Ravens Outline Scope of Renovations to M&T Bank Stadium
Just like the Orioles and Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the Ravens are able to tap into $600 million in state bonds to renovate M&T Bank Stadium. In January, the Ravens and Maryland Stadium Authority agreed to a new lease to keep the team at M&T Bank Stadium until 2037 with two five-year options to extend.
Documents describing the potential work include a variety of projects that fans would notice, including adding dedicated fan hospitality and retail areas outside the stadium; upgrading the club level and suites; adding field-level seats; relocating the press box to the top of the stadium; improving video and sound systems, including new loudspeakers in the main seating bowl; and potentially building a parking garage on Lot E.
Other upgrades are less exciting but still important: new offices for team and stadium authority workers; expanding the security command center; work on escalators and elevators; and plenty of electrical, plumbing and ventilation upgrades.
The Ravens have initially asked to use about $450 million of the $600 million available in state money.
The plan was approved by the Maryland Stadium Authority in March, and then again in May after it was tweaked.
Lot E is located just south of M&T Bank Stadium
Ravens outgoing President Dick Cass said in January 2021 that the team is considering the possibility of a plaza south of the stadium to link it with the Warner Street District.
Along with Ravens home games, M&T Bank Stadium has hosted concerts; additional sporting events such as college football, professional soccer, and college lacrosse; and movie and community events.
The Ravens completed a three-year, $120-million self-funded renovation of M&T Bank Stadium in 2019. The improvements included new 4K ultra-high definition video displays, new escalators and elevators to the upper deck, a new sound system, upgraded kitchen facilities, a redesigned club level, and new suites. The Ravens have spent a total of approximately $220 million in stadium enhancements since 1998.
One of the new suites was a field-level suite that replaced the Baltimore’s Marching Ravens bleachers in the eastern end zone. The band was relocated to the field level. The new suite is known as the Bud Light Touchdown Club.
The Orioles quest to get a new lease at Oriole Park at Camden Yards continues as its current two-year lease expires on December 31st. The current two-year lease follows the initial 30-year lease which expired at the end of 2021. The team is eligible for $600 million in state bonds for improvements at Oriole Park at Camden Yards if a stadium lease extension is signed.
Orioles Chair and Managing Partner John Angelos said in July they “look forward to reimagining Camden Yards to deliver a live, work, play theme that will bring residents, businesses, and tourists to downtown Baltimore year-round.”
Related Posts
About the Author: Kevin Lynch
Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, skateboarder, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin.
