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

[display name]

Mixed feeling too. For the organization, better move. Well, adults couldn't get autos anyway.

[gabefergy]

I dont really think moving the TC to the Castle will have a significant impact on the team's play. Just sounds like an excuse to me. The team is acting like being successful and having TC in Westiminster are mutually exclusive. As a native of Westminster this really saddens me as it will hurt the local economy and take away a proud tradition that has been around for over 50 years. Very Dissappointing.

[Foreverfan]

Bisc and RAVENS,,, BAD MOVE. The RAVENS are a blue collar team,, I have not been able to make it to Westminster for RAVENS camp, But I have pics with Johnny, and Lennie when I was three or four years old. I REMEMBER GETTING THOSE PICS TAKEN. The fans value the TC experience. Please re-consider this decision. I love OUR RAVENS team, I was a little unsure when Bisc took over from Mr Modell,, but Bisc you earned my respect,, 'till now. I still respect you and your team,, but this does the fans wrong.

Ozzie,, when you came to the organization,, I honestly thought "hmmm giving a guy a job just to give him a job" BOY WAS I WRONG!!!!! The decisions you have made were amazing, your insights are amazing,, the TEAM you built,, well,, no comment needed,, results speak louder than words. Please re-consider the decision. FOR THE FANS.

Harbs, I loved Billick,, and hated to see him gone, but I knew there had to be a change. Your addition to the TEAM,, well again actions and results speak for themselves. This decision,, well you know my OPINION.

I listened to Ed Reed last night on 105.7,, and was a little shocked about his comment of "I'll sign autographs on the way out to workout but not after practice" This sounds like he doesn't "value" the fans enough to give his free time for them. Do I want autographs from the guys on the team? Heck no,, I am 46 and can live without it,, give them to the kids,, but value and respect them.. don't look at it as a chore,, look at it as giving them a memory that will last FOREVER,, I got to meet Artie and his wife a few years back when I had to go do work at his house,, that brought back found memories of a time when I was a you kid at COLTS training camp. I felt like a four year old again,, if just for an hr or so,, but these guys knew what mattered,, the fans and a game called football. I know it is a business now,, but lets keep a small piece for the fans,,, THE YOUNG FANS who maybe forty plus years later can relive a "better" time in their life when pressures of keeping a home over their head,, paying bills,, and dealing with everyday grownup BS didn't matter.

Sincerely,
Tom Hier

[floridafan]

What a shame it has to be like this. Some of those little businesses in Westminster will suffer for this as well. The fans will not feel as close to the team as they were at McDaniel. Sometimes progress sucks.Hopefully the Ravens will allow the fans a lot of access throughout the summer at various sites.I feel the disappointment for the fans.

[RabidRavensfan]

@bioLarzen, what you say really doesn't matter. You are paid by the organization and would agree with anything they do. What do you care? You're rubbing elbows with the team everyday, so please keep your idiotic statements to yourself. Lastly, I get a kick out of the "blue collar" thing people say. Biscotti is a Billionaire and most of the players are millionaires!!! The shmucks who watch the games are mostly brokenaires. Just win the SB Ravens and your fans won't care if you practice in another universe.

[ravenusrick]

dick cass you suck moving camp to the castle will alienate team from fans ! camp gives people a chance to see our team that can't afford to go to games and thats sad .whats next you raising psl's .....

[#1Ravens/Anti-Steelers Fan]

I'm pretty bummed about this news. I think they're making a mistake fanbase-wise.

[Bitter5]

I do not mind, if they feel that our team can much progress at owings mill. And it is more convenient for players and coches. Just Organization should give couple open prctices in M and T stadiam. It hsould be fine.

[RavenQueen528]

is anyone on the Raven's staff looking at the postings on facebook? seems like the fan base is united on the way they feel about this recent horrible decision!

[malibu_21842]

As someone who travels from the Virgin Islands every summer to see training camp with her mom, I am so sad to hear this. Guess I won't be planning my trips around training camp anymore :(

[Shutdowns-R-us]

Very good decision I think. I want a championship, well prepared, ball club smashing rivals every year. I went to M&T Bank for the practice and was satisfied. Then we swept the Steelers and ending up with the best Ravens team we ever had. 2000 best defense, 96' best offense, 2011 best of both.

[Shutdowns-R-us]

Put emotions aside, history is we only won one superbowl and change have to be made to become a superbowl juggernaut. Do you want signatures or to watch your team win with the twins. I want 2-3 superbowls in a 5 year spand. Correct practice and preparation is required for that.

[Ravens_Festivus]

Definitely some sadness there and I feel for fans and the businesses around Westminster. I had went only once to catch a practice camp there a few years back and it was pretty cool but I'm more concerned with about the regular season games and not practice! I feel like practice is between the team, coaches and the Baltimore Ravens staff.

[jaege]

Who wants to stay and work at some rat trap in Westminster anyway? They were using trailers for meeting rooms. Come on, trailers? And a Best Western? How crappy can you get?

[20306cab]

Everything on here is total spin. It's all for money, thats all. Please, just tell us the truth, we'll handle it. Please, do not resemble the Redskins. @Shutdowns, I would say training a bit "on the road" may help them with their pitiful efforts they've had in Tenn, Jack and Seattle this year, actually helping them to another Superbowl, especially when it is so hard for them to get a home playoff game.

[20306cab]

Westminster is 30 minutes from Owings Mills. Gee, what a hardship! And last year they left Westminster on August 20th and started the season on September 13th. Yea, I'm sure eliminating that month in Westminster from the fans and business owners is going to make all the difference in the world for this franchise.

[Moderator 3]

[quote name='20306cab' timestamp='1322934071' post='893075']Everything on here is total spin. It's all for money, thats all. Please, just tell us the truth, we'll handle it. Please, do not resemble the Redskins. @Shutdowns, I would say training a bit "on the road" may help them with their pitiful efforts they've had in Tenn, Jack and Seattle this year, actually helping them to another Superbowl, especially when it is so hard for them to get a home playoff game.[/quote]

After noticing that you have referenced "the money" in multiple threads, I'd like to point out that the training camp expenses are pretty much covered by sponsors and the Ravens will lose the concession income they get from camp. This move is really not going to save money.

[HokieRaven5]

All due to the CBA in this situation. Only allowed to have 15 total practices before the first preseason game and one day for physicals and any non-practice activity. As an organization, I'd want to maximize those 15 practices and the best way to do so is at the Castle. Best Facilities for the players and best training equipment.

[JIVE1000]

I had no idea they practiced at Westminster. News to me. I thought Owings Mills was THE place for that. Why would any pro team go to a college for practice? NFL teams today need as much of a competitive edge as possible and training at a small college and staying in a flea bag motel doesn't seem like it's in keeping with the main goal: to win the season and sb. The Ravens have a state of the art training facility in Owings Mills. I guess my only question is where will the players who come in from out of town stay during the training. If the club puts them up are the facilities any better around Owings Mills? With player agreements limiting almost everything will the club have to build a dormitory for these guys? Inside/outside practice facilities, though are a really good idea and make for a much more productive team. Is the Owings Mills facility the same one used by the Colts before they were spirited out of town by Irsay? I thought it was in Owings Mills as well. I think the move to OM will allow for the ability to practice plays with less chance of spies looking on. How can that be bad?

[raveon]

I think this is a bad PR move. this is a move to isolate the team from the fans They want you to buy their PSL's buy their merchandize, but don't fraternize with the players. a while back Harbaugh told a fan that if he didn't like the way they were doing things he could go root for another team.Which makes me wonder if Harbaugh isn't behind this.

[diehrdraven]

It's sad and dissapointing from a fan living in westminster. At the same time I completely understand and if this is the best way for them to prepare for the season than by all means do what you gotta do !! They just need to make it a point to have as many open practices as possible at M&T so fans can have that interaction.

[ashleemarie]

Maybe next you can charge us to watch practice. What a joke.

[kissmyfootballs]

maybe they can allow the public to attend at the owings mills facility??

i live in Westminister and this move is really going to have a negative impact on our town. However, I agree with the decision to move.

thank you for all the time you did spend here in Westminister. Mr Deion Sanders and Mr Ed Reed once hooked me up with their autographs, I will never forget how happy I was that summer I think i was 19? Billick had that Grizzly beard too ha! oh man how could i forget my girlfriend getting joe flaccos autograph in his 2nd year? took pics that day ... was a great time and man, i will estimate in 20 or so visits to training camp sessions ray lewis walked by me over 100 times and never did I get an autograph.. yes i was def behaving but the cool thing tho, My nephews came with me to camp once and the one day they ever went both the children got mr Lewis to autograph their footballs! its all good ray :) Thanks RAVENS thanks SO MUCH

[ellicottraven]

SUCKS for the fans - really sucks!

[PaPaJim]

The road issue is bogus. We took a two lane road into and out of the Westminster facility. The elite community around the Owings Mills facility doesn't want us ordinary fans anywhere around them. The owner could spend some of the fan money for more parking and a fan facility if he wanted to. Bottom line, Mr. B doesn't want the hasstle and he will regret the decision in fan loyality over time........Bad move period! Still it could be rectified is the fans demand it.......anybody out there really care?

[RavenfanaticinPA]

Sad day for Ravens fans and Westminster where many who cannot afford game day tickets could see/support our team.
Once again the fans are not part of the "business" decisions even though we buy the ticket prices that are gradually driving the "blue-collar" fans out of the stadium.
Steelers move from Pittsburgh to Latrobe every July/August and don't need a motel either and they seem to have a competitive team yearly. If they can afford to build a two-story dorm to house their team/staff it seems Ravens should be able to do same.

[coreyadams]

Yeah, if they can let the public to attend once a week!

[RavenQueen528]

seems like Coca Cola knows how to get it right, so should the Raven's!!! Overturn this bad call! Bring training camp back to McDaniel, it's better for the team, even if it is a little inconvenient, it's better for the fans, after all, they are the ones buying the merchandise and the tickets, and it's better for the town!!!

[HOPSHARK]

I am all for the move to OM as long as they have 1 or more practices at the stadium each camp session- They are a lot of fun, with a game-day-like experience, and totally open to the BALTIMORE area public. Without having seen the OM facility I'm sure its better than what they were working with. Additionally, if moving to OM is a competitive advantage (or catching up to those that have been using the facilities to their advantage) then it is foolish to fight it.... ANNND, I didnt hear nearly as many people complaining when Omalley ran Northrup Grumman with all of their jobs, tax revenues, and benefits out of Maryland completely! Get things in perspective people!

[Mad Scientist Too]

I'm not familar with the facility or all the ordanences that prevent the Ravens form allowing fans to attend practices at Owens Mills however I know lack of packing is one. I was wondering if it would be possible for the Ravens to arrange for parking at a lot somewhere relatively close to the facility and run bases back and forth to the parking during training camp. That way the fans could attend but they would not run into the parking issue.