BALTIMORE _ M&T Bank Stadium will showcase Saturday the finished product of a three-year, $120 million renovation project aimed at improving the fan experience.
The latest phase included adding more escalators and elevators as well as "Corner Notch" suite and party areas built into the open notches of the upper bowl with video boards above the suites. In addition, upgrades were made to the club level, kitchens and sound systems.
The 16 new escalators were added to the 500 level to address long-standing complaints from fans. Ravens President Dick Cass said they will help those longtime season ticket holders who find they are not as young as they were when they bought their seats.
"I think the upper-bowl experience will be enhanced," he said.
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LED Sports Lights have been added in a project that the Maryland Stadium Authority funded. The lights are more energy-efficient and can be instantly switched on and off, similar to how a light switch can control all the lights in a living room at once. The Ravens are one of the first teams in the league to install these lights, said Roy Sommerhof, the senior vice president of stadium operations.
"You'll certainly see them and what they can do Saturday," Sommerhof said of the team's stadium practice at 6 p.m.
Phase one was completed before the 2017 season. It included the addition of two 4K ultra-high definition video displays, as well as more audio and video equipment for better replays.
"I think, when we've made these improvements, it's beginning to show in the way the fans have reacted to what we have done," Cass said.
After the first phase, the Ravens earned the No. 2 overall fan experience ranking from Stadium Journey in 2018.
After each game, fans at all the NFL stadiums can participate in "Voice of the Fan Polls," Ravens President Dick Cass said. The Ravens ranked No. 2 in the Food and Beverage, Stadium Technology, Video Board Content and External Pre-Game Content sections.
They ranked No. 4 in Instant Replay/Highlights and No. 5 in In-Game Statistics.
"With that ranking comes a great challenge, and we are challenged this year to be even better," said Jay O'Brien, the vice president of broadcasting and gameday productions.
O'Brien said they have taken all the fan feedback into consideration as they upgraded their system. The replay system should rival what fans see on TV, Cass said.
The new renovations are partially aimed at drawing fans away from their couches and TVs and into the stadiums, which is a league-wide struggle, Cass said.
By investing in a sky-cam and 4k cameras, the stadium will be able to compare to what broadcasting outlets provide. The new screens on the notches will provide in-game statistics on one end and statistics from other games around the league on the other, so fans can stay informed like they would while watching TV.
"And of course, nothing can match the atmosphere and excitement of a stadium," Cass said.
M&T Bank Stadium also upgraded its wi-fi, which was installed in 2015, over the offseason.
"Every time we improve it once, people start using it more, and we have to improve it again," Cass said. "I don't know if that process will ever end."
It might have been easier for the Ravens to create a whole new stadium, Sommerhof said, but M&T Bank Stadium has "good bones," so the team decided to renovate instead. The Ravens spent about $220 million on enhancements, which is about the same amount it cost to build the stadium, which opened in 1998.
