Five dollars will get you a behind the scenes tour of the M&T Bank Stadium – home of the Ravens football team. I am not a sports fan, but with our SSCC architecture competition on the schedule, I thought it would be a good place to get started.

The short concrete barriers along the parking entry made a good series of shadows and repeating lines.

There are lots of angle possibilities on the outside of the stadium structure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walkways and ramps have lots of crossing lines and shadows. Empty entry ways give good perspective shots which you cannot get during game times when they are full of fans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since the main field is real grass, visitors do not get to venture out to take pictures like they used to. Going in, I thought it would make a unique picture to go out to the middle of the field and take a picture looking back – it would be a picture perspective that most other people would not have the opportunity to take, but such was not the case.

 

 

 

 

Being real grass, they use artificial light to promote growth. My kids are into “Doctor Who”, so I took this picture because it reminded me of a Dalek.

When you are on higher levels, be sure you go over to the edge of the walkways for some good shots down from above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be sure to look up; The ceilings are full of interesting shapes and lines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They have a hallway of history that the guide makes very interesting even to the non sports fan. Nearby interesting equipment is standing ready for game time.

I had never heard of Cheetos Popcorn. I think it is interesting that the whole pan looks like it rotates.

They design the private suite hallways to look like a hotel instead of stark stadium décor. The tour visits a private suite. For over $100,000 you can have use of it all year long, not just for game time.

You can watch from inside, or go out into your own private seating area. LOTS of perks come with this ticket.

 

The railings between the private suites make for a good reflective shot.

The press box was strangely quiet, but it certainly looked ready with lots of work space.
The photo op I did not take: There is a hallway in the press box area that has nice large pictures of each of the Raven players in action (about 24″x36″).  If I had thought I would be writing this article, I would have at least taken a hallway overview shot for you to see. Other fans on the tour were very happy to take a picture of themselves next to their favorite team member’s big-as-life photo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are party areas that have a lot of interesting photo options.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The shadows coming in the window were irresistible.

I took these at the optimum time; when we passed back through later, the shadows were nowhere to be seen.

Be sure you take the opportunity to look out any windows – different parts of Baltimore can be seen.

 

The locker room did not have much photographic interest … unless you are a Ravens fan. There are little name tags above each cubical; people from the tour sat on their favorite player’s stool and took their pictures. They loved it!

 

 

It is always a challenge to capture your own seating picture and try to make it look more interesting than all the ones you might have seen before. There are lots of stair options too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They also have a jail with 3 or 4 cells; It was interesting, but I did not find it photogenic.
And then there are always remnants of peanuts – a fun day gone by.