The Parade and Celebration

[ziptop]

Could people please describe their experiences, especially for those that can't be there. I'm far away, but would love love love to be there. I think this is maybe a once in a lifetime, something very special. Something to celebrate, an excuse to celebrate, for the whole community of Baltimore to on one day just forget everything else and cleebrate together. Congratulatione to all the fans, to the Ravens and to the community of Baltimore. Yay Joe, Yay Ray, Yay Baltimorons.

[EmDot]

Just got back. Just like Joe said it was effing awesome. Live in the neighborhood and knew they were running late, so didn't leave until around 11:00. Drove a little closer and parked at a friend's house closer where there's permit parking, so there was no problem getting a space. Could tell there was going to be a lot of people so we went to the parade route and got a pretty good spot on Pratt Street just east of Light. Parade didn't get to us until about noon. The crowd was huge and very patient. By the time Lewis got to us, people from the earlier parade route had gotten through the barriers and were pretty much walking/running the route to the stadium, which was already filled to capacity. I think the players were very impressed with the crowd. Lots of cheering for everyone with the team. When the parade was over, we went into Tir Na Nog for lunch. They had TVs all over the place so we were able to watch everything from the stadium.

Here's some images from the local station.

[techbalt]

I was at Pratt and Howard, I walked from my house in Reservoir Hill all the way down Eutaw to the parade where I met my friend at the Lexington Market subway station (He told me at Owings Mills they were just letting people on for free because there were so many people there). Eutaw was jammed with cars starting at MLK. It was not a good day to drive in Baltimore.

The crowd in my location was not orderly. They ripped through a plastic barrier that had been set up to give camera men a viewing spot. Kids were running all over the place. Open containers of alcohol and one kid smoking weed. I made a comment to my friend that the crowd could easily overpower security and storm the parade route. Toward the end of the parade people just jumped the barrier and the route was flooded with people. The stadium must have been packed before the parade even started because they were not letting anyone in there. Many disappointed faces outside the stadium.

I was also at the 2001 parade. There had to be at least five times as many people at the festivities today. Maybe even ten times as many people.

[Purple_Sunday]

The 2001 Parade was a little league event compared to today!!!

I was in line at Gate C of the stadium at 7:30 a.m. They opened the gate a little before 10 and it was a race to the seats. The place was packed and rocking from that point on. People did not sit. Harbaugh and Biscotti took the stage briefly before the team buses left for City Hall. Kudos to the Ravens for showing WBAL's coverage of the event - City Hall & Parade - on the big screens. By the time the team got back, the entire seating bowl (upper level, lower level, and club level) and the field were full. I heard there was an estimated 10,000 fans on the field alone. They were packed in pretty good from the 25 yard line on the East side of the end zone all the way across and down the field to the West end zone. They closed the gates and fans were still trying to climb in.

The celebration itself was really great. Ray's dance was epic, the players were clearly overwhelmed, and it was just one huge party. It was certainly a day that none of us there will forget.

The police and SAFE management were very worried. They tried to keep fans out of the aisles, but they were just outnumbered and couldn't do it. There was definitely not enough security and things could have gotten very ugly. But for the most part I think they kept it under control. There were 80,000+ fans at the stadium, and who knows how many fans lined the parade route and City Hall. From what I could see on the video screen those crowds were huge. There had to be over 100,000 fans downtown today!

[KSweeley]

I attended the Victory/Welcome Home Parade for the Ravens today and it was truly amazing just how packed downtown Baltimore was. I have recorded two videos that I am currently uploading, the first is the entire Parade going down Pratt Street in front of the Baltimore Convention Center and the second is of the massive amounts of people that just flooded onto Pratt Street and was walking the route onto Howard Street and the amounts of people was so massive that at least two undercover police Suburbans escorting Ravens vehicles to the stadium could not get through the crowd even with lights and sirens active. I'll post links to the two videos once they are finished uploading.

Taking the Orange Route of the Charm City Circulator near University of Maryland Medical Center so I could take either the 8 or the 48 home was packed with people. I got off at Howard Street and walked up to Greene and walked to the transit center and got on a #48 that instantly got completely full at the UMMC transit center, it bypassed every stop in downtown which was totally packed with people waiting for the bus, the stop that the bus could take passengers was at 33rd and Greenmount Avenue which is the stop I get off to walk home from.

[SNAFU]

One of the reports on TV said 250,000 fans entered Baltimore.

[AFKAR7]

Was a good day untill I went to take the light rail home. Got to the platform to head south at 1:50. Didn't see the first train untill about 3:20. The first five trains were packed and nobody was able to get on. Got back to my car at 4:10. The last time I used light rail was Eddie Murray's night at the stadium and had to wait an hour for a train. I will never use the light rail again.

[DJGreg1200]

I didn't go to the parade but I was at the stadium for the Rally. Over 80,000 people and the stadium was ROCKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joe getting the M-V-P chant from the crowd was AWESOME, Reed singing "2 tickets to Paradise" was funny but nothing beat getting to see #52 do his dance one last time.

2001 was like a birthday party for a 5 year old compared to this.

If you missed it, I just hope you had a very good reason.

[Nightman]

Best thing that I did today was riding the red Line on the Washington Metrorail System to Union Station and taking MARC to Camden Yard Station to the rally at the stadium. I was lucky to get a seat in the upper part of the lower endzone section on the Russel Street side of the stadium.

Liked the fact that Flacco entered to When You Wish Upon a Star. The response was 1000x better than 2001 from the fans.

[KSweeley]

Well, here's the links to the two videos I took.

Video of the Parade seen from Pratt Street in front of the Baltimore Convention Center: http://youtu.be/RH5y74aiw3g

Video of the massive amounts of people on the Parade route from Pratt onto Howard Street: http://youtu.be/4UUti3ojN4M

[jsdorsey]

Here's some pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnsco...th/8447805245/

[Marchetti]

We got to the Mt Washington Light Rail stop at 9:10am and there was strain there but we couldn't get on because it was S.R.O. packed. The waiting platform was packed too with people walking up from parked cars.

It seemed like forever until another train came but that was packed too so we had to wait again. (the MTA should be crucified for not scheduling extra trains, ridiculous)

after :45 minutes of waiting at 9:55a we left for my car and monitored the iPhone app "Beat the traffic"...we figured since I95 N&S were bumper to bumper and 295N was too, that we'd avoid the JFX..so we chose Charles St, got on St Paul St at University Pkwy and proceeded south. We ended up making a right on Lombard St?? go cut over to Charles St and parked in the garage underneath the Mechanic Theatre for $15 and walked the what ...3 blocks to Pratt St...and thats where we watched the parade. We were on the barrier with a great view.

Once the parade was in it's final stage the mob of fans who breached the barriers filled Pratt St and surrounded the final vehicles while walking with them in jubilation, delirious jubilation. I told my nephew to stop sticking his phone out to take pictures as I was afraid one of them would snatch it and run. (I started fearing this mob might get out of control at any second and I feared if that happened a stampede was possible so I said "lets get outta here"...because were weren't going to the stadium anyway as that was packed)

We made it back to the garage before anyone else, first to leave, headed north and after negotiating pedestrians and cars for 3 blocks...we had smooth sailing up a strangely empty Charles St to the JFX and home in Parkville just after Ray did his squirrel dance to relax and watch the rest.

A GREAT day, awesome enthusiastic crowd, couldn't believe the over the top jubilation.
Now, that said.....I had heard that the 2001 crowd was 300,000 in the misty rain and I hear this was crazier and a bigger crowd but I'm only hearing estimates of 250,00 so I don't get the disconnect there.

A GREAT Day (week...month) To Be A Baltimore football fan!!

[Marchetti]

We got to the Mt Washington Light Rail stop at 9:10am and there was train there but we couldn't get on because it was S.R.O. packed. The waiting platform was packed too with people walking up from parked cars.

It seemed like forever until another train came but that was packed too so we had to wait again. (the MTA should be crucified for not scheduling extra trains, ridiculous)

after :45 minutes of waiting at 9:55a we left for my car and monitored the iPhone app "Beat the traffic"...we figured since I95 N&S were bumper to bumper and 295N was too, that we'd avoid the JFX..so we chose Charles St, got on St Paul St at University Pkwy and proceeded south. We ended up making a right on Lombard St?? go cut over to Charles St and parked in the garage underneath the Mechanic Theatre for $15 and walked the what ...3 blocks to Pratt St...and thats where we watched the parade. We were on the barrier with a great view.

Once the parade was in it's final stage the mob of fans who breached the barriers filled Pratt St and surrounded the final vehicles while walking with them in jubilation, delirious jubilation. I told my nephew to stop sticking his phone out to take pictures as I was afraid one of them would snatch it and run. (I started fearing this mob might get out of control at any second and I feared if that happened a stampede was possible so I said "lets get outta here"...because were weren't going to the stadium anyway as that was packed)

We made it back to the garage before anyone else, first to leave, headed north and after negotiating pedestrians and cars for 3 blocks...we had smooth sailing up a strangely empty Charles St to the JFX and home in Parkville just after Ray did his squirrel dance to relax and watch the rest.

A GREAT day, awesome enthusiastic crowd, couldn't believe the over the top jubilation.
Now, that said.....I had heard that the 2001 crowd was 300,000 in the misty rain and I hear this was crazier and a bigger crowd but I'm only hearing estimates of 250,00 so I don't get the disconnect there.

A GREAT Day (week...month) To Be A Baltimore football fan!!

[Baltimore Ravens Lets Go!]

I can say I was in Baltimore but due to traffic congestion and zero parking was unable to see either the parade or the stadium event. It was a traffic nightmare. It normally takes about 90 minutes driving at the speed limits on I-70 and 695 and 95. However the last 8 miles of the journey (695 to 95) took three hrs as traffic was going no were, people were cutting each other off and just when we were about to reach the Russell Street exit they CLOSED IT OFF. So then we were forced to go exit 53 and were herded or forced to Conway street. I had two passengers who I offered two drop off as we went by M&T and could see fans already at the top levels of the stadium at 11:45 but they opted not, which was a big mistake as there was NO parking to be found and we needed to get out from being in the car all that time. We could hear the cheering and see mobs of people and that was about it. I was able to pull over in a tow away zone and we got out and others were doing the same. One guy was trying to find his family that he dropped off but they blocked off the stadium and wouldn't let him close enough. Another guy from Frederick did like us and just had to stand there from a distance hearing the cheers but not getting to enjoy anything. The times were not the same as what they stated would be (stadium parking lots open at 9:00) the parking was full by 9:15. They also said the stadium would be open to the public at 10:00 and they must have opened several hours earlier. The only way we could have seen it would have been to abandon our vehicles about a mile from the stadium and walk in.

This was very disappointing. I should have gotten a room in a hotel on Monday night if I had a do-over. It was a total wasted trip as we missed it all. The only thing we got to see was driving accross the bridge behind the stadium we saw Flacco, Rice and Ngata getting into their vehicles. Rice was holding his little baby. Other than that a total waste of time!

They should have opened OPACY for folks who were turned away from the stadium to at least be able to watch on the big screen but I don't know where they would have parked. I can tell you thousands more were like us and didn't get to park or see either event.

[NCBirdfan]

I wasn't able to be there but watched it online. I was gad to share the joy here in NC. Go Ravens!

[Peej7245]

In 2001, I was excited that the Ravens had won but more because of the novelty and the "stick in Tagliabu's eye" aspect.

Watching it on NFL Network (I live in Atlanta) made me proud to be a Ravens fan. I watched the kind of enthusiasm reserved for those of us who went through a lot with the team.

[ziptop]

I can say I was in Baltimore but due to traffic congestion and zero parking was unable to see either the parade or the stadium event. It was a traffic nightmare. It normally takes about 90 minutes driving at the speed limits on I-70 and 695 and 95. However the last 8 miles of the journey (695 to 95) took three hrs as traffic was going no were, people were cutting each other off and just when we were about to reach the Russell Street exit they CLOSED IT OFF. So then we were forced to go exit 53 and were herded or forced to Conway street. I had two passengers who I offered two drop off as we went by M&T and could see fans already at the top levels of the stadium at 11:45 but they opted not, which was a big mistake as there was NO parking to be found and we needed to get out from being in the car all that time. We could hear the cheering and see mobs of people and that was about it. I was able to pull over in a tow away zone and we got out and others were doing the same. One guy was trying to find his family that he dropped off but they blocked off the stadium and wouldn't let him close enough. Another guy from Frederick did like us and just had to stand there from a distance hearing the cheers but not getting to enjoy anything. The times were not the same as what they stated would be (stadium parking lots open at 9:00) the parking was full by 9:15. They also said the stadium would be open to the public at 10:00 and they must have opened several hours earlier. The only way we could have seen it would have been to abandon our vehicles about a mile from the stadium and walk in.

This was very disappointing. I should have gotten a room in a hotel on Monday night if I had a do-over. It was a total wasted trip as we missed it all. The only thing we got to see was driving accross the bridge behind the stadium we saw Flacco, Rice and Ngata getting into their vehicles. Rice was holding his little baby. Other than that a total waste of time!

They should have opened OPACY for folks who were turned away from the stadium to at least be able to watch on the big screen but I don't know where they would have parked. I can tell you thousands more were like us and didn't get to park or see either event.

You were there, you were part of it; I know it was frustrating but you were part of the show, part of the celebration. You tried your best. No one could fault your effort. You were there!

Thanks for the stories, everyone did a great job of conveying the experience, the celebration and how unique a happy experience it was. I was there in spirit. Congratulations to the people of Baltimore. Maybe we could make "celebration" our middle name.

[44Defense]

AWESOME! First class all the way

[Fang]

Here's some pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnsco...th/8447805245/

Awesome pics! Thanks for sharing.

[Purple_Sunday]

Here's some pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnsco...th/8447805245/

Awesome pictures!! Thanks for sharing.

The times were not the same as what they stated would be (stadium parking lots open at 9:00) the parking was full by 9:15. They also said the stadium would be open to the public at 10:00 and they must have opened several hours earlier.

I was one of the first inside the stadium when they opened the gates - at about 9:50 a.m. Others who were up near the front of the line said the parking lots were already open when they got there at 7:15.