With season ticket deadline approaching, ‘flexible’ Ravens prepare to host fans in 2021

A month from the Ravens’ season ticket deadline, the team is preparing to welcome fans back to M&T Back Stadium in 2021 but will “remain flexible,” a source said, as coronavirus vaccines are administered nationwide.

Amid a wave of COVID19 cases last year, the Ravens didn’t allow more than 4,345 fans in attendance in any game last season, with admittance at other times limited to family members of players, coaches and other team personnel.

In July, anticipating reduced capacity at M&T Bank Stadium, the Ravens told permanent-seat-license owners that seat locations for all fans would be protected and offered for renewal in 2021. Ahead of the Ravens’ May 15 season ticket deadline, renewal interest is in line with previous seasons, and 97% of the team’s available PSL inventory has been sold or is up for renewal, a source said.

Despite the addition of a ninth regular-season home game, as part of the NFL’s expansion to a 17-game season, season ticket pricing has not changed. The league has not announced its preseason schedule, but teams will play one less game under the NFL’s new framework before the season kicks off.

Camden Yards reopened at 25% of its capacity last week, with the Orioles allowing approximately 11,000 fans to begin the season. All attendees have been required to wear face masks except when eating or drinking at their assigned seats.

The Orioles have said that Camden Yards’ capacity percentage may be revised as the area’s publichealth outlook changes. Gov. Larry Hogan in March had expanded the state’s capacity limits for large venues to 50%.

When asked last month about fans in the stands — 119 games, including the postseason, had some in-person attendance during the coronavirus-impacted 2020 season, with approximately 1.2 millions fans in total — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sounded optimistic.

“We’re discussing plans to welcome back all fans across the country at all stadiums,” he said. “All of us want to see every one of our fans back. Football is not the same without fans, and we expect to have full stadiums in the upcoming season.”

The full NFL schedule will be released in May, but the defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers will kick off the season on Thursday, Sept. 9. The regular season will end Jan. 9. The Super Bowl will be played in Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium.