M&T Upgrades

[jessup270]

I'm an elevator mechanic and have worked on escalators over the past 23 years and there are nothing but a pain. Especially ones that are always in contact with the outside and weather.

Maybe they should see if they can find the old escalators from Memorial
Stadium. Maybe there were made in the US and not imported from China.

They seemed to have lasted for many decades.

The public paid a lot of money to have M & T built, they expect and deserve escalators.

Camden Yards has escalators, works well for MLB fans.

Plus the folks with money sit in the lower bowl or the club level, the working class folks don't need escalators.

[Pickle20]

I sit 3 rows from the top of the stadium in section 540.

The ramps and stairs work just fine for me.

[Ravens2006]

I've always been surprised that escalators to the upper level were never part of the original plan. My dad will be 80 by opening day this year, so the steps have been out of the question for years now. We go in early enough that the elevator lines are still reasonable, but I'd imagine that a "novice" stadium-goer that relies on the elevators (physically) and walks up say just 20 minutes before kick-off is almost guaranteed to miss some of the action.

I don't recall seeing escalators to the top in many of the other NFL stadiums I've been to, but that doesn't mean they aren't there. I can only imagine there's a liability angle they're worried about somehow. There are more people in the upper deck alone for a football game than there are in the entire stadium for most Orioles games. More drunks doing stupid crap. Colder weather games mean more bulky clothing, baggy wind pants, people with blankets and scarves that might be dragging on the ground, etc.

[AFKAR7]

Maybe they should see if they can find the old escalators from Memorial
Stadium. Maybe there were made in the US and not imported from China.

They seemed to have lasted for many decades.

The public paid a lot of money to have M & T built, they expect and deserve escalators.

Camden Yards has escalators, works well for MLB fans.

Plus the folks with money sit in the lower bowl or the club level, the working class folks don't need escalators.

Just wondering because I don't remember. Where were they and did they just go up one flight at a time?

There is something to be said for the type of manufacture and maintenance of the unit. I would also guess that the one at OPACY isn't being used in the harsher conditions that the cooler seasons bring. Just look at the ones in the DC metro. They have been a mess and the city had to end up putting some kind of cover on all the ones that have he worst exposure to the elements.

Look I'm just speaking from the view of working and maintaining them. To me they are not worth the trouble they bring. Just a big noisy greasy meat grinder. I avoid them and if I have to take one, I never hold onto the handrail.

I also don't remember seeing any in Foxboro.

[tsmonk]

The stadium could definitely use more bathroom stalls. I prefer not to piss standing next to some drunken slob who is yelling about how Flacco sucks.

Stalls take up too much room. They need to take out the urinals and install urinal troughs. You could fit more guys in there doing their business with that, and the lines would be shorter.

[Fang]

Just wondering because I don't remember. Where were they and did they just go up one flight at a time?

There is something to be said for the type of manufacture and maintenance of the unit. I would also guess that the one at OPACY isn't being used in the harsher conditions that the cooler seasons bring. Just look at the ones in the DC metro. They have been a mess and the city had to end up putting some kind of cover on all the ones that have he worst exposure to the elements.

Look I'm just speaking from the view of working and maintaining them. To me they are not worth the trouble they bring. Just a big noisy greasy meat grinder. I avoid them and if I have to take one, I never hold onto the handrail.

I also don't remember seeing any in Foxboro.

Cleveland has them. They seemed to work fine.

[Marshan Man]

Whatever happened to the giant raven with the glowing red eyes that was supposed to face Russell St. on non-home game days then pivot to face the field on game days?

I still want him...

[Pickle20]

Stalls take up too much room. They need to take out the urinals and install urinal troughs. You could fit more guys in there doing their business with that, and the lines would be shorter.

Handicap stalls take up room.

I understand it's a space issue but just a minor drawback IMO.

[AFKAR7]

Cleveland has them. They seemed to work fine.

Good for Cleveland. Seeing how I will never be there for a game I could care less. I think you missed what I was saying about them.

[SNAFU]

Whatever happened to the giant raven with the glowing red eyes that was supposed to face Russell St. on non-home game days then pivot to face the field on game days?

I still want him...

I remember that. That would've been cool. Apparently they had no money for that all these years. Oh wait........

[Marshan Man]

The problem is the location. Not much draws the public past the MLK overpass except for game days. I am excited to see how the Ravens use the LED boards on the side of the big HD boards. Hope the upgrade looks as good as OPaCY's did last year. I think the Ravens should hang big Super Bowl banners where they show up on TV as another addition.

Not for long..

[jessup270]

I sit 3 rows from the top of the stadium in section 540.

The ramps and stairs work just fine for me.

Just hope that as you age and time catches up with your body, and it will, you can still climb from the ground floor of M & T to 3 rows from the top of the stadium.

Not to mention your spouse if they accompany you to the game.

There is a reason that almost all public buildings accommodate people with various disabilities. The lines for the elevators at M & T are ridiculous.

[Pickle20]

Just hope that as you age and time catches up with your body, and it will, you can still climb from the ground floor of M & T to 3 rows from the top of the stadium.

Not to mention your spouse if they accompany you to the game.

There is a reason that almost all public buildings accommodate people with various disabilities. The lines for the elevators at M & T are ridiculous.

Do only people with disabilities or the elderly use the elevators? They should be.

Elevators and escalators are a luxury.

I bet a lot of the people complaining about having to walk up ramps or stairs are the same people who don't want to stand on third down.

[Fang]

Good for Cleveland. Seeing how I will never be there for a game I could care less. I think you missed what I was saying about them.

But Cleveland has them.

[Fang]

Just hope that as you age and time catches up with your body, and it will, you can still climb from the ground floor of M & T to 3 rows from the top of the stadium.

Not to mention your spouse if they accompany you to the game.

There is a reason that almost all public buildings accommodate people with various disabilities. The lines for the elevators at M & T are ridiculous.

That's exactly it. While I have no trouble walking the ramps myself, I often come to the game with people who don't qualify for the elevator, but have a little bit of a hard time walking the ramps.

If the Ravens want to offer a great game day experience, I would think getting to your seat with relative ease once you enter the stadium and not having to stand in line for half a quarter at the restrooms would be top of the list.

On interesting note, its clear some people don't want or need an escalator to the 500 level, but why do they care if the rest of us ask for one? Even if they were installed the ramps would still be there and would be less crowded.

[OriginalColtsFan]

I sit 3 rows from the top of the stadium in section 540.

The ramps and stairs work just fine for me.

So...since the ramps and stairs work just fine for you, that must mean that escalators couldn't POSSIBLY be a need for anyone else.



The fact that M&T lacks escalators is mind boggling to begin with. And that fact that the issue isn't being addressed year after year is even more mind boggling.

[babylinux]

here we are in Jacksonville, seems easy enough.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alltel_escalators.JPG

[jessup270]

Do only people with disabilities or the elderly use the elevators? They should be.

Elevators and escalators are a luxury.

I bet a lot of the people complaining about having to walk up ramps or stairs are the same people who don't want to stand on third down.

Elevators and escalators are luxuries?

Patrons of the Ravens pay big money for tickets, food, drinks and parking.

They deserve to get accomdations and services commensurate with prices being charged.

I find it really fascinating how some fans insist on standing for long periods of time while watching NFL games. If that is the acceptable norm, perhaps all the seats at M & T should be removed and rails with positions numbers should be installed.

With all the seats removed, M & T should be able to accommodate 100,000 fans, standing at assigned numbers in front of rails.

When Camden Yards and M & T were designed a great deal of seat comfort was engineered into the facility, come to find out it was a total waste of money.

I have a question for PSL holders:

While watching the games at M & T on tv, its seems that a small fraction of fans are standing the entire game, how is that situation handled by ushers and security staff, when customers complain?

[Ravens2006]

My father's almost 80. He uses the elevators every week to go up to the 500s. He can walk down the steps though, for the time being. But I take the elevator with him. Not because I need to, but because he's my dad and I'm not going to leave him alone. In my judgement, I think 80% of those who wait in the elevator lines are there because at least one person in their group legitimately physically need it. The other 20% might just be lazy or out of shape.

I think saying that these things are a "luxury" though is going a bit far. They're a necessity for some. My building at work has the worst elevators in the world. Of 4, only 1 of them is currently in working order. If that one breaks, somebody I'm sure has to be in violation of the ADA. And the handful of folks who use canes, walkers, and wheelchairs to get to the top floor will be virtually unable to get where they need to go. Of course, it's government office space... so that explains why the elevators aren't working, were NEVER inspected, and take MONTHS to get fixed. But that's another issue altogether...

[AFKAR7]

My father's almost 80. He uses the elevators every week to go up to the 500s. He can walk down the steps though, for the time being. But I take the elevator with him. Not because I need to, but because he's my dad and I'm not going to leave him alone. In my judgement, I think 80% of those who wait in the elevator lines are there because at least one person in their group legitimately physically need it. The other 20% might just be lazy or out of shape.

I think saying that these things are a "luxury" though is going a bit far. They're a necessity for some. My building at work has the worst elevators in the world. Of 4, only 1 of them is currently in working order. If that one breaks, somebody I'm sure has to be in violation of the ADA. And the handful of folks who use canes, walkers, and wheelchairs to get to the top floor will be virtually unable to get where they need to go. Of course, it's government office space... so that explains why the elevators aren't working, were NEVER inspected, and take MONTHS to get fixed. But that's another issue altogether...

If that is true you need to call the state. Elevators have to be inspected every year with a full load test done every five years. It does not matter if it's a government building.

Do you mind telling me e building and do you know if they are being taken care of by an outside contractor?

http://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/safety/elev.shtml