Training Camp and Practices for the Public

[arnie_uk]

The Ravens will host 3 training camp practices (free and open to the public) this summer:

Saturday, August 4 - M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore, MD)
Sunday, August 12 - Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, MD)
Sunday, August 19 - Stevenson University* (Stevenson, MD)
*ticketed event; details to be announced later

Each venue will feature interactive fan events, including player autograph signings for children, fun-filled activities designed specifically for youth and cheerleader/mascot meet-and-greets. Times and specifics for each practice will be announced this summer.

Additionally, by entering a lottery on www.baltimoreravens.com, fans in limited numbers will have an opportunity to attend training camp at the team's Owings Mills facility. The Ravens can safely host 200 people on the fields of their practice complex, and fans who are randomly chosen through the drawing will be invited to view approximately 14 of the team's training camp sessions.

For more details, please visit: http://bmob.us/305

[Jayc00]

Looks like they're at least making a respectable effort to get the fans into training camp.

[GOTA]

3 is pretty weak. Hensley on twitter said they used to have at least 20 every year.

[moose10101]

Additionally, by entering a lottery on www.baltimoreravens.com, fans in limited numbers will have an opportunity to attend training camp at the team's Owings Mills facility. The Ravens can safely host 200 people on the fields of their practice complex, and fans who are randomly chosen through the drawing will be invited to view approximately 14 of the team's training camp sessions.

Getting close to the action was always the best part of a camp visit, so that lottery is a great idea.

[Jayc00]

3 is pretty weak. Hensley on twitter said they used to have at least 20 every year.

Unless they find another permanent location or get McDaniel College again how can they have that many?

I think they're doing the best they can do without having to move around too much.

[Brtnder81]

fans who are randomly chosen through the drawing will be invited to view approximately 14 of the team's training camp sessions.

For more details, please visit: http://bmob.us/305

will there be 200 fans selected for each practice or just 200 fans selected total

[GOTA]

Unless they find another permanent location or get McDaniel College again how can they have that many?

I think they're doing the best they can do without having to move around too much.

Nothing was stopping them from going back to McDaniel College. That whole community seemed pretty upset to see them go.

[Raveninwoodlawn]

Nothing was stopping them from going back to McDaniel College. That whole community seemed pretty upset to see them go.

Money and coaches wanting to have access to all the Tech bells and whistles helping prep at Owings Mills.

3 is about what we all expected after they announced Westminster was done.

[Captain Offense]

I live and work in Westminster and was disappointed to see it end. It was great while it lasted, but I will not be able to share that with my grandchildren.

I loved to go there and watch the players and focus on the new ones. I also spent a lot of time looking at parts of the team that I do not follow in the game (the lines, the routes of those not catching, etc.). The best I watched though were the young children running around to see players, racing to try to catch the FG attempts and just staring with wide eyes at the players that they see on TV. I always thought that I could give my grandchildren a real treat in that cozy atmosphere.

I understand the business decision and the impact of the CBA on practices. I just know I will miss it. I may just show up at WMC (it will never be McDaniel to me) on the first day of TC, just to be there.

[Jayc00]

But we're talking about practice! Not a game...practice!

(had to get it in on the anniversary)

[TurtlesNBirds]

I'm less than 10 min away from Navy's stadium, I'll definitely be there on the 12th.

[RavenScallywag]

Nothing was stopping them from going back to McDaniel College. That whole community seemed pretty upset to see them go.

I'm from Westminster...this was a tough decision, and for awhile, I was pretty pissed about it...

But nothing was binding the Ravens to do this. Contract was up, it saves money to stay at the Castle, plus it reduces the complexity of camp, as they don't have to coorindate moves, schedules, etc.

My worry was how the Ravens would handle the PR of obviously dissapointing it's fanbase...

1. 3 practices open to the public. I'd love more, but since they are moves again, 3 makes a lot of sense, and they're doing a pretty good job of going to locations which maximize ease of getting fans to a close location. Stevenson covers us Carroll County/Western MD people, M&T covers Baltimore, and Navy covers Annapolis/Southern MD.
2. The lotto thing is pretty awesome sounding. Sounds to me like it'll just be 200 people who will get the opportunity to go to 14 practices at the Castle, but if it's 200 per practice, that'd be even sweeter, because you could potentially "serve" 2800 fans with a once in a lifetime experience (Seeing the castle plus the closeup of TC)
3. Even though they had no obligation, The Ravens are making an effort to show McDaniel that there's "no hard feelings". The Ravens are funding a huge renovation to the McDaniel football field/stadium, and they are holding TWO player camps there for youth football. I'm very happy to see the Ravens make those moves.

While TC at McDaniel (or other venue) would've been best for fans, this is the best solution for both parties as a whole.

[Mista T]

I'm less than 10 min away from Navy's stadium, I'll definitely be there on the 12th.

I can get there in 15 subject to the traffic lights cooperating. We also have Navy season tickets with friends who live 2 blocks from the stadium - we use back routes, free parking etc.

August 12th was circled on the calendar as soon as it was announced. We will take a bunch of kids & friends - perhaps three or four vans full. When I met Bisciotti about ten years ago, we talked about doing this -- it wasn't my idea, so I don't get any credit -- I am really glad to see him follow through, and hope there's a good turnout so it becomes an annual event.

[TurtlesNBirds]

I can get there in 15 subject to the traffic lights cooperating. We also have Navy season tickets with friends who live 2 blocks from the stadium - we use back routes, free parking etc.

August 12th was circled on the calendar as soon as it was announced. We will take a bunch of kids & friends - perhaps three or four vans full. When I met Bisciotti about ten years ago, we talked about doing this -- it wasn't my idea, so I don't get any credit -- I am really glad to see him follow through, and hope there's a good turnout so it becomes an annual event.

Very nice. It's an ideal location, too (as was previously mentioned,) since Annapolis is probably the southern-most Ravens area before it goes all Skins. Also it's real easy to get to for those commuting. Like you, I'm hoping for a big turnout. Hey I give you credit for planting the seed in Bisciotti's head! Well done.

[Corey]

3 is pretty weak. Hensley on twitter said they used to have at least 20 every year.

Didn't the CBA impact how many practices they can have during training camp? Does anybody know what that number is?

[AirFlacco]

I met with Bisciotti 10 years ago and told him to build the Castle. He did it but it wasn't
my idea.

Seriously, there's a lot of history at Westminister going back to the old Colts which is why
Art moved the practices back there when he came. Arty tells the story how
some players were standing in line at the movies and a rookie came up from behind and
pulled his pants down and ran away. He wasn't wearning underwear and some old women
were shocked. The player was so fast Fatso couldn't catch him and didn't even try.


I went to many practices then with my dad and uncles and
most of them when the Ravens came til 2 years ago. When I retired it was great to get
out there early in the morning and plunk my chair down and watch the events and see
the players and get autographs although some like Joe never sign for adults, only kids
and their moms. Same with Steve Mcnair. he went down the fence signing for all the kids
until he came to some men and he walked away. I remember Ed Reed getting ready to leave
after signing for an hour when someone gave him their baby and he held it up and took pics with him in the blistering heat. Reed was always special at the practices, same with Ray and many others.

I remember Fassil walking up the steps to his car after each practice instead of going into
the gym with his players. He signed my SB 35 hat next to Billick's name and I asked him
when he was going to get Boller to stop telegraphing his throws. he said what makes you
do think that. I described why and he said well, he's not.

The next day comcast wired Fassil and Boller and he says we're going to work on not
telegraphing your throws. It's pretty bad when a fan described to me in detail how you're
doing it after practice. What do you think the defense is doing? That was the day
after Ed Reed intercepted two Boller passes in practice. LOL.



The Friday night scrimmages were great. There were only a few thousand there in the beginning so the guys on the old scout board would get together and watch the game and
then go to Greg's pool party the next day. Even when the game was over we just sat
around and talked football for an hour letting the traffic get a head start. As that traffic
grew they had to move it downtown and I never went again.

It was a great time by all and 3 or 4 instead of having them every day really sucks.

We can thank the lockout for that.

[Mista T]

Hey I give you credit for planting the seed in Bisciotti's head! Well done.

Thanks, but he already had the idea and has ultimately followed through. Having grown up on the other side of the Severn, Steve was already quite familiar with the stadium in Annapolis. Actually, now that I just scratched my head: what we were talking about was getting an annual Redskins-Ravens scrimmage in Annapolis, with the anticipated difficulties with the egotist Snyder and getting the Redskins to cede territory which they had considered to be theirs after the Colts left town. This was just a few weeks after he joined as minority partner, and had wandered down to an event held by our local Ravens fan club - I believe his first public appearance with Ravens fans as minority team owner.

Since Trap thinks this is just bullshit, here are a couple photos of Steve at our event:

Bisciotti & Rad.jpg

0723_027.jpg

0723_030.jpg

[AirFlacco]

I was only kidding T. Geesh.

I remember that meeting with the old Nest club.
Bisciotti was always a cool guy.
Sirius Radio just called him the coolest owner.