Money talks, and Owner Steve Bisciotti is making another loud and clear statement that the Ravens will remain one of the premier franchises in the NFL.
The Ravens are in Year 2 of a massive multi-year improvement project at M&T Bank Stadium and are simultaneously undergoing significant offseason renovations at the Under Armour Performance Center.
In an interview at the NFL owners meetings this week, Bisciotti and President Sashi Brown talked about the advancements with their two aging and evolving crown jewel buildings.
"It's just money. It's just debt," Bisciotti said. "We want the best for our fans. I want the best for my players."
Opened in 1998, M&T Bank Stadium is getting its biggest upgrade yet with a $489 million project. The state-funded project was originally approved for $434 million but needed $55 million in additional funds. To bridge the gap, the Ravens made a $20 million financial commitment with no expectation of reimbursement from the Maryland Stadium Authority.
The 2025 and 2026 projects include large improvements to the North Plaza, upper concourse, new clubs and suites, hospitality areas, and dynamic audio/visual advancements throughout the stadium.
"God bless the state of Maryland. They came up with the money," Bisciotti said. "They didn't get it to the point Art Modell was in Cleveland and [Robert] Irsay was here in Baltimore.
"The state realized that they've got a gem there at Camden Yards and they needed to be proactive. They showed us without fighting how the state can work with teams, and I know [Orioles Owner] David [Rubenstein] is appreciative of it too across the street. We've got a great thing going here, both baseball and football."
Bisciotti also credited M&T Bank for being a "great partner" and extending their relationship through the 2037 season, an agreement reached in 2023 that also advanced the stadium upgrades.
"The Bank" has become one of the most iconic stadiums around the league with the latest advancements and best gameday atmosphere.
"I think that when you say 'iconic,' it's like, win games and certainly the name on the stadium better stay the same," Bisciotti said.
Bisciotti pointed to Brown, who is entering his fourth season after replacing longtime president Dick Cass, as a big reason for the franchise's continued success. In addition to the stadium upgrades, Brown is also overseeing improvements at the Under Armour Performance Center.
"The facilities [upgrades], that's just a no-brainer," Bisciotti said. "I wouldn't get caught behind. I'd rather be one step ahead of that stuff."
While Brown did not reveal the Ravens' training facility projects at this time, he did share that it's designed at improving the experience for players, coaches, and support staff working directly with the players.
The Under Armour Performance Center was first opened in 2004. It underwent a $45 million expansion and renovation in 2018, including a two-story wing creating more space for business operations, a new auditorium, expanded dining hall, bigger locker room, and more.
"The Castle, which is still, I think, one of the best training facilities in sports and part of our legacy, really needed an investment on the football side," Brown said.
"There's been so much progress and evolution. We went to the front of the class and ahead when we first built the Castle. But I think now you've seen colleges at the D-I level and other facilities built around the NFL that have just progressed and pushed forward what a modern training facility looks like. … We really wanted to invest in our players and their experience. So we have some new high-powered, really well thought out and big designs that we shared with our players."
