We end 2018 with a countdown of the 10 biggest stories of the year on Football Stadium Digest, as chosen by editors and partially based on page views. Today, #8: The Baltimore Ravens debut their latest M&T Bank Stadium upgrades.
M&T Bank Stadium has been receiving upgrades in recent years, the result of a three-year, roughly $120 million investment from the Ravens. The renovations completed in 2018 marked some of project’s most extensive to date, including technology and access improvements, and reflected some of the broader goals that the organization has sought to accomplish.
Prior to the 2017 season, the Ravens completed several changes at M&T Bank Stadium, including technology upgrades in the form of two new main videoboards and LED ribbons. Building off of that work, the Ravens unveiled new technology-related elements in 2018. Four new “corner-notch” suites and videoboards were added to the stadium, with the video displays measuring approximately 33 feet wide by 44 feet high. Furthermore, a new sound system was installed, while the Wi-Fi network’s capability was increased.
Technology was one of the core components of M&T Bank Stadium upgrades for 2018, but the Ravens also made access one of their focal points. In November, new escalators at the stadium became operational, marking the first results of a larger installation project that is slated to wrap up in 2019.
The Ravens have billed the ongoing renovation as a three-phase project, and are planning to continue work in 2019. For next season, the club will focus on finishing the remaining escalators and elevators, while addressing other areas of M&T Bank Stadium. That will include the club level, where–according to a November press release–the bar/lounge and concession areas will receive extensive overhauls. Additionally, the stadium’s kitchen facilities will be renovated.
Until the next phase is complete, the Ravens’ ongoing plan for the facility will not be fully realized. Still, 2018 was a big year in many respects for the project. It not only brought some of the biggest changes to M&T Bank Stadium since its 1998 opening, but allowed the Ravens to emphasize a few key areas of the overall renovation project–including technology and access improvements. The latest upgrades also provide some momentum heading into 2019, when the Ravens will once again make M&T Bank Stadium upgrades a part of their fan experience.
Here’s our Top Ten of 2018 to date:
Best of 2018, #9: Shad Khan’s Wembley Stadium Offer Stalls
Best of 2018, #10: University of South Alabama’s New Stadium Moves Forward