The new stadium of my beloved football team has been changed! To a company that as of now is not bankrupt. The new name is M & T Bank stadium. Even as recently as a couple of years ago, the thought of a corporate name for a stadium made me want to lose my lunch. However, the times they are a changing. If you want major league sports in your hometown; this is a necessary evil. I’ve never heard of M & T Bank until now. So, I guess this is an effective marketing tool. When PSI Net’s purple marquis came down I would have loved for this great stadium to be named “Johnny Unitas Memorial Stadium,” or “Memorial Stadium,” or Raven’s Roost/Stadium.” But heck, I wish for winning a power ball multi million-dollar lottery!

I fondly remember going to Baltimore Colts games back in the day at the now defunct Memorial Stadium. But, in my heart I knew that this venue was far from practical. Located in a bucolic neighborhood near Johns Hopkins University, it could be a nightmare for those who had to drive from afar. Except for bus transportation one had to rely on their car and parking could be daunting. And, there were those obstructed views and ancient toilet facilities. The place was a testament to late 40’s early 50’s architecture and technology. Memorial Stadium was more a baseball park.

For all intensive purposes I call the current stadium Raven’s Stadium. Adjacent to the benchmark of baseball venues Oriole Park at Camden Yards; Raven’s stadium is right on I-95 and a football’s punt away from the older but functional Baltimore Washington Parkway. Therefore, one is within 15 minutes of Baltimore Washington International Airport and has very good access to the Washington area and points south and west. Jump on I-95 and one can be upstate and on their way to the Delaware Memorial Bridge in a reasonable amount of time barring any traffic snafus! If you are very patient, the central Light Rail system will get you to and from M & T or as I like to call it Raven’s Stadium for under three bucks round trip! However, if you should use the Light Rail system be prepared for a crowded and slow ride. If using the Light Rail allow at least an extra hour each way. Go early and take advantage of the best the city has to offer. If the Raven’s game is NOT a late night game, take a stroll over to Federal Hill or the Inner Harbor for an after game beer or meal. Both are within a 15 to 20 minute walk of Raven’s Stadium. There are also several reasonably priced park and ride options run by the MTA. I live in Northwest Baltimore City and am close to the park and ride bus line that operates out of Poly-Western High School. There is a good-sized parking area. I’m also within a mile of a Light Rail station; however, be advised that these Light Rail parking lots fill up very fast on game day! Also when using the Light Rail Line, pay attention to the time if it is a late night Raven’s game (Sunday or Monday night football) as the Light Rail terminates service at 11:00 p.m. or within a short time after the game ends. Some useful links for more information on using public transportation to the Raven’s games: http://www.roadstothefuture.com/Balt_Light_Rail.html
http://www.mtamaryland.com/
http://www.mtamaryland.com/schedules/lightrail/light_rail_schedule.cfm
In addition to all the mass transit choices, if you are driving, tune in to either 1300 WJFK a.m. or WQSR 102.7 f.m. Both are the local flagship broadcasters of the Baltimore Ravens. In addition they both offer vital traffic reports before and after the game! Their website:
http://www.ravensradio.com/index.tmpl

Now that I’ve gotten you to M & T (Ravens Stadium) I shall now review it!
1. The feel: 5 *****

Everyone seemed in high spirits as we approached the stadium. There are pedestrian bridges where one can smell and see fans tailgating operations/parties. Vendors abound selling souvenirs, such as tee shirts, pompoms and even bobble heads of Raven’s players! Outside the stadium there are food vendors including Outback Steak House. I did not partake of these however; the aromas were inviting and tempting. Ushers and security greeted us with smiles and a welcome. A nice touch considering the stadium has now been around for five years! The place still feels like it is brand new and out to impress. Inside, that feeling continues. Everything is bright, clean and looks brand new. The only vestiges of age noticed were the water fountains. They had corrosion splotches. However growing up here in the city, I’m used to it. Our climate is very humid, and this is one of those uncontrollable ramifications from smothering humidity. When you live south of the Mason Dixon Line, excessive humidity is the norm, not the acceptation and corrosion/mildew are forces to be reckoned with. Bathroom facilities are plentiful for both sexes and provide disabled accessibility. For all three of my pit stops I had no problem with lines. This was before; half time and even right after the game! Again I only have the old beloved Memorial Stadium with its Jurassic johns to compare to.

This was the first pre-season game of the 2003 season and my buddy and I sat on the 50-yard line in the upper deck. Several rows short of the top. The view was excellent. No obstructions to our view of the field. I could even hear the gorgeous cheerleader’s chants! I could even see the ball. Above each end zone are the amazing high definition “Smart Vision screens where one can see every replay and controversial referee call. The best video picture quality I’ve ever seen! The sound quality/system is my fantasy of what high end audio should be. No distortion during musical interludes and I could understand each and every word from the announcer. The sound system demonstrates the perfect synergy between quantity (volume) and quality (distortion free and perfect bass, mid range and treble). Even the massive amount of advertising blends in perfectly and is not intrusive. A narrow belt envelops the stadium with changing advertising and pertinent NFL information. It all is carried off in a seamless fashion. Many feel all this advertising is crass and In your face. I was one of them until my first visit to Raven’s Stadium. I feel this is just an evolution of the times. My reasoning is that I grew up riding MTA busses to school where there was advertising displayed above the windows.
A new feature at Raven’s Stadium is the field turf. Originally Raven’s stadium had grass but, for whatever reason, the turf did not fare well after games and especially after concerts and other non-football events. This even caused some injuries to players. This year, the turf is artificial but new and improved. It looked as good after four quarters of gridiron action as it did before the game commenced. Supposedly this is the advanced refined version of pseudo turf. Much more player friendly than the artificial Astro Turf from hell that was akin to playing on concrete and could fry your feet during the summer months. I’ve heard of baseball games played at the soon to be demolished Veteran ‘s Stadium in Philadelphia where on field temperatures were close to 150 degrees and the field was so torrid that the players put foil in their shoes to reflect the intense heat! Time will tell how this new turf fares under the feet of our great Baltimore Ravens!
Seats are purple (Raven’s colors). Some people have criticized this. I feel it is part of the ambience. Seats are supportive and comfortable. The amazing thing about this stadium is that it feels roomy. Considering it is located in the heart of the city where land space is at a premium. Since this was an exhibition game the stadium was not filled to top capacity so, take my observation objectively.
2. Food and beverage: 3 ***

I understand the tenets of supply and demand. But $5.00 for a Pepsi and $3.00 for a hot pretzel is a bit excessive. My buddy’s small platter of fries and fingered chicken set him back $9.00! His mini-me bottle of water was another $4.00 smackeroos. There are plenty of food vendors throughout the stadium selling the standard stadium fare of wieners, nachos, pretzels and $5.00 beer. One can also invest in local fare such as crab cakes. During the colder months one can have coffee or hot chocolate and even add a little schnapps to them. All for a small fortune. But alas this is major league sport in the 21st. Century.

I really enjoyed myself at this stadium. My buddy was very impressed with everything. I feel if you research your transportation options, and plan on expensive food and beverage options you too will feel that Raven’s Stadium is the place to be for great football. Amazing how the football season flies by! One last thing, I did not get to check out the high-end club seats of the rich and famous. In my younger days I used to attempt sneaking in for a peak and maybe some primo food and a beer. However, I ready for some football, not having to worry about being tossed out of the joint.


Recommended: Yes

Parking Availability: Busy But Manageable
Seat Location: Upper Deck