Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens

Report: Ravens May Not Open NFL Season at Home Because of Conflict With Orioles

by on Mon, Mar 18, 2013 at 12:24PM

Winning the Super Bowl offers many perks for the new champion. One of which is holding the following season’s opening game at your home stadium. Something the Ravens might not be able to enjoy.

The Ravens are in danger of not being able to host the season opener, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun, and it’s because of their baseball counterparts down in Baltimore.

The NFL was hoping to open the season on Sept. 5 in Baltimore, a Thursday night as has become customary over the past few seasons. But the Orioles are currently slated to have a game that night as well. Normally this wouldn’t be an issue for most same-city teams, but the  issue between these two franchises stems from the parking lot conjoining the two teams’ stadiums.

Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium are located in the same area in Baltimore and share parking lots. So, fans might have trouble getting to or parking at either game if both are on the same day — not to mention the impact it could have on the ever-important tailgate scene.

The NFL is opposed to playing the game on Wednesday night, as they did in 2012, because Sept. 4 is the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and MLB commissioner Bud Selig have had conversations about the issue, but nothing has been resolved.

The most logical resolution would be for the Orioles to move their game with the White Sox to the afternoon, allowing the Ravens to play the night game, but the MLB would have to agree to the schedule change first. Then again, logic is a tough find in pro sports sometimes. So, any hope should be had with a few grains of salt.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.


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