BALTIMORE — The entire city is purple with excitement as the Ravens' incredible season gears up for the AFC Championship.
They also bleed green as fans buy tickets and apparel and book hotel stays, providing a significant economic stimulus to the city of Baltimore.
On the field, the Ravens have been in business all year, but off the field, they're boosting business with this excitement leading up to the Super Bowl.
At the Hotel Revival in Mount Vernon – The Ravens' success led to an unusually full house for business in January.
“Business is strong and the Ravens mean a lot to us,” said Hotel Revival General Manager Raymond Sneed. “There's something about the success of the NFL and your team. It's a conversation with your staff, a conversation with your customers, a conversation with a good joke that gets everyone excited.”
And once you've booked your accommodation, there are local fans who do good business at clothing shops like Poor Boys Sports in Dundalk. It's where you'll find the freshest and newest gear for your Ravens flock.
“Honestly, it was a mess. I mean, the parking lot was full and we had a hard time getting cars into the parking lot,” said Michael Tyson, owner of Poor Boys Sports.
What's also amazing is how much money fans will spend on the latest and boldest apparel as the Ravens look to make history in the bank on Sunday. For many enthusiasts, money is a secondary consideration.
“I'm so excited. I've been in this store for about an hour and a half. I have money now. It's no big deal. It's no big deal right now. I'm just extra excited.” said Ravens fan Nicole Green.
What's the reason for the excitement and splurge? Our MVP quarterback, Lamar Jackson, and Baltimore are certainly promises he hopes to keep.
“Draft day, he said, they're going to get a Super Bowl from me…and that's where we got to…so we're ready,” Tyson said.
