18 replies to this topic

[BSLChrisStoner]

Balt Sun: Ravens’ $430 million state-funded stadium upgrades to roll out in 2024, include 3 plazas, expanded concourses

https://www.baltimor...m_content=alert

[Mike B]

Sounds good.  The Ravens have organized their plans, while the Orioles are trying to drag more money out of the state.  Ownership makes a large difference.

[Steve55]

My nephew was talking to me about this at one of the home games. Its the Architecture Firm he works for doing the designs.

[Ravens2006]

Sound system could use an upgrade. A few times in recent years it's been out / flaky near my seats, and 2 or 3 games ago it basically didn't work the whole game (could barely understand the PA guy and never heard the referee announcements).

[PrimeTime]

I saw a report that somewhere around 400-500 fans will be losing their PSLs to support the upgrades. 

[BaltBird 24]

For as spoiled as we are as Baltimore fans with OPACY - I just never felt like M&T is anything special.

I guess football stadiuns are bound to be more generic and cookie cutter than baseball stadiums, but I've been to Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Miami, New Orleans, and Arizona and aside from Buffalo I feel like they're all better stadiums than Baltimore.

[Mike B]

I saw a report that somewhere around 400-500 fans will be losing their PSLs to support the upgrades. 

My wife saw the same on facebook.  I would guess they try to accommodate them if that is true.  

[Mike B]

For as spoiled as we are as Baltimore fans with OPACY - I just never felt like M&T is anything special.

I guess football stadiuns are bound to be more generic and cookie cutter than baseball stadiums, but I've been to Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Miami, New Orleans, and Arizona and aside from Buffalo I feel like they're all better stadiums than Baltimore.

I have been to every game except one since the place opened and I think it is fine.  I do not go to any game for the stadium.  I have been to Cleveland Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Jax and Tampa, and Dallas.  Dallas is the event and the game is almost secondary for some there.  I did not like Pittsburgh but all the others are similar to here IMO.

Getting in and out of Tampa was good.

[NewMarketSean]

For as spoiled as we are as Baltimore fans with OPACY - I just never felt like M&T is anything special.

I guess football stadiuns are bound to be more generic and cookie cutter than baseball stadiums, but I've been to Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Miami, New Orleans, and Arizona and aside from Buffalo I feel like they're all better stadiums than Baltimore.

 

SuperDome is better than M&T? Really? I've been to SD twice (once for the Super Bowl) and I thought it was a dump.

 

I've been to New Orleans, Jacksonville, Cincinnati and FedEx (for a concert). I'd choose Baltimore over all of them.

 

Football stadiums for the most part do lack the charm that baseball stadiums have but M&T is functional and easy to get in and out of. 

[Mike in STL]

For as spoiled as we are as Baltimore fans with OPACY - I just never felt like M&T is anything special.

I guess football stadiuns are bound to be more generic and cookie cutter than baseball stadiums, but I've been to Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Miami, New Orleans, and Arizona and aside from Buffalo I feel like they're all better stadiums than Baltimore.

They are also all newer, considering the Superdome needed major renovations post Katrina, and has probably been upgraded outside of that over the years. Miami with a complete overhaul. I went to the Ravens game in St. Louis when the Rams were still in town (Torrey Smith breakout game with 3 TDs). Dome football suuuuuuuuuuckkkkkkks. I haven't been to a Saints game. Other than the city being amazing, I have a hard time believing the Superdome is better than M&T Bank. 

 

When the stadium was built it was probably state of the art for the time. The video boards were the largest in pro sports. I remember it getting praise for the upper seating going more up, than out (if that makes sense) to put people more on top the action. Some older bowls the back rows seemed a mile away.

 

I think KC, Denver, Lambeau, Soldier, Washington, Tennesse, Jacksonville, Buffalo, Carolina, Tampa, New Orleans are the only older stadiums than M&T Bank. And I think only KC, New Orleans, and Buffalo haven't seen radical renovations to what was. Others on that list might only be a few years older than the Bank. 

 

That said, I don't really care too much about upgrades like the ones here. It's just 3 or 4 more places in the stadium I'll never afford to be able to hang out in, don't really care to hang out it, where they can charge $15 for a beverage. 

[Mike B]

They are also all newer, considering the Superdome needed major renovations post Katrina, and has probably been upgraded outside of that over the years. Miami with a complete overhaul. I went to the Ravens game in St. Louis when the Rams were still in town (Torrey Smith breakout game with 3 TDs). Dome football suuuuuuuuuuckkkkkkks. I haven't been to a Saints game. Other than the city being amazing, I have a hard time believing the Superdome is better than M&T Bank. 

 

When the stadium was built it was probably state of the art for the time. The video boards were the largest in pro sports. I remember it getting praise for the upper seating going more up, than out (if that makes sense) to put people more on top the action. Some older bowls the back rows seemed a mile away.

 

I think KC, Denver, Lambeau, Soldier, Washington, Tennesse, Jacksonville, Buffalo, Carolina, Tampa, New Orleans are the only older stadiums than M&T Bank. And I think only KC, New Orleans, and Buffalo haven't seen radical renovations to what was. Others on that list might only be a few years older than the Bank. 

 

That said, I don't really care too much about upgrades like the ones here. It's just 3 or 4 more places in the stadium I'll never afford to be able to hang out in, don't really care to hang out it, where they can charge $15 for a beverage. 

I agree with your last comment.  I don't go to tailgate or spend a fortune on bad concessions.  I get there to watch the pregame workouts, usually get a soda after that, and then don't leave my seat until the game is over.  We usually leave downtown and find a place to have dinner and that ends the game day.

They can keep all the frills, I go for the game.

[NewMarketSean]

I usually tailgate myself once a year, pay for a tailgate party once a year and outside of that hit a bar beforehand or just come down for the game. I might buy a beer or two inside. The prices are high but not out of the ordinary. Overall I have been very happy with the gameday experiences for the last few years now. The new stuff looks cool but I doubt it makes a difference for my gameday experience.

[ivanbalt]

I don't really get the whole "gameday experience" stuff with football.  There's 8-9 games a year and football is usually action packed.  That's the experience.  Baseball might be a little more understandable since there's 81 games and it can be fairly slow.

[Pedro Cerrano]

It’s hard to really compare nfl stadiums. The good ones you know are good. The bad ones you know are bad. I’ve been to a ton id put M&T in the good category.

Disagree that it’s easy to get out of

[BaltBird 24]

I agree with your last comment. I don't go to tailgate or spend a fortune on bad concessions. I get there to watch the pregame workouts, usually get a soda after that, and then don't leave my seat until the game is over. We usually leave downtown and find a place to have dinner and that ends the game day.
They can keep all the frills, I go for the game.

This.

I'm there for the game. The fancy new South Club and Blackwing bars look nice, but if I'm at the game I'll be in my seat watching the game.

The expanded concourse will be useful, but I'm usually straight to my seat. Not really looking to stand around in a crowd of people and congregate.

[BaltBird 24]

SuperDome is better than M&T? Really? I've been to SD twice (once for the Super Bowl) and I thought it was a dump.

I've been to New Orleans, Jacksonville, Cincinnati and FedEx (for a concert). I'd choose Baltimore over all of them.

Football stadiums for the most part do lack the charm that baseball stadiums have but M&T is functional and easy to get in and out of.

I liked the Super Dome. Don't remember a ton of the small details, but the seating was fairly comfortable and the view of the action was great.

[NewMarketSean]

It’s hard to really compare nfl stadiums. The good ones you know are good. The bad ones you know are bad. I’ve been to a ton id put M&T in the good category.

Disagree that it’s easy to get out of

I can get from my seat to my front door in about 90 mins. And that involves catching a train and driving 40 mins home.

 

if you drive it's another story.

[NewMarketSean]

I liked the Super Dome. Don't remember a ton of the small details, but the seating was fairly comfortable and the view of the action was great.

 

I remember the steps being odd and slippery when beer and stuff is spilled on them and the seats were about as comfy as the old ones in the civic center.

 

I do have an appreciation for it for seeing Ravens win there in 2013 and MNF in 2014. Great location too.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Super Dome did nothing for me. Soldier Field was very disappointing. The Linc stinks so does Foxboro

The new mega stadiums are of course extremely nice.