Baltimore football fans heading to Sunday’s home opener have a lot more to juggle than a standard game day.
The Ravens host the New Orleans Saints at M&T Bank Stadium, and the setup changes because the Orioles are also playing that day. Baltimore is expecting a busy day downtown, and the Ravens are asking fans to plan ahead as they try to keep the flow moving around both venues.
On the field, the Ravens are coming off an impressive Week 1 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Sunday also brings the debut of the “White Noise” Next Flight uniforms, along with a full pregame rollout built around the team’s new “The Uprising” entertainment experience.
Fans are encouraged to wear white and be in their seats by 12:30 p.m. That’s when “The Uprising” will get underway, with a mix of video, music and recognition of the team’s in-game performers. Terrell Suggs will open things with a video welcome, and the new Next Flight uniform hype video will be set to Kendrick Lamar’s song “DNA.”
The Ravens will also spotlight their performance groups - the Marching Ravens band, Ravens cheerleaders and mascots - with a special pregame video. This season, fans will also get a look at the locker room as players prepare to take the field.
Another new piece of the presentation is the weekly “Leader of the Uprising.” After the coin toss and national anthem, that role will be filled this week by NASA astronaut and commander of the agency’s Artemis II mission, Reid Wiseman.
There are also the usual game-day logistics to keep in mind. All tickets and parking passes are digital and must be accessed on a mobile device or smartphone.
PSL owners can use the SeatGeek app to get to their Ravens tickets. Stadium gates open two hours before kickoff, and fans have to enter through the gate listed on their mobile ticket.
M&T Bank Stadium is following the NFL Clear Bag Policy. Allowed bags include clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags no larger than 12x6x12 inches, one-gallon clear plastic freezer bags, and small clutch bags or belt bags that do not exceed 4.5x6.5 inches.
The stadium is also cashless for food, beverage and retail purchases, with Visa, Amex and MasterCard accepted, along with Google Pay and Apple Pay. For anyone carrying cash, reverse ATMs are available on the Lower Level at Sections 117 and 146, on the Club Level at Section 250, and at The Perch in Sections 502 and 529.
Getting to the stadium will be easier by transit than by driving, especially with both ballparks active. The Maryland Transit Administration said it will add express buses to supplement Light Rail service, running from Glen Burnie/Cromwell and Timonium Fairgrounds directly to Camden Station starting at 4 p.m. After the game, those express buses will leave from the Convention Center Light Rail stop instead of Camden Station.
Fans can also take the subway to Charles Center and walk to M&T Bank Stadium. The MTA says CityLinks Navy, Yellow, Brown and LocalLinks 51, 54, 73, 76 and 94 also serve M&T Bank Stadium or areas nearby.
Traffic restrictions start early Sunday, with closures tied to both the Ravens and Orioles games. For the Ravens, northbound Russell Street Service Drive alongside the stadium will be shut between West and Hamburg streets before and during the game.
The Hamburg Street Bridge will close temporarily between Leadenhall and Paca streets for ingress, then reopen once the game begins before closing again near the end. The Ostend Street Bridge will also close temporarily between Sharp and Warner streets for ingress, and Warner Street between the Ostend Street Bridge and Stockholm Street will have a special traffic pattern because of game ingress and railroad crossings.
For egress, special traffic patterns will be used along Warner, Alluvion, Worcester and Bayard streets. Near the end of the game, Hamburg Street will close between Hanover and Charles streets, and southbound traffic on Hanover Street will not be allowed between Henrietta and Hamburg streets, with vehicles diverted onto Henrietta Street.
The Orioles game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards will also bring its own set of closures, adding another layer to an already crowded Sunday in Baltimore.
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