The 2013 Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens are back on top – and are giving M&T Bank Stadium a facelift to prove it. In February, the team announced a plan to upgrade M&T Bank Stadium, part of a two-year $35 million initiative to enhance the game day experience. Outlined below, and revealed by video here, the mostly cosmetic upgrades will once again make the Raven’s 15-year-old home among the NFL’s best.
Video, video and more video
With the departure of Ray Lewis and his signature dance, the Ravens are hoping to now “jolt” fans with the addition of two high-definition video boards measuring eight feet tall and 30 feet wide at Gate A and Gate D entrances. In addition to general information, fans will have access to team video and other games currently in action from around the NFL.
Larry Rosen, Ravens Vice President of Broadcasting, noted in February that the technological upgrade would give the team an “opportunity to widen (their) content matrix, add additional out-of-town scores, in-game and fantasy stats, and other elements which (their) fans have asked for during our regular surveying.”
The Ravens have also installed LED screens on each side of the RavensVision HD video boards behind each end zone. According to Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com, the new screens will allow the team to display more scores and stats from around the league (including fantasy football stats), as well as more creative replays and video. A press release from Datronics, however, slightly contradicts Mink’s comment by stating the displays will instead offer “flexible advertising options throughout the game, providing sponsors the ability to engage fans in whole new ways.”
Finally, fans will notice new LED ribbon boards spanning across each side of the inside of M&T Bank Stadium. Nothing too exciting here as a lot of stadiums/arenas now offer this.
New “Ravenized” concourse theme
The Ravens took some notes from their neighbors over at Camden Yards and have “Ravenized” the inside of M&T Bank to reflect the same industrial look as the outside. (Note: Yes, that’s a new adjective, and yes, SportTechie just bought the domain to get rich off of the droves of Baltimore residents that will be running into home designer stores this fall asking for the theme). These features include structural columns wrapped in brick with purple accent lighting.
Ravens Vice President of Stadium Operations Roy Sommerhof said back in February: “I think what we’ve done in bringing the brick and steel inside the building will warm the building up, but will really give a sense of the Camden Yards experience inside the stadium. … You’re going to know you’re in Ravens country.”
While nothing truly innovative, the upgrades are still a nice touch and fans will certainly take notice. Check them out when the Ravens take the field in their first pre-season home game vs. the Atlanta Falcons on August 15th.