Atlanta building billion dollar restractable roof stadium.

[AirFlacco]

Here's an ESPN link that says Ravens Stadium is a top 5 venue for toughest venues for the opposition to play in. Check out their record since moving into it.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/84...advantage-no-1

[Ravenboy2003]

I remember the first game in Ravens Stadium vs the Giants during the pre-season. There was a lot of festivities and pre-game ceremonies. John Buren of TV-13 was the MC. He was booed for so loud and so long they had to escort him off the field amongst a thunderous applause.

.

LOL!

About 5 years ago me and the wife were out property surfing, looking (gawking) at some waterfront properties we knew were out of our price range but nonetheless making it look like we were genuinely interested. We stopped at one Open House on a Saturday and on the way up the sidewalk to this estate, I hear the unmistakable voice of one John Buren coming from inside that house. That cheeseballl is apparently some big real estate hot shot these days and he ended up giving us a tour of this house. We left there and my wife commented that he was just as annoying trying to sell us a house as he was on TV.

[Stealthbirds80]

Talk about old stadiums, here's a funny story. I went to a Harvard game in Boston when my brother was going to seminary up there. We visited his friend who attended Harvard. That has to be the oldest stadium in the country built in the early 1900s I think and is still in use, same as Fenway Park which is another cool stadium to watch a game.

It was so old the men's room didn't have urinals on the wall. It had a long bowl shaped troll that everyone peed in at once. So you would be peeing and facing another guy's dick about 2 feet from your dick-lol. At half time there'd be 50 dicks peeing in that bowl at the same time. There were dicks everywhere,man. Dicks in front of you and dicks behind you and dicks next to you - all shaking up and down. Man, I had trouble peeing in that bath room and got the hell out without emptying all the juice.

It was cool watching Harvard beat Yale. In 1905, 17 football players died from the game, 5 were in Harvard's stadium. Harvard led a crusade to outlaw the game which was a national disgrace and there was a lot of sentiment in congress to pass legislation so the old rough rider himself Teddy Roosevelt saved it. He was a big football fan even though he never played the game so he called all the schools into the White HOuse and said this is what you're going to do.

You're going to run plays that go around people instead of just running both teams at each and spread things out. There's gonna be penalties and there had to be distance between the defensive line and offensive line so the line of scrimmage was created. Back then they just got into each other faces and went at each other and there were little or no penalties and the forward pass was created and the NFL was born albeit 20 years later. Helmets were also created to reduce head injuries where most of the deaths came from and pads came along.
They also out-lawed the flying wedge on kick offs that actually killed people-lol. It was just a wall or wedge of blockers with guys holding hands running down the field yelling and screaming and knocking everyone out cold - some permamently. That's where the term suicide squads came from but was later changed to special teams for the faint hearted. Hell, just last year they made rule changes vs blockers on kick offs.

That p*ssy Goodell would have had a heart attack watching those football games.

BTW, there's a cool football movie starring George Clooney called Leatherheads about the early NFL when they had no rules. Must see for football fans.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379865/

I cried.......

You sir are a board treasure.

[SNAFU]

I'm still waiting for the giant Raven with the glowing red eyes, that was supposed to face Russell Street on non-home game days, then pivot to face the field on game days?

[JohnBKistler]

Our stadium, which is already in the lower tier of NFL stadiums due to the lack of escalators and roof and inadequate restrooms and parking, will likely fall towards the bottom while the oldest NFL stadiums age further and are replaced or undergo major upgrades to avoid the greener pastures of LA or London.

LOL...I bet if it had escalators and none of the other things, M&T would instantly vault to the upper tier.

It's purely subjective...but I can easily think of 10 stadiums off-hand that are way below M&T in terms of fan amenities, location, game-day experience, etc....you can start with that dump 35 miles south (which has escalators and all the parking a fan...a paying fan, that is...would need).

[AirFlacco]

I cried.......

You sir are a board treasure.

Thanks, man. I just just trying to add some humor about stadium bathrooms but Harvard's men room must see for anyone visiting to Boston. Then you might not complain about the bathrooms in
Ravens stadium and I always say that, not the name of a bank. Screw the bank.

[AirFlacco]

LOL!

About 5 years ago me and the wife were out property surfing, looking (gawking) at some waterfront properties we knew were out of our price range but nonetheless making it look like we were genuinely interested. We stopped at one Open House on a Saturday and on the way up the sidewalk to this estate, I hear the unmistakable voice of one John Buren coming from inside that house. That cheeseballl is apparently some big real estate hot shot these days and he ended up giving us a tour of this house. We left there and my wife commented that he was just as annoying trying to sell us a house as he was on TV.

Good story. Thanks.

I heard he went into real estate. BTW, the next night after he was booed out of the stadium, he was on TV wearing DeadSkins colors just to piss us all off. Then he was fired.

ILMAO

But Marty Ass was on the after the Skins just won that come from behind game several months ago and said how happy he was for the Skins fans down there since they always had a losing team. We had guys posting on the board how miserable they were from the way they were treated in that stadium the day beofore and Marty Ass is saying how happy he was the Skins won and he's had Squeelers on too like TP instead of Ravens. Sometimes WJZ should be banned from Bmore TV.


Fuck him.

[Mista T]

LOL...I bet if it had escalators and none of the other things, M&T would instantly vault to the upper tier.

Not really. As you stated, it's purely subjective. I view our stadium as lower tier (i.e. 16th best or below) primarily because it doesn't have a removable roof, or even a partial roof to protect upper deck fans, plus mediocre concessions and inadequate concourses, just average tailgating facilities, and, of course, no upper deck escalators. Some newer stadiums are designed in a manner to allow fans standing on the concourses to see the field of play via a glass wall. Foxboro and the former Hackensack Dump have direct train service from Boston/Providence & NYC.

Offsetting the shortfalls of the stadium facility itself, our downtown location is superb. Few others have as great a location. If the shortfalls could be fixed instead of just pissing away $35 million on cosmetics, we could have one the best stadiums in the NFL.

You mentioned game-day experience, which I don't consider part of the discussion because this thread is about stadium facilities. Without sounding like a homer, I believe that Baltimore provides the best game day experience for the home town fans of any NFL team. The electricity in the air during the pregame activities through kick-off is unmatched. And our crowd noise and intimidation are as strong or stronger than any other NFL stadium I have visited, includes the domed stadiums.

...you can start with that dump 35 miles south (which has escalators and all the parking a fan...a paying fan, that is...would need).

I just think we Ravens fans are a bit harsh on the Danny Snyders. I agree that we have a better gameday experience in Baltimore, obviously more intelligent fans, downtown vs. adjacent derelict Landover Mall, music instead of ads blasting over speakers between plays, and that we don't have obstructed view seats made from replacing urinals with seats. But a few positives at Landover are the plexiglass railings throughout the stadium, thereby eliminating many obstructed views, better concessions despite not being in the heart of a city loaded with ethnic communities, much bigger & better club lounge, and they finally have fixed the tiny video boards. And, of course, escalators to what's left of their upper deck. In my experience (I live almost equidistant to the two Maryland NFL stadiums), exiting the parking lots and making to my driveway takes about 40-50 minutes from either stadium. Iam aware that many here have had major traffic jams experiences on the DC Beltway, but, take my advice, there are much better alternate routes. (No preseason game this year at Landover, which surprises me).

I guess that I would rate our stadium facility higher than Landover's (escalators notwithstanding), but not by much. Gameday experience is not even close: they are most lame transients, who have been cheering for individuals not the team - since Sonny & Billy, Riggo, etc. up to "RG3". Some friends of mine are Redskins fans, but they are fucking idiots!

I can easily think of 10 stadiums off-hand that are way below M&T in terms of fan amenities, location, game-day experience

I agree (not counting game day experience): San Diego, Oakland, Jax, Green Bay, Chicago, Tampa, Miami, Landover, SF (soon to be replaced), Seattle.

[Ravenboy2003]

I agree (not counting game day experience): San Diego, Oakland, Jax, Green Bay, Chicago, Tampa, Miami, Landover, SF (soon to be replaced), Seattle.

Seattle? Really? I think their game day experience is outstanding, and the stadium is unique. I like the Pickles Pub type bars right outside the north end zone.. Seattle is really a great place to spend an NFL day.

[NOLARavenFAN]

IMO, the main thing is proximity to Downtown.....its a huge bonus and sets venues apart from the suburban experience. Its also increases the business value of the deal for the community. So a partnership with local interests makes state spending on infrastructure to move people from hotel areas to the game, etc, with shopping is a win/win all the way around. Any new stadium should be part of a comprehensive plan for Baltimore development, and attraction for tourist dollars which in the new world economy is a big deal.

[Mista T]

Seattle? Really? I think their game day experience is outstanding, and the stadium is unique. I like the Pickles Pub type bars right outside the north end zone.. Seattle is really a great place to spend an NFL day.

Sorry, I didn't make my point clear: I was discussing the stadium facilities, and explicitly not the game-day experience. Seattle is a great sports town. I try to attend every time the Orioles or Ravens play while I visit there. Local fans have treated me well with a good time.

But why did they not replace the Kingdome with a movable roof, taking into consideration the typical Seattle monsoon-type rainfalls of the late Fall and Winter? Even the partial roof leaves many spectators exposed, which some of our gang who attended the 2007 game can attest to. Most Seattle fans wanted a dome to replace the Kingdome, by opinion polls, but Paul Allen made some sweeping statements to the contrary. I guess he's not sitting exposed in the Seattle downpours and could give a shit about Joe 6-pack's getting soaked.

[downside52]

As someone who travels a lot for business, I go to a lot of sporting events in various cities and can say that the Ravens put more effort into the gameday fan experience than a lot of other teams. Especially Ravens walk, or whatever they call the little festival in the parking lot between O's park and M&T.