field October 31st (thats right, HALLOWEEN) for the Monday night game in 2005. Ravens lost 20-19 and it was an awesome game!

Only real issue we had was when some idiot got in my wifes face and screamed when Pitt scored a TD.....thats cool, get excited, but my wife is a 5 foot 100 lb Filipino chick. I'm 6 foot 3 and 200 lbs and dude wouldnt even look at me - ha!!!

Other than that - great time and cool fans as long as your mature and respectful back at them.

[url="http://www.systemslogin.com/steelersgame.bmp"][b][u]Hilarious Pic[/u][/b][/url]

[url="http://www.systemslogin.com/baseballstadium.bmp"][b][u]Nice Pic of Baseball Stadium[/u][/b][/url]

[url="http://www.systemslogin.com/criminals.bmp"][b][u]Pic of Seats[/u][/b][/url]

[url="http://www.systemslogin.com/actionshot.bmp"][b][u]Action Shot[/u][/b][/url]

[Moderator 4]

I advise against wearing Steelers colors if you truly want to just have a good time without being hassled. More important: leave the yellow rags at home. Rag-twirling provokes many of the fights and ejections. In the tailgate lots, there are often bounties placed on confiscated rags, which are frequently used as bonfire fuel or in the porta-johns.

Seriously.

[K-Dog]

The best advice I can give is to get there early enough to personally greet the fans around you. Introduce your self. Shake their hands wish them luck and a great safe game bla, bla, bla. Make crap-chat ( non football) with them. When people see you on a personal level, and see you as just any other guy ( cept with poor choice in team loyalty) your odds of being personally assulted be it verbally or physically fall dramatically.

Trash talk on the other hand, well that is fair game.

[Moderator 3]

No yellow rags and no standing up yelling "defense" while the Ravens are on offense. Follow those two rules and you'll probably survive.

[DMT]

Don't be an [i]<jerk>[/i] and you should be fine. We may be close to Philly, but we're not like them

[SteeLVeinS]

[quote name='JacktheRaven' date='04 June 2010 - 03:57 PM' timestamp='1275685031' post='417944']
I don't think the steelers will have a good season. Fans and media get caught up in the past. They think, because of their past, that teams will be good every year. The Cowboys and Pats prove my point. Cowboys have been picked to win every year, since they last won in the 90's. The steelers and the Pats are teams in decline.
[/quote]


I will slightly agree with you about a declining team. The Steelers are an old time with some new, young talent. They are fast approaching a rebuilding phase when a lot of the starters are going to start retiring and this young talent is going to take the reigns. That will happen in the next 5 years and there may be some sub .500 seasons. However, I don't think one of them will be this year even with the absense of Ben for 4-6 games.

[SteeLVeinS]

[quote name='DMT' date='04 June 2010 - 07:37 PM' timestamp='1275698226' post='418047']
Don't be an [i]<jerk>[/i] and you should be fine. We may be close to Philly, but we're not like them
[/quote]


That is the only thing I have to go off of. That is another thing that irritates me even though Pitt and Philly only play once every 4 years, but Philly fans are [i]<xxxxx>[/i] ... I'm the same distance from Philly and would never, EVER venture into the Linc for a game.

I would just really like to come down and enjoy a game that always seem to be really great games. I can definitely stay low key and be respectful as I am a visitor. Would be up and chanting defense if I'm one of a few hundred or even thousand fans there. Would definitely leave the Terrible Towel at home as I know how much you guys love them!! LOL... Maybe I will give it a whirl this year. The only crappy thing is the game in Balt is a night game this year and i would have to deal with many that have been drinking all day long...

[1/28/01]

[quote name='SteeLVeinS' date='04 June 2010 - 08:55 PM' timestamp='1275699308' post='418050']
That is the only thing I have to go off of. That is another thing that irritates me even though Pitt and Philly only play once every 4 years, but Philly fans are [i]<xxxxx>[/i] ... I'm the same distance from Philly and would never, EVER venture into the Linc for a game.

I would just really like to come down and enjoy a game that always seem to be really great games. I can definitely stay low key and be respectful as I am a visitor. Would be up and chanting defense if I'm one of a few hundred or even thousand fans there. Would definitely leave the Terrible Towel at home as I know how much you guys love them!! LOL... Maybe I will give it a whirl this year. The only crappy thing is the game in Balt is a night game this year and i would have to deal with many that have been drinking all day long...
[/quote]
Apparently I like to travel for local Halloween games, because I went to the Eagles/Ravens game on October 31, 2004 (other post of mine in this topic mentions the '05 game in Pitt on Halloween) when TO imitated Ray Lewis's dance (quite well might I add) and the fans there were NUTS!!!!

One of my best friends is originally from Philly and even his owns fans were yelling at him and booing when he got a little too drunk and was acting dumb. He was yelling for his own team, the Eagles, but they didnt like it and told his *** to sit down!!! Hilarious!!!!

[Moderator 2]

2 years ago that home game stretch that was Philly, Wash and Pitt I almost felt sorry for SAFE--man that was brutal lol The Bronco fans last year misbehaved too.

[Purple Nurple]

We should all be telling him that opposing fans are skinned alive. Since we've screwed that up, I'll tell the truth.

I went to the Sunday night game last year and there were a few Steelers fans near me. One wore a hat like this.

[img]http://www.geekologie.com/2009/02/02/steelers.jpg[/img]

Dont do that. Thats free advice. (BTW, it took me five minutes to find this pic through google. I finally found it by striking on "retarded steelers hat". Go figure)


Also....seriously....dont wave that towel around. There were two guys sitting next to me and would occasionally tap me with it as they spun the **** thing. I just about flipped out but I was taking my younger brother to the game.

Just be cool, respectful, and all will end well. (this is my mantra as I travel to the monday night Jets/Ravens game.)

[Rav'n Maniac]

Dude, most of your fans sit in the far end zone up in the nose bleeds. There is usually 50 or more up there. Safety in numbers!

Only seen 1 bad situation. Some black & gold were throwing peanuts. While 2 were coming back from concessions, the guy at the end of my row said something to them. This one idiot took a plate of fries drenched in ketchup and shoved it in this dudes face, then took off. The next thing I see is 20 or so Ravens fans running after them. When they caught the guy at the top near the fence, they just tossed him down the concrete steps. He didn't stop till he hit the wall at the back of the tunnel. They stretchered him out.

[DMT]

[quote name='SteeLVeinS' date='04 June 2010 - 08:55 PM' timestamp='1275699308' post='418050']
That is the only thing I have to go off of. That is another thing that irritates me even though Pitt and Philly only play once every 4 years, but Philly fans are [i]<xxxxx>[/i] ... I'm the same distance from Philly and would never, EVER venture into the Linc for a game.

I would just really like to come down and enjoy a game that always seem to be really great games. I can definitely stay low key and be respectful as I am a visitor. Would be up and chanting defense if I'm one of a few hundred or even thousand fans there. Would definitely leave the Terrible Towel at home as I know how much you guys love them!! LOL... Maybe I will give it a whirl this year. The only crappy thing is the game in Balt is a night game this year and i would have to deal with many that have been drinking all day long...
[/quote]

From the kind of person you seem to be from your posts, I honestly think that you would be fine coming down for the game. We're pretty reasonable when it comes to opposing fans here

[Moderator 2]

I have seen some things through the years, my favorite, and I in no way condone this behavior, was some guy was wearing his terrible towel as a doo rag, walking through the concourse being a butthead, and someone lit the towel on fire, another fan was hung off the upper deck by the ankles, a couple years ago a really polluted guy sorta used the stairs to surf repeatedly down because he found it hilarious and was doing it on purpose.
Last year was a night game too and there was a lot of rude people but nothing major.

[Rinbee]

[quote name='SteeLVeinS' date='04 June 2010 - 02:36 PM' timestamp='1275676574' post='417853']
Guys,
I know I will probably be chastized for even posting over here but I have an honest question. I'm a Steelers fan that lives about 40 min from Baltimore and I love the rivalry that Pitt & Balt have. I usually travel every year to Pittsburgh for what I consider the best games every season. Being only 40 min from Baltimore, I would love to come to M&T for the games as well. I'm not a disrespectful fan that will heckle and all that other crap. I understand I'm a visitor and respect that. My question is, how much would I have to tolerate if I ventured into M&T Stadium in Black and Gold? I have been to other fields (including other AFCN teams) and catch the usual stuff. However, the Pittsburgh / Baltimore rival isn't exactly the same as say, Cleveland.

I'm looking for honesty with this as this would be great if I can venture into M&T and have a good time and even talk some factual football with Ravens Fans. Any input would be great!!

Heres to a great season for the AFCN!!!

<----- love this!!!
[/quote]


I agree pretty agree much with the comments of others. The one thing I would stress is -- Leave your terrible towel home! I once sat behind Steeler fans who waved them all the time, not just to celebrate a play, and it does take away from my ability to watch the game without interruption. That is being disprestful to me. I won't get into a fight because I will not risk losing my PSL because of some idiot but I will call security. As it says in our fan credo, "Don't be a jerk."

[K-Dog]

[quote name='Rinbee' date='06 June 2010 - 04:04 PM' timestamp='1275854694' post='418533']
As it says in our fan credo, "Don't be a jerk."
[/quote]


that there is the key.