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NFL Stadium Reviews:                
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Stadium Vitals Built: 1998 Capacity: 70,107 seats Playing Surface: Sportexe Momentum Turf Beer: $7.50 Hot Dog: $4.00 Stadium Parking: $40.00 |
M & T Bank Stadium Address1101 Russell Street Baltimore, MD 21230 (410) 261-RAVE (7283) Get Directions |
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Stadium Review - The Snow Storm  As the east coast was being pounded by
a record setting snowstorm with designs on crippling the region, I
found myself rolling in the Quest Machine into the heart of it all.
I had tickets for an NFL weekend doubleheader with the Baltimore
Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday and the Washington
Redskins on Monday Night Football at FedExField. The storm was
expected to dump twenty-two inches of snow on an area that’s
typically shut down by an inch or two, so figuring the first several
hours of the storm would weed out those destined to maroon
themselves in a snow bank on the side of the road, I timed my trip
to arrive in the beltway after the brunt of the storm front had
passed. For the most part, the route was completely clear until I
hit western Pennsylvania, then things began to slow to a crawl for
the last leg of my journey. White-knuckling in down the road behind
a frozen windshield wiper that refused to clear the center of my
field of view, I eventually arrived around 11:00pm on Saturday night. A little
inclement weather certainly cannot deter the Quest! 
The Baltimore Ravens game, which was originally set for a 1:00pm
kickoff the next day, was moved to 4:15pm by the NFL due to the weather;
and with the Chicago
Bears still stranded in Chicago, there was actually talk of
postponing the game again … potentially to Monday Night.
Unfortunately for someone like me, with designs on a weekend doubleheader,
the move to Monday night could potentially
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derail
my plans for completion of the Quest in 2009. 
Baltimore is highly regarded as one of the better tailgating venues
in the National Football League and a proud tradition remains among
this solid fanbase of diehards that hits the lot each week rain or
shine. This is a city that unexpectedly lost its team in 1984, when
Owner Jim Irsay packed up the Baltimore Colts in the dead of the night and
rolled out of town bound for Indianapolis. This was an event
that devastated the city, but united its fanbase and their love of
pro football. When the Ravens came to town in 1996, they were
immediately embraced and a new chapter of Pro Football in Baltimore
was begun.
was told
by many of the fans I talked to that several of the larger tailgates
were canceled or delayed due to the storm. So although sparse
pockets of tailgaters began the day, right before game time the
lots were full with folks talking football, grilling up meats, and
enjoying their ice cold beverages of choice. 
Right
before game time
Heading over to M&T Bank Stadium, we ascended the stairs bound for
Section 545 to our gameday perch. The stands were filled with purple
and black and I have to say I was fairly impressed with the Ravens
12th man. The commitment of the front office to the defensive side
of the ball, has really spurned a culture of defensive fan support.
Third down, as you would expect is a big one, and the home crowd responds
with disruptive noise to assist their beloved Ravens defense. I’m also
please to report that I was on had to witness yet another home team
blowout as Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense picked apart the
once-vaunted Bears defense with four touchdowns by the golden arm of
the University of Delaware product. The Ravens would cruise to
victory by the score of 31-7, leaving Chicago Bear players just shaking their
heads. With Stadium #29, M&T Bank Stadium, complete on the Quest for
31, I prepared for FedExField on Monday Night Football. Hopefully
another home team win is in the cards for this Questor.
