Root for the Baltimore Ravens Like a Local

Step 1:  Get to know the team

The Baltimore Ravens NFL football team was formed in 1996 after Art Modell moved the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore. The team name was changed to the Ravens to honor the acclaimed poet Edgar Allan Poe who wrote his famous poem “The Raven” while living here in the 1830s.

The team has since won two Super Bowl championships in 2001 and 2013 and has qualified for the playoffs almost every season. Hall of Fame players include middle linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed.

In recent years, Ravens players have also repeatedly made NFL history. In 2021, Kicker Justin Tucker broke the record for the longest field goal ever when he made a 66-yard game-winning goal. Also that year, Quarterback Lamar Jackson became the first player in NFL history to reach 3,000+ passing yards and 1,000+ rushing yards in a single season.

Step 2: Get tickets to a game

The Ravens play at the downtown M&T Bank Stadium, right next door to the home of the Orioles, Camden Yards and just a few blocks from the Inner Harbor. Purchase tickets to a Ravens game on the Baltimore Ravens website. Be sure to check the schedule to see when the Ravens are playing your favorite team.

Step 3: Gear up

If you are planning to see a game, why not dress like a fan? There are a few local apparel stores that can outfit you in the team’s colors of purple, black, gold and white. The Raven’s Store is the clearinghouse for all official fan gear and also offers collectibles to commemorate the experience.

If you’d like a local experience, check out Raven Zone in Towson, which boasts one of the largest selection of gear around.

Wild Bill’s also sells all the official team apparel, along with some fun ways to show your spirit, such as purple flashing lights for the car. You can check out their storefront on Belair Road or shop online.

For more retro Ravens apparel, check out Baltimore’s vintage clothing stores, from Balto in Hampden to Bmore Flea Market in Fell’s Point.

Be prepared to see some seriously decked out fans.

Step 4: Join the pre-game festivities

If you want to party like a local, join the tailgate parties inside the M&T Bank Stadium parking lot, which opens four hours before the game starts. (Insider tip: Some season ticket holders are known for their spread and are often willing to share—even with a rival fan.) You can also head to RavensWalk, the walkway in between lots B and C leading into the stadium, to enjoy live music, bars and food stations set up three hours before kickoff.

For options outside of the stadium area, you have your pick of game day specials and viewing experiences. Here are some of our favorites:

• Mother’s Federal Hill – The Purple Patio at Mother’s in Federal Hill is a legendary pregame spot with a DJ booth and an all you can drink special. The parking lot outside the bar is painted green to look like a football field, but on game days it’s so packed with people you probably won’t even notice.
• Pratt Street Ale House – Just a few blocks from the stadium, this bar serves its own brew made by Oliver Brewing Co., the oldest craft brewery in the city. Specials on drinks and wings last all day.
• Pickles Pub – Located among a cluster of rowhomes across from Camden Yards, just a few blocks from M&T Bank Stadium, the classic sports bar offers great happy hour specials and plenty of TVs to watch the game. True to its name, Pickles serves beer-battered pickles served over tortilla chips. Or try the honey Old Bay wings.

Step 5:  Save your appetite

The stadium features a ton of amazing food and drink options, including local specialties like crab cakes, crab dip and pit beef, and there is even a self-serve beer market called Walk Thru Bru.

Guilford Hall Brewery

With a 22-foot screen and state-of-the-art audio-visual system, Guilford Hall makes you feel like you’re right there on the field with your favorite players. The Station North brewery offers European-style ales and bites inspired by traditional Bavarian recipes, plus quintessential Baltimore bar bites like Honey Old Bay chicken wings.

Abbey Burger Bistro

Featuring wall-to-wall television screens, Abbey Burger in Fell’s Point makes it possible to watch multiple NFL games at once in a lively atmosphere that’s as welcoming to rival team supporters as it is to Ravens fans. Pick from more than 40 local beers on tap, or take advantage of gameday beverage specials such as $15 domestic beer buckets and $5 Ravens bombs.

Topgolf

Don’t let the team have all the fun! Root for the Ravens while getting your own play time at the new Topgolf facility near M&T Bank Stadium. With climate-controlled bays (featuring large television screens turned to a channel of your choice), plenty of food and drink options, and music, plus foosball and shuffleboard in the lounge, the swanky sports complex welcomes both athletes and amateurs alike.

Crossbar

It pays to be a Ravens fan at Crossbar, which takes its gameday activations and specials seriously. Ravens legend Jonathan Ogden has stopped in to play bartender before, and they’ve hosted VIP ticket giveaways. Plus, you’re guaranteed a good gameday drink deal, from $15 buckets to $7 Miller Lite liters and $5 Smirnoff bombs.

29th Street Tavern

This cozy neighborhood bar in Remington packs an impressive number of screens into its quaint interior; settle into a seat at the bar, a high-top table or spacious booths perfect for large groups—you’re guaranteed a view of the game no matter where you sit. As for grub, 29th Street Tavern boasts a large selection of Baltimore beers, plus traditional bar eats like burgers, tater tots, chicken wings and cream of crab soup.