Turn Ravens Walk into LEGENDS LANE

[Marchetti]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/4759...72298/?fref=ts

Letter sent in to Patrick Gleason who works for the Ravens:

Hi Patrick,

I ran this by Francine Lubera and she indicated that you would be the person to contact about this.

I have an idea about player statues I've been pushing for a couple of years now and that is to change Ravens Walk into LEGENDS LANE.
Only Hall Of Famers qualify, past and present. Ray Lewis and Jonathan Ogden being the first two Ravens to be inducted into the HOF and also being the teams first two draft choices and the foundations in the early years of the franchise will get the first two places of honor.

Ray and Jonathan's statues go on either side of the end of LEGENDS LANE just before crossing W. Hamberg St into Unitas Plaza. Ed Reed won't be too far behind and I've got a feeling there may be 1-3 more on our present roster who would one day qualify for LEGENDS LANE. Statues would be on pedestals of course and their accomplishment plaques on the front of the pedestal. Maybe street lamps high over each statue too as that would illuminate each one and help keep potential vandals away.

This would be the perfect place to include those champion Hall Of Famers that played for Baltimore before the establishment of the Ravens.
As you know that would include Lenny Moore, Gino Marchetti, Jim Parker, Ray Berry, John Mackey, Art Donovan and Ted Hendricks. These former Baltimore players statues could be staggered so a Raven could be opposite and by staggering them it would immediately make the initial project seem more substantial from the outset giving fans an instant vision of the big picture. 20- 30 years from now I'd like to think those seven empty alternate spots would be close to being all occupied. I would NOT "mention" on the plaques the name colts nor would I include a horse shoe on the helmet, that is totally unnecessary at this point.

Image every network primetime telecast....opening with a cameraman walking down LEGENDS LANE, strolling past ALL of our football greats standing guard on either side. I think it would be amazingly impressive and unique.

I'm very passionate about this idea and Baltimore football as a whole I would love the opportunity to discuss this further and plead the case. I hope I sufficiently put on paper what I envision. Johnny Unitas considered the Baltimore Ravens as the rightful heirs to the great Baltimore colts legacy and since, next to Johnny only the others numbers are in the ring of honor, this would be a proper way of saying to the NFL world and to our fans that these Legendary players are ours!

I hope you like this idea and I'd love to hear what you and others think about it. I've already created a FACEBOOK page dedicated to this project and will post this letter there for others as we continue to attempt to galvanize support.

[Beau Petard]

Gino-
Don't know how this will evolve, and certainly there are many thoughts on the Baltimore legacy of pro football, but one thing I always liked about the area was the absolute dedication to community that the BALTIMORE Colts had to the greater Baltimore metropolitan region. IMO, the Ravens have done an admirable job in maintaining a similar type of emotional as well as business connection to their location, and FWIW, I'd be thrilled to see the same type of "connection" grow between the team and the City/region. [and that's notwithstanding the fact that I've relocated a tad to the Sud de Baltimore/Ellicott City!]

My head spins with the details of how to implement your ideas, but I hope all proceeds well for you!
Beau

[Marchetti]

thanx Beau.

You and anyone else reading this thread can start by joining the FACEBOOK page I posted a link to below and comment...and feel free to invite people to join as well.

GO RAVENS!

[Brtnder81]

I like the idea.. the only problem I could see is with all the statues being unmovable objects they would take up a lot of space on an already conjested walkway

[RavenScallywag]

An alternative idea could be to put the statues on the walkway ringing the outside of the stadium. This, I believe, is also referred to as Ravens Walk, and is probably a little less congested. Plus, then it fits with Johnny U's statue placement. You could have very significant statues at each Gate

The Orioles statues have great placement, but it's in a spot where the public can't go see it, unless you are going in the stadium for a game. The Babe Ruth statue is the only one "open to the public". The Ravens could opt to go that route, and put the statues INSIDE the concourse, but I'd like to think Steve Bisciotti wouldn't like that idea much.

[HoustonRaven]

I like the idea as well ...

I think another problem with this is your target. I believe the area between the stadiums is owned by the Stadium Authority, not Bisciotti. Any statue construction would first have to get the blessing of the state coffers.

[Ravenswintitle]

Interesting concept. I saw a lot of folks saying to put Rays statue on the south side but honestly I have never entered that side and likely never will. Ravens walk is the area everyone uses. Not sure of the logistics but it's a good idea overall

[HKusp]

Interesting concept. I saw a lot of folks saying to put Rays statue on the south side but honestly I have never entered that side and likely never will. Ravens walk is the area everyone uses. Not sure of the logistics but it's a good idea overall

Believe me, plenty of people use the south side entrences. I bet 40-45% of people entering the stadium on gameday use that side. There are plenty of tailgaters coming from the lots over there.

[Ravenswintitle]

Believe me, plenty of people use the south side entrences. I bet 40-45% of people entering the stadium on gameday use that side. There are plenty of tailgaters coming from the lots over there.

Does that mean that you don't use Ravens walk at all on gameday? Just a creature of habit I guess, that's the only way I've entered.

[HoustonRaven]

Believe me, plenty of people use the south side entrences. I bet 40-45% of people entering the stadium on gameday use that side. There are plenty of tailgaters coming from the lots over there.

Agreed.

And with the casino opening, even more will use the South Side.

[Mista T]

Totally against this idea! No worries, I won't challenge your Facebook activity -- I had my kids take down the Facebook account they had set up for after getting bombarded with "friends" request.

The area outside of gate D, perhaps where the Budweiser tent is set up, would be the perfect location for Ray's statue. That would provide symmetry with the Unitas statue, and make the Lewis statue easily accessible to perhaps half the stadium patrons who either enter via Gate D, or go past Gate D to the new entrance between Gates C & D, or Gate C itself.

An alternative idea could be to put the statues on the walkway ringing the outside of the stadium. This, I believe, is also referred to as Ravens Walk, and is probably a little less congested. Plus, then it fits with Johnny U's statue placement. You could have very significant statues at each Gate

What he said.

Does that mean that you don't use Ravens walk at all on gameday? Just a creature of habit I guess, that's the only way I've entered.

It's quite a walk to get over to Ravens Walk on gamedays from the lots on the eastern or southern sides of the stadium, where most tailgating occurs. I used to do it once or twice per season, before my knees went.

Interesting concept. I saw a lot of folks saying to put Rays statue on the south side but honestly I have never entered that side and likely never will. Ravens walk is the area everyone uses. Not sure of the logistics but it's a good idea overall

I take issue with the statement "Ravens walk is the area everyone uses." Huge stadium lots H, O, and J, plus many private lots all feed into Gate D. Adding the 4,000 vehicle Casino parking garage now under construction on Warner Street: we are likely to see more fans entering Gate D than even Gate A (Ravens Walk), which is fed only by major Lots A, B, and C

I have entered every gate since the stadium opened in 1998. They are all crowded, but every time I have used Gate B and the new gate between C & D, there has been minimal to low delay. A & D are the most used gates.

[Ravenswintitle]

The first thing we tell new comers to the stadium is to be sure to take in Ravens Walk. That was my point...

so if you guys never go there, you wouldn't see the statues ? (assuming this moves forward).

[camdenyard]

Interesting concept. I saw a lot of folks saying to put Rays statue on the south side but honestly I have never entered that side and likely never will. Ravens walk is the area everyone uses. Not sure of the logistics but it's a good idea overall

Everyone? Really? I enter from the south side and I'm pretty sure thousands of others do too.

[Real Fan Dan]

Does that mean that you don't use Ravens walk at all on gameday? Just a creature of habit I guess, that's the only way I've entered.

For the most part yes. I haven't been over there in 2 years. I dropped some flowers off at Johnny U's statue Sep 11 a couple years ago. There are huge tailgate lots on the South and West sides.

[Marchetti]

The Ravens Walk placement all aligned on either side would give it maximum impact effect for grandeur and impressiveness because they would be together and leading into Unitas plaza where rightfully Johnny stands alone. Scattering statues around the stadium would take away from that and might even make individual statues (like Ray's) vulnerable to vandalism. Walking down a lane lined with statues into the grand entrance of Unitas Plaza (to me) makes much more sense than arbitrarily scattering them around the outside of the stadium. "Together" it would be bigger and better and make for a nicer and cooler presentation...(and easier to protect)...just like the Orioles have done. As it is, whenever I go to a game, I go out of my way to rub Johnny's toe and see his statue. I'm sure others would do the same if they wanted to make seeing all the statues part of their game day experience but even having that as a game day experience isn't "necessary" for everyone. I think going to one area to enable seeing them all is a priority.

Speaking of the Orioles...when I hatched the idea I also envisioned the Orioles doing the same on their end of "the walk", of course then they put the statues inside where it's difficult to see them. Maybe if they do something to that park area someday like add seating there or something else they "might" consider hoping on board this "LEGENDS LANE" idea too. (and add John McGraw and Wee Willie Keeler, Hall Of Famers from the National League Orioles of the late 1890's)

[Real Fan Dan]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/4759...72298/?fref=ts

I have an idea about player statues I've been pushing for a couple of years now and that is to change Ravens Walk into LEGENDS LANE.
Only Hall Of Famers qualify, past and present. Ray Lewis and Jonathan Ogden being the first two Ravens to be inducted into the HOF and also being the teams first two draft choices and the foundations in the early years of the franchise will get the first two places of honor.

Great idea Gino. I'm all for it, but like all great proposals you have to consider the funding. To be honest with you, i'd rather save the money to memorialize real legends - that would be the future leaders we desperately need to renounce the corruption of special interests and figure out how to save our country by restoring it's economy and it's moral principles...

... Ok, so maybe I'm getting a little too deep here.

Seriously tho, if Mr. Bisciotti wants to commission a statue of Mr. Lewis (or the whole lot for that matter) I'm all for it. Just not out of public funds. I also think maybe we should wait a little while, or do it gradually. Winning a SB then creating a menagerie of statues looks a little pompous you know, and that's just not us.

Finally a little hair splitting on the details. If you're going to include Ted Hendricks for the Baltimore Colts, i suppose you'd have to include Rod Woodson and Shannon Sharpe for the Baltimore Ravens. Maybe you put those guys names on a plaque as HOFers who played for Baltimore, but don't commission statues for them.

Either way, just like you i'm all for preserving Baltimore's football legacy. After all, there's alot of younger fans who hardly remember the Ravens first Superbowl, let alone the legends that were known as the Baltimore Colts.

[Marchetti]

thanx for your support and input. I'm sure there are differing opinions about just how to execute and I'm certain if LEGENDS LANE were to become a reality that all the details I've listed wouldn't necessarily be exact. If their number is in the ring of honor as a Hall Of Famer on that banner and their identity as a ball player is that of a Baltimore player then they get a statue. (reggie jackson sure ain't getting a statue at OPACY even if the O's had won a WS in '76 lol not that Rod or Shannon are in his category but I think you get the picture but on the other hand I wouldn't mind at all if Shannon and Rod did...that would be up to Steve B and the Ravens.)

The plaque idea is cool too.

Public money was never a consideration at all. Biscotti and maybe private donors.

[Mista T]

The first thing we tell new comers to the stadium is to be sure to take in Ravens Walk.

I do, too. Ravens Walk is an attraction by itself. I tell visitors that they would be better off cruising Ravens Walk, with cheap sndwiches & beer & live bands, than crashing tailgate parties Unfortunately, most visitors I get do not use Lots B/C (sold to club and Suite ticket holders), and Lot A is sold out on a seasonal basis. So Ravens Walk takes an out-of-the-way hike

so if you guys never go there, you wouldn't see the statues ? (assuming this moves forward).

I'd go over to Ravens Walk once or twice per season