new major stadium improvements completed - what's next?

[Mista T]

Three year project is complete:

When fans head to a Ravens game this year at M&T Bank Stadium, they are going to notice a whole bunch of new stuff, including huge TV screens -- all part of a three-year renovation plan that's finally been completed.

"We have finally completed our three-year, $120 million renovation of M&T Bank Stadium. It's an exciting time for us. I'm sure the fans are going to enjoy it," Baltimore Ravens President Dick Cass said.

These are some real improvements, not mere cosmetics, as in the past. Love those new screens and enjoy riding the new escalators upstairs to visit friends. Thanks Ravens for this large private investment!

So .... what else could/should be done to further improve the game-day experience? Here's my wish list:

(1) a movable roof (note: a dome was in original stadium plans, but knocked out by cheapskate politicians; note 2: it's never going to happen)
(2) a multi-deck parking garage covering Lots B & C, overpassing Ravens Walk, with direct exit ramps to Russell Street and I-395 (also not likely going to happen)
(3) TV sets over urinals with loudspeakers to drown out the drunks who babble & scream when other fans are stuck in line trying to hear the play-by-play
(4) tailgate lot amenities (e.g. concessions and clean restrooms) as found in other NFL stadiums (note: there used to be trailers with sinks & flush toilets in Lot H)
(5) not a physical improvement: a professional traffic management plan to reverse post-game outbound lanes, such as we had on 33rd Street for Colt games
(6) allow a few private concessionaires, such as G&M for crabcakes, Boardwalk Fries, Dunkin Donuts, Qdoba etc.

[wickedsolo]

Folks - let's keep this thread about stadium upgrades, etc.

We all know the issues that come with the city of Baltimore and it is unlikely that the Ravens would have any capability to influence those aspects. Please keep the politics issues in the Off-Topic/Politics forum.

[21xxxv]

Folks - let's keep this thread about stadium upgrades, etc.

We all know the issues that come with the city of Baltimore and it is unlikely that the Ravens would have any capability to influence those aspects. Please keep the politics issues in the Off-Topic/Politics forum.

If it impacts fans from enjoying the gameday experience at the stadium then it's a problem. You can choose to ignore it.

[HotInHere]

Three year project is complete:



These are some real improvements, not mere cosmetics, as in the past. Love those new screens and enjoy riding the new escalators upstairs to visit friends. Thanks Ravens for this large private investment!

So .... what else could/should be done to further improve the game-day experience? Here's my wish list:

(1) a movable roof (note: a dome was in original stadium plans, but knocked out by cheapskate politicians; note 2: it's never going to happen)
(2) a multi-deck parking garage covering Lots B & C, overpassing Ravens Walk, with direct exit ramps to Russell Street and I-395 (also not likely going to happen)
(3) TV sets over urinals with loudspeakers to drown out the drunks who babble & scream when other fans are stuck in line trying to hear the play-by-play
(4) tailgate lot amenities (e.g. concessions and clean restrooms) as found in other NFL stadiums (note: there used to be trailers with sinks & flush toilets in Lot H)
(5) not a physical improvement: a professional traffic management plan to reverse post-game outbound lanes, such as we had on 33rd Street for Colt games
(6) allow a few private concessionaires, such as G&M for crabcakes, Boardwalk Fries, Dunkin Donuts, Qdoba etc.

Good thread T.

#3 is low-hanging fruit that definitely should happen.

#4 would please my wife greatly. There are great trailer restrooms that could be made available. But remember someone just accidentally set themselves on fire in one of the porta-pots at the stadium, so the big concern would be what would happen to those kinds of facilities the other 355 days a year.

I think traffic is actually pretty good compared to many other stadium experiences (DC? Foxboro? Kill me now.) But there is always room for improvement.

My wishlist would include less advertising on the video boards, but like your first two, that ain't gonna happen. And since the advertising helps put a better team on the field, I'll live with it. It's just annoying as hell, especially during night games.

Some ideas on the more realistic side:
More and better vendors (they almost never make it up to where we sit;)
Better beer selections (although I'm lucky enough to be near the Flying Dog stand so at least I'm not locked in Miller/Bud Land;)
A bar with a view of the field like the CF bar in Camden Yards;
Gameday circulator buses to shuttle from Fed Hill, maybe Nick's, the Casino, the Harbor etc.

[Shrubbs]

I love our little ol' stadium

[stevez51]

If they cut the price of parking then maybe the lots would fill up. My other issue now with parking is them closing the back exit out of Lot B for the Uber/Lyft pick ups. What it did was cause more of a back up leaving Lot C with the vehicles using the exit ramp from the highway to the stadium lots not being able to turn left. Now they stop the lot traffic to allow these vehicles to mix in.

[21xxxv]

I love our little ol' stadium

There are 20 NFL stadiums that seat less than M&T.

[camdenyard]

#3 would be very nice. I can't tell you how many important plays I missed over the years (like Shannon Sharpe's deflected TD in the 2000 Denver playoff game) because I was in line for the john. I've gotten very strategic about planning restroom breaks, but it's still a pain to miss action.

#6 is likely prohibited by contract with the caterers.

I've said it before, will say it again. The league needs to watch their own TV broadcasts and see what information they give their viewers that people in the stands can't see (unless they have the radio feed in their ears). Things like injury information, details about penalties/replays, etc. If I get a better game understanding on TV, they have to fix that.

[HotInHere]

#6 is likely prohibited by contract with the caterers.

Is it? We got a Shake Shack. Not sure how all of that works with the food service contract. (Is it Aramark?)


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[Bhcforlife]

I think a parking garage would just make a bad traffic situation much worse. I've been to enough concerts and things of that nature at the various venues in Baltimore and DC where garages are pretty much the only option for parking your car, and it's always a pain in the ass to get out of them after the show. Have fun with drunken idiots walking down the middle of the lane or driving the wrong way to try and get out faster. How are you tailgating in a garage?

TV's in the bathrooms should have happened years ago, don't know why they haven't done it yet. I imagine it would be fairly cheap to stick a couple TVs in every bathroom, relative to everything else they've done recently. Maybe they think people will then linger in the bathrooms when the weather turns cold? I don't know.

[Mista T]

I think a parking garage would just make a bad traffic situation much worse. I've been to enough concerts and things of that nature at the various venues in Baltimore and DC where garages are pretty much the only option for parking your car, and it's always a pain in the ass to get out of them after the show. Have fun with drunken idiots walking down the middle of the lane or driving the wrong way to try and get out faster. How are you tailgating in a garage?.

I've been parking at the Casino garage (largest in Baltimore City) since the 2013 season. I exit in 2 to max 10 minutes for almost every game. The key to not getting stuck in major garage exiting fuck-ups is having good garage design (multiple exits going to all major directions) and good traffic cop direction.

As to tailgating: meh!

Been there & done that. Now we go into the Casino or pubs along the walk to the stadium. Get into the stadium at 11 am to socialize & have a drink and crabcake & relax.

[Ravens4Real]

Tailgating and having a blast before the games is usually more memorable than the actual game 90% of the time.

I don’t know if I’d go to games if I weren’t able to tailgate before them. It’s a rite of passage.