The NFL made an obvious choice scheduling the Ravens and Bears in the 2018 Hall of Fame game, in light of linebackers Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher being enshrined this year.
The question is whether Baltimore fans will flock to Canton, Ohio, to enjoy the celebration.
There’s no secret the Ravens struggled to fill seats at M&T Bank Stadium last season. A mediocre product on the field along with fallout from the players’ protests in London tempered the usual enthusiasm.
The NFL would love to see a sea of purple for Lewis’ induction ceremony and the preseason game against Chicago. The Ravens now have a challenge building excitement for the event and prompting fans to make the road trip.
The other players entering the Hall of Fame this year consist of Bobby Beathard, Robert Brazile, Brian Dawkins, Jerry Kramer, Randy Moss and Terrell Owens..
When Jonathan Ogden was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2013, Baltimore fans were well-represented in Ohio. Many of these fans saw Ogden’s honor as an opportunity to visit the shrine for the first time.
The Ravens’ brass is hoping for an encore performance. A positive experience that highlights the city’s pride with the team could carry over to the regular season.
However, a trip to Ohio in August won’t come cheap.
Superior Tours is offering a Hall-of-Fame package from Aug. 2-5 with prices ranging from $3,360 for a single occupancy to $2,400 for a triple occupancy. The price includes the bus trip, accommodations, parties and access to various events.
The trip is especially attractive because the Ravens are playing a preseason game. That might not be the case next year when safety Ed Reed likely earns his spot in the Hall of Fame.
Lewis is charismatic and his acceptance speech should be one for the ages. He is arguably the best linebacker in the history of the NFL. Lewis was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2000 and 2003. He also led the Ravens to two Super Bowl titles and was named the MVP in Super Bowl XXXV.
However, Lewis angered many fans for taking a knee with the players in last season’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. There was even a petition that garnered thousands of signatures to take down the statue in his honor that sits in front of M&T Bank Stadium next to former Baltimore Colts’ great Johnny Unitas. The statue still stands, but the Maryland Stadium Authority had to hire extra security to protect it prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 1.
Perhaps, by the time August comes around, many of these ill-feelings will have faded. It would not look good for the Ravens to have just a handful of fans bother to show up for such a prestigious event. The Hall-of-Fame is a unique opportunity for franchises to showcase their rich traditions.
The Ravens could create a buzz for this event by putting together a successful offseason. This likely entails signing a big-time, play-making wide receiver like Jarvis Landry and having a successful draft.
This is a key juncture for the Ravens franchise to win back some goodwill. The process can start next month when free agency officially begins and carries all the way to the Hall-of-Fame game, setting the tone for a revamped 2018 season.
It’s a clear strategy that entails many challenges, but ones the Ravens need to meet.
[cardoza_wp_poll id=”1602″]
