Clock Ticking for Ravens Training Camp Decision

Last summer 112,051 fans visited McDaniel campus to be a part of Ravens Training Camp. Now, just four months before Training Camp would normally begin, fans are anxiously waiting to find out if the Ravens will return to Westminster.

Westminster Mayor Kevin Utz said he remains optimistic that the Ravens will return. If they don't, local businesses will suffer.

“The biggest impact for Westminster will be in terms of restaurants and businesses that will see less activity,” Utz said.  “Not only do people stop to eat at restaurants, they also get a chance see what Westminster is about. If training camp isn’t at McDaniel, it will limit our exposure.”

The city would also have less of a presence in the media, Utz said.

“There is national news coverage while the Ravens are here, from news outlets we don’t otherwise see,” Utz said. 

Westminster Patch reported last month that the Ravens, which have held training camp in Westminster since their inaugural season in 1996, let their contract with McDaniel College expire last year.

Ravens officials said they have to wait to see what happens with a lockout before they can decide what to do for training camp.  For almost two weeks players and owners have been locked in a dispute over how to split up $9 billion in revenue the NFL receives each year. 

Ravens spokesperson Patrick Gleason said that the team will likely hold some practices at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore regardless of where training camp ends up being held.

“We wouldn’t move training camp to M&T Bank Stadium," he said. "We would just have some practices there, which we have done in the past.

"Last year we had three practices at the stadium. It's a good way to reach out to the fan base and to accommodate those who won’t travel to Westminster.”

According to Gleason, there is no timeline for establishing a plan for training camp.

“We’re still hopeful and waiting for some things to play out," he said. "Hopefully we will be in a position soon to make some decisions.”

A March 22 Baltimore Sun article reported that a delayed start to training camp could conflict with the return of McDaniel students and the beginning of the school's football season, which would force the Ravens to make alternative plans.

A switch to an 18-game regular season, which might change the training camp schedule, could become an obstacle in the future for McDaniel and the Ravens.

The article quoted Ethan Seidel,  vice president of administration and finance at McDaniel, as saying, “If [the lockout] went that late, the training camp [at McDaniel] might be in jeopardy. When you get to the start of school, then it becomes a different situation.”

According to the article, Ravens owner Steve Biscotti said he envisions keeping training camp at McDaniel “barring a conflict in schedules."

Utz responded,  “We’re optimistic that the Ravens will be at McDaniel, but we also understand that they have to make a business decision. We’re still fans and will still support the team wherever they are.”