New stadium?

[SecretAgentMan]

god I hope not...

We play real football. Outside in harsh weather at times. It gives us an edge

[K-Dog]

We play real football. Outside in harsh weather at times. It gives us an edge

In addition, when the weather is bad my buddy gets his buddys tickets.  When he does he some times takes me to the game for free.

So a roof would stop that gravy train in a hurry.

[arnie_uk]

Oh, Brandon.

when he says share with the os he means parking etc. Uno the reason we are om the road week one. Even I understood that

[Moderator 3]

when he says share with the os he means parking etc. Uno the reason we are om the road week one. Even I understood that

We have to admit, though, that it makes tremendous economic (and land use) sense to share the parking. Why have all that dedicated parking sitting empty for months on end? I think the shared facilities was the right decision; it made a beautiful sports complex, and it's a plan that has since been adopted by more cities.

If I could ask for one (realistic) improvement, it would be heated concrete like the Bills have. The stairs get pretty icy in the winter.

[arnie_uk]

We have to admit, though, that it makes tremendous economic (and land use) sense to share the parking. Why have all that dedicated parking sitting empty for months on end? I think the shared facilities was the right decision; it made a beautiful sports complex, and it's a plan that has since been adopted by more cities.
If I could ask for one (realistic) improvement, it would be heated concrete like the Bills have. The stairs get pretty icy in the winter.

dont get me wrong, i think it's a great idea to have the two close together and in such close vicinity to the city and the harbour I was just explaining what Brandon meant.

I've heard for late night games it can be very dodgey walking back past the Os stadium. When I was there against the jets for that game the psl holders behind us told us to leave as part of a group. Might need a better police presence about. I wouldn't have had a care the world but them saying that made it a bit nervous

[Moderator 3]

It's an urban area so it's smart to be aware of that, but I have walked that route 100 times or more and never had a problem. I also worked overlooking Camden Yards for 12 years without any incidents. There is a lot of security around on game days. The proximity to mass transit also makes our complex a great location.

[Gordo52]

when he says share with the os he means parking etc. Uno the reason we are om the road week one. Even I understood that

I mostly said that because of the "but what would we call the new stadium"? Like that was the biggest conflict. Atleast that's how I read it.

The traffic is no where near as bad as other places, and mod 2 made a really good point. I just think it's a silly idea considering the amount of money the Ravens just put into it for renovations, how new the stadium is, and how nice everything's set up.

And that's not the a good reason why we have to play in Denver week 1.

[GrimCoconut]

I've walked the streets of Baltimore and have never had any problems personally but then again I don't go around disrespecting other people. I also avoid conflict or anything close to it when I walk. I've had people do all kinds of degrading things to me but never had any physical abuse. I've been called names and the most physical violence I've ever had was when someone threw an Oreo McFlurry and hit me with it and the only thing injured was my pride because it's only a McFlurry.

Now granted it could be a lot more dangerous but I've never had any problems in the city at night especially that part. I wouldn't do anything dumb but if you avoid some of the well known trouble areas you're fine. The place around the stadium isn't that bad.

[PurpleCityLights]

god I hope not...

Sooooooo you dont want baltimore to host a SuperBowl??

[PurpleCityLights]

It's an urban area so it's smart to be aware of that, but I have walked that route 100 times or more and never had a problem. I also worked overlooking Camden Yards for 12 years without any incidents. There is a lot of security around on game days. The proximity to mass transit also makes our complex a great location.

I live 3 blocks from M&T and Camden Yards for all my life. Im 33 & can remember when they both wasnt there. That being said, just enjoy yourself and act your age & you will be fine.:-)

[PurpleandBlackBlood]

yeah i have lived in the area surrounding baltimore for about 18 years and never had a problem.. I love this city, never had any problems.. grimcoco put it perfectly.. just dont go around being disrespectful and arrogant.. as for the stadium, id be in full support of a retractable roof.. would also like heated seats, more parking, maybe a monorail system to go from the starium to the farther parking lots. A ravens museum would be a neat idea.. also think some restaurants would be cool.. maybe underground parking would be the key

[K-Dog]

Sooooooo you dont want baltimore to host a SuperBowl??

No really.
Way too crowded.

[edreedfromtheu]

I'd settle for vendors who can actually make nacho cheese that isn't frozen.

Exactly how hard is it to heat nacho cheese?  I've had dip'n'dots icecream at the stadium that was warmer than the nacho cheese.  I've tried different areas in the stadium too, and it's always the same.  Gross, cold, cheese.

Oh, and of course the prices.  Would be nice to pay less than 10 dollars for a food item and a drink.  Especially when you're still charing us the same for preseason games as regular season games.

I understand you have to keep alcohol prices insanely high to prevent more people from getting drunk to the point of taking away from other fans' experience.  But lowering the prices on food and non-alcohol drinks would also help enhance the stadium experience.

And as people have said before.... take half the womens bathrooms and turn them into mens bathrooms.  The lines for the bathroom, (and for getting into the stadium) are atrocious and there's got to be a better logistical answer.

Light Rail service on gamedays(there's only 8, and then playoffs!) could be improved.  It's stupid to have a million people cram onto a tiny car.  Just have more trains operating those 8 days.

[display name]

No need to throw dough away for at least another 15-20 yrs.

[Warren2621]

I wonder if heated seats for the non cheap rows is too much to ask for? I mean, those pit games late in the year would be much nicer if my butt wasn't flash frozen to my seat!!

 

I cant comprehend sitting down at the Steelers game long enough for my butt to freeze to the seat. The seats are there for decoration; football is an on your feet experience

[edreedfromtheu]

I cant comprehend sitting down at the Steelers game long enough for my butt to freeze to the seat. The seats are there for decoration; football is an on your feet experience

I used to share this sentiment.  And especially for a team that is so known for their defense, most Ravens games are the same way... standing on your feet and screaming at the top of your lungs. 

But the Ravens(and Steelers) are moving towards more offense because the league is forcing the game to take that direction.  It's not the same as it was 10 or even 5 years ago.

And nobody wants to spend the money it costs for tickets... to feel forced to stand the entire time.  I don't think heat is really what the seats need.  The seats just need to be more comfortable and slightly better spaced.  Obviously, this means less total seating, and that's a problem for teams that regularly sell out like the Ravens and I assume the Steelers.

Teams that have horrible attendance year after year could greatly benefit from cushioned seats, better spaced apart, with more room both in each actual seat... and between rows.

The tiny seats they expect people to fit in are ridiculous.  I mean, even if you fit just fine... chances are one of the people on either side of you won't fit in theirs... and will be taking up half of your seat too.

At the very least.... they could make the cup-holders actually tall enough to, you know... do their job... to actually hold your drink.  I've seen so many bottles and cups fall out of those things.

I know it's a tiny little thing... but at LEAST give us better cupholders!

[Moderator 2]

As a woman leave my bathrooms alone! We can get by quick until the 3 layer if clothes games - then it's every girl for herself lol
I hate going back to tailgate at night games since Im a county girl through and through but the security is excellent. Love my seats but I figure I have 5 more years until I move to FL so Ill be seeing the team in Jax, Tampa, Miami and Atlanta.
I usually buy a diet soda or a frozen drink and occasionally a soft pretzel, I spend enough on tailgate lol I am not awake enough to eat for the early games.
Even at my heaviest the seats were adequate EXCEPT for when the guy next to be brought 'elbows' his date. That woman almost gave me a black eye twice in the first quarter, she was drunk and flailing her arms all over the place, he took her and parked her somewhere for the second half I think she was annoying him too lol I have to sit because of a really bad knee, especially the colder it gets, I tape hot hands to my knees. Heated seats would rule!

The only thing the cup holders are good for is holding the program!
I love our stadium! Nice wide concourses that could use a traffic cop. I can't think of anywhere else in the city that would support parking for a new stadium. I may be getting over opening on the road .................. Nah not there yet lol

[K-Dog]

I agree Light Rail needs to improve.
I don't know why they don't add one or two or more trains each way after the game.
One run would be sufficient.

[GrimCoconut]

I agree Light Rail needs to improve.
I don't know why they don't add one or two or more trains each way after the game.
One run would be sufficient.

Mass transit in Baltimore on general needs to improve. I suppose that's another discussion lol.

[easternshore97]

What's wrong with simple upgrades and renovation?

[easternshore97]

...

Teams that have horrible attendance year after year could greatly benefit from cushioned seats, better spaced apart, with more room both in each actual seat... and between rows.

Teams that have horrible attendance year after year could benefit from better GMs who now how to build a solid team

[LordRavens]

Ranked #2 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1675196-power-ranking-the-best-nfl-stadiums-entering-2013

[EricH]

I think it is the perfect size.
More seats mean less value for the tickets.
I have said time and time again, t.v.'s in the bathrooms. I guess the thinking is that they don't want people congregating in the bathrooms. They want the line to move along.

Also, better parking. Tear down some of the dilapidated row homes for larger parking lots.

[CorvusCorax]

No new stadium for a while. I like the upcoming stadium upgrades they are doing. It should provide a more upscale appearance and provide a better experience for guests.

[edreedfromtheu]

Teams that have horrible attendance year after year could benefit from better GMs who now how to build a solid team

True.  But the NFL as a whole is having trouble with attendance.  Pro sports as a whole are having the problem of how to get people to go to games. 

There's examples of teams that are having big years, competing for best record in their respective divisions or sports.... and still can't get fans to come out.

My point is, they need to increase the stadium experience with tangible things.  Not gimmicks. 

Do the Ravens have these problems?  No.  But other teams do.  The Ravens are the exception to the norm in this instance.  Frankly, I go to very few games anymore because it's just a much better expeirence at home.  Even a crowded sports bar is just a better experience right now than the stadium.  And now that Ray Lewis is gone... it's really hard to ague that you're missing much by not being there in person.

[GrimCoconut]

They'll have better attendance with more affordable tickets. I never understood why the ticket prices are so high. If I owned a team I would lower prices to increase attendance and thereby avoid empty seats which cost money. An empty seat costs money. They'd be better off that way and then incorporate more advertisements in the game. Lol maybe they could put advertisers on the turf or grass I don't know.

[easternshore97]

My point is, they need to increase the stadium experience with tangible things.  Not gimmicks. 

 

They'll have better attendance with more affordable tickets.

 

Great point Grim. Reed I hear where you are coming from but I think in this particular instance, stadium experience is slightly out of context.

 

At the end of the day, the best place to enjoy NFL games is either from your couch, or from the bar (like you said!). That's the insight that the marketing execs are missing. Before you give me your high ticket price, I am already disincentivized to go to the game. Food prices are ridiculous (but I understand them), I can't get good replays in the stadium, people around me are more annoying than people at the bar, etc etc. Nevermind the fact that to get to the stadium itself is a process, and to leave is a process. I have to think real hard about staying till the end of the game vs beating traffic.

 

Cheaper tix make for a better cost/benefit/experience analysis

[GrimCoconut]

Great point Grim. Reed I hear where you are coming from but I think in this particular instance, stadium experience is slightly out of context.

At the end of the day, the best place to enjoy NFL games is either from your couch, or from the bar (like you said!). That's the insight that the marketing execs are missing. Before you give me your high ticket price, I am already disincentivized to go to the game. Food prices are ridiculous (but I understand them), I can't get good replays in the stadium, people around me are more annoying than people at the bar, etc etc. Nevermind the fact that to get to the stadium itself is a process, and to leave is a process. I have to think real hard about staying till the end of the game vs beating traffic.

Cheaper tix make for a better cost/benefit/experience analysis

Yeah. It's not like the NFL is dying here lmao. It's one of the most successful businesses in the world. The teams with losing records need to lower their prices to improve their attendance. I doubt the Ravens or Patriots have any reason to lower but you get my point.

[Moderator 2]

They keep it up with disallowing purses they have disenfranchised women who make up half the fan base-- that is almost enough to make me sell the PSLs, had they announced it before the ticket money was due.  Stuff like that is what and the night games in December, Christmas Eve and Thanksgiving make it hard to put out the 5k a year for me. Who knows this may be my last year at the stadium

[easternshore97]

They keep it up with disallowing purses they have disenfranchised women who make up half the fan base-- that is almost enough to make me sell the PSLs, had they announced it before the ticket money was due.  Stuff like that is what and the night games in December, Christmas Eve and Thanksgiving make it hard to put out the 5k a year for me. Who knows this may be my last year at the stadium

Well....I'm sure if your purse can fit the kitchen sink in it, they will reject it. It would suck if it was just a clutch bag or a satchel or even a hobo

 

I'm just sayin...