Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium is simple to travel to by Public Transit. Its a Great Day Trip if you're in the area. If you're flying in for the game, here's what you need to know.
The Ravens usually sell out, but there are thousands of tickets for sale on StubHub & Ticketmaster. On game day, all these tickets show up at the stadium. See below Score The Best Seats - Cheap.
Hotels
On the weekend, there are plenty of affordable hotels around the airport; BWI Business (Hotel) District. They all have free transportation to/from the Airport & Light Rail. All the downtown Baltimore hotels are walking distance to M&T Bank Stadium. Take taxis at night - from dinner back to your hotel. This will be expensive if you're at an airport hotel. Lots of "local" restaurants near the airport hotels. Ask the staff for suggestions - here's mine...
Best Crab Cakes in Baltimore
I'm going to lose a lot of friends in Baltimore, but G & M Lounge & Restaurant...and its near the airport. Get the double crab cake platter BROILED. Thank me later.
Best Breakfast In Baltimore
There are three (3) awesome breakfast places not far from the stadium:
1) Closest to stadium is Miss Shirley's in the Constellation Energy Building (Pratt @ Fallsway). Gourmet breakfast, little pricey, but very good. Only negative on weekends, some tables in lobby of building (i.e. poor service & patrons hovering around you). Get a table inside.
2) Blue Moon Cafe is the Best Breakfast in Baltimore. It's in Fells Point on Aliceanna @ Broadway. Open 24/7 on the weekends. Excellent Omelets, Pancakes, the Capt Crunch French Toast is a TV Travel favorite, but too sweet for my taste. The biscuits are home made and excellent when baked long enough. Not a big place, so if you don't want to wait....
3) Jimmy's is at 801 S Broadway...around the corner from Blue Moon Café. Regular breakfast place of Baltimore Police, Hopkins Hospital Interns & Residents. In the 70's & 80's, the Mayor & City Council would have breakfast here all the time. This place "IS" Baltimore...diner style.
Light Rail - Information
You Must Buy Your Fare Card Before You Board Train. All Day Pass is $3.50 (this is 20 cents more than a round trip ticket, Good for Light Rail, Metro & Bus, Buy it!)...senior & disabled fare is $1.20. Maryland MTA doesn't have "Transfers." The machines take cash and credit cards. DC Metro SmarTrip Card & Maryland MTA Charm Card can be used, tap the fare "target" before you board. If you use a large bill, it will give you change in dollar coins (pain).
M&T Bank Stadium Stop is Hamburg Street. You'll have an extra 15 minute walk to the stadium through all the parking lots, if you get off at Camden Yards (Orioles Park).
Light Rail From & To BWI Airport:
BWI Airport (now Officially called Thurgood Marshall-Baltimore Washington Intl) has direct public transit (Light Rail) to M&T Bank Stadium. The Light Rail is located on the Baggage (Ground Transportation) Level at the FAR END of the Terminal, past the International Gates. If you arrive by Southwest Airlines (Gates A & B) its a 10 minute walk around the horseshoe shaped terminal. Its a shorter walk from other airlines using Gates, C, D & E.
The First Light Rail train leaving BWI on Sunday is 10:40 am. Arrives at M&T Bank Stadium at 11:05 am.
The Last Light Rail train returning to BWI on Sunday leaves downtown stops approx 8:15 pm. There are two trains going southbound towards the airport; BWI Airport & Cromwell Bridge. When returning to BWI, use the BWI Airport Train, otherwise you will have to get off in a desolate (and potentially dangerous area) to wait for the BWI Airport Train.
Traveling By Amtrak:
Baltimore's Penn Station (Amtrak) has "transfer" access to M&T Bank Stadium. When you arrive upstairs in the "Waiting Room" (looks like a 1930s movie set), pass the Information Board and Turn Right. Down the Stairs is the Light Rail Station. See Below Penn Station Transfer.
Exiting at BWI Airport Station requires a Shuttle Bus to BWI Airport. It can be done (follow From BWI Airport), but I would suggest taking train to Penn Station-Baltimore.
Traveling From Wash DC & VA
MARC (commuter train) operate on Sunday, but are not scheduled to be a good option for you at this time. Check with Maryland MTA for updates.
From Wash DC Greenbelt (Green Line) Metro Station, get on the B-30 Bus. The fare is $6 cash and DC Metro "SmarTrip Card" is accepted. Take the B-30 Bus to BWI Airports 2nd Stop (next to Light Rail Station). Follow Light Rail - Information Below. NOTE: The First Light Rail Train on Sunday to Baltimore is 10:40 am.
Penn Station Transfer:
Penn Station to Camden Yards is a "spike" line in the Light Rail System. First train leaves on Sundays at 10:14 am. Exit the Penn Station train at the first stop (U of Baltimore) and wait for next southbound train (either BWI or Cromwell Bridge). This will take you to Hamburg Street (Stadium Stop). If you take the Penn Station train to its last stop, Camden Yards, you can walk the extra 15 minutes through the parking lots to M&T Bank Stadium.
Traveling From the North (PA, DE)
The Light Rail goes as far North as Hunt Valley, MD, I-83 Exit Shawan Road (East). There is free MTA parking at the train station. Wegmans and other restaurants are right there. Its a great place to eat before or after the game. First train leaves Hunt Valley on Sundays at 10:30 am. See Above for Light Rail - Information.
Metro Trains Run All Day, leaves from as far North as Owings Mills, MD. Use Owings Mills Blvd Exit of I-795. Follow signs to Metro. The Metro has plenty of Free Parking. See below Metro - Information.
**The Ravens Express Bus from Owings Mills Metro Parking Lot (and everywhere else) was discontinued several years ago.
Metro - Information
You Must Use a Fare Card To Enter the Turnstile. All Day Pass is $3.50 (this is 20 cents over a round trip ticket, Good for Metro, Light Rail & Buses...Buy It!)...senior & disabled fare is $1.20. The machines take credit cards. If you use cash, it will give you change in dollar coins (pain).
Ride Rear Car of Train, Get off at Charles Center. Follow the crowd towards the stadium, it's a 20 - 25 minutes walk to M&T Bank Stadium from Charles Center.. Many fans get off at State Center & take the Light Rail (on Howard Street - 1 block walk) to Hamburg Street (Stadium stop). This is a good reason to buy an All Day Pass, Maryland MTA does NOT have "transfers."
SCORE THE BEST SEATS - Cheap
What you need to know:
At Kickoff (1 pm), Unused Tickets are Worthless.
Tickets for the Best Seats arrive 30-45 minutes prior to the 1 pm Kickoff (12:15 - 12:30 pm).
DON'T settle for bad seats. This is YOUR DAY! Your team, on the road; your friends will be talking about this game for years to come.
Season Ticket Holders (i.e. Best Seats) have extras or gave them all away to friends, customers and employees. Those great seats are going into the stadium unused...Unless you offer to buy it from the person that have them. Most people are delighted to get something for it.
A lot of people come to the game with extras and what to decide who is sitting next to them. That's why they don't sell it on exchange sites.
Buying extra tickets from a season ticket holder is a Win-Win situation. Thank them for selling it to you.
Do NOT buy from Ticket "Scalpers" - The "I need tickets" guys with 10 tickets in their hand. Some sell fakes & voided tickets. Season ticket holders don't want anything to do with them. They would rather "eat" (carrying it unused into the stadium) the ticket...but you're going to help the season ticket holders by buying their tickets.
Season ticket holders don't want to be "embarrassed" by standing outside "hawking" tickets for sale. But, if they see you're looking to buy a couple of tickets they will ask, "Do you need a ticket?"
The "Face Value" of a ticket means nothing. The team makes season ticket holders feel good that they paid $75 for something marked $150. It also disappoints them when they sell it for $25.
Never buy an "Internet" printed ticket...they've been photo copied 50 times.
What you need to do:
Print up a Seating Chart of M&T Bank Stadium and have it with you. Know what range of sections you want. Don't bother with end zone seats, between the two 30 yards lines is a good range.
Know what you are willing to pay - $25 a ticket is plenty for this game. Have CASH READY to buy the tickets.
Dress (your Bengals attire is fine) & Act like the guy you would want sitting next to your children at Paul Brown Stadium. Nearly every ticket I bought was next to the people I bought it from. Nobody wants to sit next to a jerk.
Go to Where The Tickets are - The best seats Come From Permit Parking on the north side of the Stadium. You're getting off the Light Rail at Hamburg Street, go to your right, as you walk towards the stadium. The Gates around the stadium to the right is where to find the best tickets. Its a Big Plaza with lots of people. Put up 1 or 2 fingers (even if you need 4) to let people know you're looking.
If you came to the stadium via the Metro or you're walking through the parking lots, there are plenty of tickets available for the corner end zone. Go to the Big Plaza, straight ahead, in front of the stadium for the best seats.
The best seats are Purple, Fancy Design, Team Logos, Quality Printed tickets.
Do NOT buy "Internet" printed tickets. If Ticketmaster printed tickets, check the back for printed matter - they should not be blank. Also, they won't be good seats.
Check the tickets for the Section Number, is it in your range? Ask the seller "Are the seats next to you? Are they Good?" If you want the tickets, then offer $25 a ticket. When the person ask for $100, just tell them that's all the want to pay. They may take the $25 or look for a better price, but the clock is ticking. They'll take the $25 and why not? Its better than nothing.
Enjoy the game and your Great Seats.
After the Game - Federal Hill, Harborplace and beyond
M&T Bank Stadium is a few blocks from historic Federal Hill. The "Federal" troops lived in the narrow homes during the Civil War.
There are many restaurants and bars on Charles & Light Streets. No chains, all "local" places.
Out of the stadium, walk past (under) the Light Rail (east side of stadium) on Hamburg Street to Light Street. Charles Street is one block further on Hamburg.
Harborplace, five blocks east of the stadium, has the chains & tourist stops. Walk towards Orioles Park, through the stadium parking lots on the north side. Make a right turn on Conway Street. It comes to an end at Harborplace.
Little Italy, Fells Point, Canton neighborhoods will require a taxi ride from the Stadium area. Not very expensive, but this is a "Going Green" Blog...haha.
If it's daytime, go back to the Light Rail for the ride back to the airport. At night, take taxis from wherever you are to your hotel.
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