[News] Press Release - Training Camp To Stay In Owings Mills

[BR News]

The Baltimore Ravens will continue to hold training camp at their Owings Mills training facility. For the first 15 years in the franchise's history, camp was held in Westminster, Md. at McDaniel College. The Ravens' 2011 training camp was held in Owings Mills.

[url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/Articles/2011/12/Press_Release_-_2012_Training_Camp.aspx]View the full article[/url]

[BmoreRavens201044]

Understandable...but sad

[Ravenskill88]

Well if it leads to us crushing a rival 35-7 every year then I am all for it. If they think that it is best for the team than it probably is.

[Amatmaju]

Initial reaction by many fans will be outrage but the bottom line is every fan is happy when we win and if this better prepares them to win then this is the way to go!

[ravenisthebest7]

Dislike the decision as a fan, understand it as a fan.

[cobrajet]

Understand the decision, but must have been a hard one to make.

[Arch Valor]

I know as i'm a Westminster native, this will be a ton of lost profit for the town. From that perspective, this is a really sad decision.

My question is, if its not a financial decision, then why dont they ask mcdaniel/thehotel to upgrade their facilities to better facilitate the team? I'm sure if it kept the ravens coming back to town, businesses around the town would pitch in for these proposed upgrades. The value gained would be millions more than the expense of the upgrade for the town.

The only other reason I see that is valid, is the one practice a day rule the CBA has addressed. To me for the town to flourish, this is a small potatoes reason..

Thoughts from the westminster natives/residents?

[purple is it]

as a fan, I'm very sad, it was the only way I every got to see the team in person. Just can't afford to go to a game, living in Pa. makes it hard to make the trip to Bmore when no one will help.

[balfan23]

Loved going to Westminster ... and I was first there in 1967 as a little kid. I've got photos somewhere (including a great close up of a very young Don Shula) ... that was a special time. Standing in awe, surrounded by my heroes.

But as Kevin says, it's about preparation. It will be nice if the Ravens plan some other activities that involve the fans, but I'll settle for a Superbowl victory parade.

[SuRihtanil]

Joe Flacco Rating of bout 78 with 13TDs and 8INT our offense has something that just isn't allowing it to go big time. I am not saying it's Flacco's fault, but when your QB is at the tail end almost of the QB stat rating something is wrong. If we could find a recipe that had Flacco looking at 25TDs and 5picks right now, we would be undefeated.

[ashleemarie]

Totally disappointed. This sucks.

[The Mom Gene]

So many fans are going to be disappointed... Maybe they'll open some practices at M & T like they did last year....

[The Mom Gene]

If you read the issues that Cass and Newsome have outlined, it makes sense... it's just that the fan loses out on some of the summer activities...

[RavensMaximus]

Awful decision. The facility is not as accessible as Westminster is. Whoever made this decision might need disciplinary action. They should know there would be backlash from such a move. The Westminster venue is great for the Ravens and the fans. Hopefully enough folks will complain to see this stupid decision reversed. Every NFL team does their training camp away from their own facility for fan interaction. And since the Ravens have the self-professed best fan base, why would you want to take the experience away from them? Just a stupid decision.

[RavenQueen528]

I think you are making a mistake by way of the team! Unless you plan on having them camp out at the training facility, the players are going to miss out on "team bonding" time that they have been getting over the years by staying at the hotel in Westminster for a month during training camp. By spending that time together they become a unit, without it, it could effect the overall team spirit, just sayin'!!

[Indestructible]

What a crappty move. One of the coolest and most looked-forward to parts of the summer for many fans (myself included) was to go and get an up-close look at the players we see on the tv throughout the season, and the new players we are eagerly waiting to see. In this economy, when many families cannot afford to shell out the hundreds of dollars to go see ONE home game, let alone buy season tickets... its the only opportunity to go see our team. If its not for money, then what is it? We won a championship and have been a top tier team for years, so don't tell me its better for the team to be able to prepare.. Maybe its an inconveniene for the team, but so be it. Even if we don't buy tickets, we still shell out good money for the jerseys, hats, etc. You can deal with a small inconvenience for 3 weeks over the summer. If you ask me, they came to Westminster back in 96 as a way to connect with the fans. They now feel like they "own" this town and don't have to bother with it. What a classless move, especially coming from an owner who once said he "cherished the tradition".

[RavenstownUSA]

My first thought was mistake, but reading this I do understand the move. However, I do feel bad for the Westminster businesses that count on this hype for a significant part of their income.

[buzzbill]

Easily the worst decision made by Bisciotti since he's taken the reins. The NFL business model has succeeded in this area in large part because the fans feel close to the team. A big reason why they feel that way is that they have had the opportunity to see their favorite players up close at training camp. There is no way to replicate that feeling at M&T nor at the Castle. This is a near-sighted move by an organization that is using the success of the team this year, when they held training at the Castle, to sell this cost-cutting move to the fans. I find it pathetic.

[bdog920]

The team will be better prepared for regular season's without the distractions of the fans. It sucks for us fans, but at least the team will be better which is a payoff for us. The worst part about it is the town of Westminster. All the businesses will lose a TON of profit.

[CharmCityRaven]

[quote name='RavenstownUSA' timestamp='1322855855' post='892547']My first thought was mistake, but reading this I do understand the move. However, I do feel bad for the Westminster businesses that count on this hype for a significant part of their income.[/quote]

You're absolutely right about that. That is going to really hurt their business out there, which is kind of sad as well because they have been looking forward to training camp every season since the start of the Ravens.

And everything does come to an end, so this is the start of something new and there is nothing wrong with change. They seem to be doing good so far, since they held training camp at the castle this past summer. They always say, nothing changes if nothing changes, this could be a blessing for the Ravens, time will tell!

[LuCarp]

I loved going to Training Camp too, but the Owings Mills facility is state of the art and I totally understand and agree with this move. I know how much the Ravens care about their fans and am confident they will find those other ways they mentioned to connect with them.

[ccabral]

It is a shame that I am deprived of the opportunity to share these moments with my three year old son. I have been a season ticket holder since my junior year of college and will continue to be until the day I die. I have accepted the fact that I cannot take my son to the game for at least another ten years due to the nature of the crowd on game day, but always look forward to the retreat of training camp. Your explanation of why the choice was made and how you will make it up to us is poor and is representative of everything that wreaks about Corporate America that exists in the NFL. I thought the Ravens were different and am sad to find out that you are not. This news just eliminated the buzz that I have enjoyed since the game on Thanksgiving Day. I was so proud of the team last week not only for what they did on the field, but what took place prior to and after the game. The event showed the family element that exists in Baltimore football; I was proud to be a fan. After the game when Suggs acknowledged the crowd before sitting down with the TV analysts and the Harbaugh’s shared the same enthusiasm toward the crowd serves as a great example. I am sure many fans throughout the country were jealous of the relationship the people of Baltimore have with their team. This decision just eliminated that jealousy.

I think what is also being missed in this decision is that not only will my son not get to know the Ravens, but the Ravens will not get to know my son. Why do you think Suggs is so engaged with the people of this town? A large part of his development took place on the field at Westminster. This is something that the players cannot fully develop in a classroom or some forum hosted by a guru that the you hire for a day. Training camp served as their on the job training and it worked beautifully!

We are a busy middle class family that does not attend the events that players participate in on days off. Nor, do we bother the players when we see them in public as they are entitled to their privacy and down time. I am left with trying to convince my son to sit down and watch TV for three hours to acquire the love and passion for the team. What a shame!

You stole the intimacy that you worked so hard to attain. For that, Mr. Biscotti, I am disappointed. I will continue to support the team, but will look at my team the same way others throughout the country do as well. I guess the Ravens are just another profit center with refined individuals who will figure how to manipulate their fans to thinking otherwise.

All the best!

[Grapple Raven]

This front office still has heart! They will find a way to have the fans involved at training camp, they are working on it...lets give them a chance to prove they value their fanbase!

If Ozzie says it is best.. I will believe!


Go Ravens!!!

[iluvpurple]

Sad, but I guess the Ravens know best. Sure looked forward to training camp every year in Westminster, though. The entire area was transformed and energized for a few weeks!

[scrock]

Sounds like its a football decision, not one they made to slight the fan base but one they made to be more efficient with their time and their limited training camp practices, etc

[jrs034]

i agree its sad but the right call just as long as they hold a few practices at the stadium

[PeRK82]

Sad, but it was bound to happen. Cant let the other facility go to waste.

It was in westminster because yrs ago the training facility in Owings mills didnt exsist.

[jrs034]

man I forgot my brother works at the best western now and he said that he could arrange for me to meet some of them dang guess that wont be happening

[JohnJohnson]

I like the decision, thanks for doing what's best for the team.

[ccabral]

It is a shame that I am deprived of the opportunity to share these moments with my three year old son. I have been a season ticket holder since my junior year of college and will continue to be until the day I die. I have accepted the fact that I cannot take my son to the game for at least another ten years due to the nature of the crowd on game day, but always look forward to the retreat of training camp. Your explanation of why the choice was made and how you will make it up to us is poor and is representative of everything that wreaks about Corporate America that exists in the NFL. I thought the Ravens were different and am sad to find out that you are not. This news just eliminated the buzz that I have enjoyed since the game on Thanksgiving Day. I was so proud of the team last week not only for what they dad on the field, but what took place prior to and after the game. The event showed the family element that exists in Baltimore football; I was proud to be a fan. After the game when Suggs acknowledged the crowd before sitting down with the TV analysts and the Harbaugh%u2019s shared the same enthusiasm toward the crowd serves as a perfect example. I am sure many fans throughout the country were jealous of the relationship the people of Baltimore have with their team. This decision just eliminated that jealousy.

I think what is also being missed in this decision is that not only will my son not get to know the Ravens, but the Ravens will not get to know my son. Why do you think Suggs is so engaged with the people of this town? A large part of his development took place on the field at Westminster. This is not something he could have learned in a classroom or taught by some guru that you hire for the day. The best way to learn for him or anybody else to develop this is through on the job training that took place at Westminster.

We are a busy middle class family that does not attend the events hat players participate in on days off. Nor, do we bother the players when we see them in public as they are entitled to their privacy and down time. I am left with trying to convince my son to sit down and watch TV for three hours to acquire the love and passion for the team. What a shame!

You stole the intimacy that you worked so hard to attain. For that, Mr. Biscotti, I am disappointed. I will continue to support the team, but will look at my team the same way others throughout the country do as well. I guess the Ravens are just another profit center with refined individuals who will figure how ways to manipulate their fans to thinking otherwise. I thought we were like the Packer%u2019s but I guess we are more like the Cowboys.