[Blogs] New Training Camp Autograph Policy

[darklight1216]

[quote name='RavensRule007' date='13 July 2010 - 07:24 PM' timestamp='1279063469' post='432465']
"I'm a little disappointed because children aren't the ones buying the jerseys, the season tickets, or subscribing to Redzone. Shouldn't paying customers get some perks?"

Your darn right darklight ive been going there for over 4 years now and everyone will shove their kids in the faces of these NFL players to try and get an autograph when 99% of the time they have no idea who they are... I got Ray Rice's autograph last year and some kid who was old enough to know better asked him who he was...I mean what the heck... I understand the NFL wants to cultivate the next generation of NFL fan but why should it be at the expense of the current fan... I have about 15 past and present Raven jersey's and have paid for many games... so why am I being shut out of this event...especially when i take off work and drive 1.5 hours to come see it...

I have like many other played football and know the grueling nature of the sport so some players may not want to sign which is fine but maybe they should have a little more consideration for the fan who bleed purple and black and not the ones who do just cause their parents tell them too...

Sorry if this seems like pontification but I have been a Ravens fan since day one and am a little disspointed that its always gotta be about the kids... Im still going this year haha...just because I wanna see a Super Bowl Champion team in July!!!

Go Ravens!!!
[/quote]
Well last year Ray Rice was coming off of a 500 yard season. I can understand why someone wouldn't know who he was.

[quote name='ravenusrick' date='13 July 2010 - 07:39 PM' timestamp='1279064365' post='432471']
[b]i tell you no 16 year old kid is buying tickets ,jerseys,hats ect.the parents do[/b] ,i've been a season ticket holder since 1996 and i enjoy watching practice and getting a few autographs that i want.all you that agree probably have kids they can send to get thier auto.the only thing that makes sence would be to make am for kids pm for adults.
[/quote]
No sixteen years old is going into the autograph area either. It's only for 6-15 year olds.

[steve1818]

MAYBE THEY SHOULD RETHINK THIS TO MAKE IT KID AND ADULT FRIENDLY<AS MUCH MONEY AS THE RAVENS GET FROM US FANS, THEY SHOULD BE PUSHING OVER EACH OTHER SIGN THE GRAPHS!!

[steve1818]

OK I GOT IT--RAVENS VETRANS AREA,LIKE ROOKIES,BUT FOR ADULTS WHO HAVE BEEN GOING FOR MANY YEARS!!

[ravenusrick]

why not have a day for psl owners we help pay thier salaries.

[Father&Son]

I am a little disappointed because my son is four, so he would be to young to go on the field himself but gets excited when he can get a picture or autograph. I will still go to support my team and hope that possibly a player might pass by. I have seen people getting a little aggressive at times and understand the reasoning. I usually go to the spring festival but since that was canceled hopefully they will have a special day at training camp for all to get autographs.

[NeoZer0]

Wow, what a dis to the people who are paying the bills. Well, I guess the training camp will have a lot fewer people there this year because of this. It's sad really. My wife and I have mad the trip for the last 4 years, last year with my 1 yr old son who's Ravens bib we were getting signed by the players. I really how the Ravens will strongly reconsider this decision because I am really not happy at all.

[Ravens>Steelers]

I remember when I was a kid, Ray Lewis walked right up to me a signed my football out of everyone else along the fence. I nearly crapped myself and was speechless. Still have that football sitting in my room. Also got a picture with Billick wearing that silly straw hat haha

[darklight1216]

[quote name='NeoZer0' date='13 July 2010 - 07:54 PM' timestamp='1279065272' post='432482']
Wow, what a dis to the people who are paying the bills. Well, I guess the training camp will have a lot fewer people there this year because of this. It's sad really. My wife and I have mad the trip for the last 4 years, last year with my 1 yr old son who's Ravens bib we were getting signed by the players. I really how the Ravens will strongly reconsider this decision because I am really not happy at all.
[/quote]
I was thinking about the attendance too. It might not keep people away this year because most people planning to go might not find out until they get there, but the crowds will probably be thinner next year.

[berad]

[quote name='Ravens>Steelers' date='13 July 2010 - 07:55 PM' timestamp='1279065319' post='432484']
I remember when I was a kid, Ray Lewis walked right up to me a signed my football out of everyone else along the fence. I nearly crapped myself and was speechless. Still have that football sitting in my room. Also got a picture with Billick wearing that silly straw hat haha
[/quote]

LOVE the straw hat!

[PurpleChaos]

Read between the lines it's because probably more than half the stuff that gets signed at camp or by[i] <people> [/i]staking out players leaving the stadiums finds its way on Ebay because many of you [i]<people>[/i] are looking for a quick buck. Players and franchises are wise to this now.

[steve1818]

YEAH,SO ALL YOU EBAY PEOPLE GO TO LATROBE,PA SO WE CAN HAVE ARE RAVENS KEEP SIGNING

[PurpleRules]

This is going to backfire,watch and see. How many young kids are going to stand without a parent for hours? I have seen kids push and shove over top of little kids. Those very adults that take their kids lose all the way around since they arent ALLOWED to get autographs OR accompany their kids. Who came up with this? Ebay has zero to do with it.

[Paula]

To PurpleChaos: some might put their autographs on Ebay, but I doubt the number is as high as you seen to think. A true fan would not sell, they would collect. Don't make the fans trying to get an autograph of their favorite player seen like someone "looking for a quick buck". It's insulting and just wrong!

[runcontrol]

i am completely shocked to hear they are adding these changes. like most people i get the idea of protecting the kids and making sure they get a shot at getting these autographs but there has to be another way. Dick Cass is probably screwing 70 or 80 percent of the fans that come out to these practices. if it was such a huge issue that these kids should be the only ones getting autographs then you would see some kids on here fighting for their side of the argument. i don't expect a 6 or 7 year old to be on here but i don't think it is wrong to expect some kids 13 and up to have accounts on here.

[PurpleChaos]

Sure I have my share of signed ad unsigned stuff most not obtained at camp but other places but I would have zero issues nor would I moan if I never had anything else signed. For me it's all winning and game day(and yes i have a PSL) It would never happen but I wouldn't even bellyache if they shut out the public at practices. It is what it is and I won't cry over it regardless as long as we win and I'm accounted for come kickoff time.

[ProtoRaven]

yeah, i am pretty pissed. i have been going to training camp for autographs ever since i was a kid. I am 23 now and have more Ravens memoribilia than you would know. It has become a yearly tradition for me to go get there at 4 in the morning, wait paitnently until practice and then get stuff signed after practice. Now that i have a daughter who is 2 1/2 and was going to take her this year, i cant. Nor can i even get her anything signed. This is the worst news i could hear before training camp. Esp. since they introduced the Ravens rookies. Their seperate area away from everyone else. Any kids small enough to get pushed around by the few inconsiderate adults should be supervised by a parent anyhow. Completly furious!

[Cravin Ravens]

I have been going to training camp for 5 years now and getting up close and personal with the players has been something that has made the Ravens camp unique, even back to the days of the colts of old. This magic is now gone and has been taken from me and several others who enjoyed to get a picture or signature and now because of our age we are no longer able to get signatures? Im sorry but this is discrimination and as a fan of the club I am extremely dissapointed, We had the rookies club so the kids wouldn't get pushed or you could tell your kids to wait on the bleachers so as not to get injured/hurt. I have gone to camp many a time and have never seen a real serious injury so I don't understand where this decision came from. Instead of going to the camp I guess I'll probably just stay home and watch the ravens on the tube, I guess I could always write to Joe Flacco because he doesn't have 100,000 letters of fanmail waiting for him, or I could always shell out $50-$100 at a show. Collecting autographs is a passion for some(myself) and profit for others (but)... there is nothing wrong with that either, I would rather buy something that people took the time to get signed in person rather then a picture some guy with a sharpie signed in his basement with a big goofy smirk. I'm also disapointed I won't get to see Anquan, Mount Cody, or Stallworth up close or in person. This really was a downer on a good day, I just bought a jersey to wear out to camp(A. Boldin) but now there just doesn't seem to be a point...

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

This is garbage

[Flacco+Rice=SuperBowl]

i for 1 am only 15 but still think that this is absolutely ridiculous! that was by far the best part of camp and after this year its gonna completely suck for me. i loved trying to strategically place myself around the field to get certain ppl:) those were the days... the ravens just took a minor blow imo as far as organizational status is concerned

[DTruth410]

Wow! u guys r really upset lol! As long as the kids can still get their autographs I'm good.

[ravensgirlx88]

Think its totally fair. I have been going to camp for years and every year I see so many people with bobble heads, footballs and other things that they can re-sell for a ridiculous amount of money. True the players make alot of money, but they work hard to keep the name they have for themselves and they dont deserve to be extorted.. which is pretty much what those losers with the bobbles heads are doing. You can thank all those re-sellers that sell you todd heaps name on a plaque for $120 for the new autograph policy.. PS. glad I have a 7 year old! ;)

[Wyramsel]

I live outta state now but I come home for a part of every summer and winter vacation. I make it to one ravens game a year and always make it to one training camp practice. Point is as a true fan I feel lucky just to watch them practice and get better and go just for a signature. Even if autographs were my thing, it would be second to being there and being as close as we are. And don't blame them. Blame the inconsiderate jerks who are rude and literally push and shove to get an autograph.

[Two-a-Daze]

Wowwwwwww! What a pathetic start to a great superbowl season

[SWRAVEN]

this might be too much. it's one thing if a bunch of big kids do not get memorabilia signed, but a one year old having to eat wearing an unsigned bib. we might as well chuck it in now.

[steve1818]

JUST WANTED TO SAY MY WIFE IS A RAVENS FAN ,I AM A STEELER FAN.I RESPECT THE RAVENS AND THERE FANS.I HAVE A LOVE FOR FOOTBALL.I DONT LIVE FAR FROM WESTMINSTER SO I ATTEND CAMP WITH MY WIFE AND MY 3 YEAR OLD SON.I ALWAYS TOLD PEOPLE HOW MUCH BETTER RAVENS CAMP IS THEN STEELERS CAMP,I FEEL FOR ALL OF YOU WHO ARE DIE HARD RAVENS FANS.

[jen2swt]

So what is the point of the Ravens Rookies now? We have to pay for our kids now and these kids now get to go out on the field free with just a wristband? I don't get it. Unless these now kids will have to pay and be apart of the RR? Anyone know? I need to renew my son's RR and don't want to if these other kids will be going out for free.

[Rayzer]

This may be the end of a very long tradition for Baltimore Football. Training Camp and Autographs were always part of the culture back to the Unitas and Berry days. I wonder how closely this policy relates to Raven's players having contracts with companies like Great Moments, Dugout Zone, Steiner, Baseball Card Outlet and other sports memorabilia enterprises. I guess if you would like to have Ray Lewis, Joe Flacco, Todd Heap, Ray Rice or Michael Oher sign a nice item you will be paying a substantial fee.

[theravenator]

How many kids have bought season tickets? I feel betrayed by the club. At least have some days open for the season ticket holders to get autographs. I don't begrudge the children a chance to get signatures; I was thrilled as a kid when my dad took me to Colts camp. However, those of us who help to pay the players salaries shouldn't be left out.

[gixxerhoff750]

I think alot of you guys are missing the point of this new policy! Little kids are getting plowed over by adults trying to get autographs. This new policy might be a little harsh to those attending without kids but I can see where there coming from.

[adoyluke13]

This is a horrible idea I am 17 and work hard to get money to go to games and get Ravens gear. I feel stabbed in the back due to this new policy. Kids can always go over to the Ravens Rookie area. Any parent that lets thier kid join the adults trying to get autographs is putting there kid at risk when they could simply just spend a little money for them to do the Ravens Rookie's. How many kids fork up 70 bucks in up for games? Whats next are they going to say no drinking at games for those who are 21 and up? Becuase kids go to game's to. I look forward to camp all year. But now it just lost half the fun. Baltimore is known for the great training camp it holds those days are long gone. Thanks