How Did the Baltimore Ravens Become Baltimore's NFL Team?

The Baltimore Ravens relocated to Maryland in 1996 from Cleveland, where they had played as the Browns since 1946. The team began play at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore in 1996 and moved to M&T Bank Stadium in 1998, where they remain today. The franchise won Super Bowl XXXV in the 2000 season, their first year of eligibility as a relocated team.

The Cleveland-to-Baltimore Move

The Ravens' origin as a Baltimore franchise is inseparable from the loss and return of professional football to the city. The original Baltimore Colts left for Indianapolis in 1984, departing under cover of darkness in a move that devastated the region's sports identity. For 12 years, Baltimore had no NFL team. In 1995, Art Modell, owner of the Cleveland Browns, negotiated a relocation agreement with Maryland and Baltimore city officials. The move was finalized in February 1996, and the team took the name Ravens after Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem, which was set in Baltimore.

The relocation included a deal with Maryland's Stadium Authority and the city of Baltimore. The state constructed M&T Bank Stadium (originally Oriole Park at Camden Yards' companion facility) specifically for the team. When the Ravens moved from Memorial Stadium to the new facility in 1998, the team had a purpose-built home designed for modern NFL operations, which remains one of the primary reasons for the franchise's on-field stability and economic success relative to other NFL markets.

Why "Ravens"?

Edgar Allan Poe lived and wrote in Baltimore, and "The Raven" (published in 1845) is one of his most famous works. The bird also appears in Poe's poem "Lenore" and elsewhere in his writing. The team's connection to Baltimore's literary history differentiated it from the Browns and gave the franchise local cultural roots beyond simple relocation. The Ravens logo and identity became immediately distinctive in the NFL.

Early Success and the Super Bowl Run

The Ravens' first season in 1996 was a 4-12 campaign under head coach Ted Marchibroda. However, by 2000, the team had built a dominant defense and won Super Bowl XXXV by defeating the New York Giants 34-7 on January 28, 2001 (the game was played in Tampa, Florida, at Raymond James Stadium). This championship came only four years after the franchise arrived in Baltimore, making it one of the fastest Super Bowl wins by a relocated team in NFL history.

The defense of that era, led by Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware, and Rod Woodson, became the model for how the franchise built its identity. The Ravens have emphasized defensive excellence and run-heavy offense ever since, which has shaped the type of players the organization pursues in the draft and free agency.

M&T Bank Stadium and the Franchise Today

M&T Bank Stadium opened in 1998 with a seating capacity of approximately 71,000 (now 71,008). The facility is located in downtown Baltimore near the Inner Harbor and shares the complex with Oriole Park at Camden Yards, home of the MLB's Baltimore Orioles. Both stadiums are owned and operated by the Maryland Stadium Authority, a state agency.

The Ravens play eight regular-season home games at M&T Bank Stadium each season, typically from September through December. Single-game ticket availability and pricing vary by opponent and day of week; the team's official website lists current availability and prices. Season ticket holders have priority access to playoff tickets if the Ravens qualify.

Ravens Ownership and Front Office

The Ravens have had two principal owners since relocation. Art Modell owned the team from 1996 until his death in 2012. Modell's son, Art Modell Jr., inherited the team along with other family members, and the family trust remains the controlling ownership entity today.

The team's general manager oversees personnel decisions and works with the head coach on roster construction. Since the 2015 season, the Ravens have employed Ozzie Newsome in an executive advisory role after his tenure as general manager from 1996 to 2018, during which time he built the roster that won Super Bowl XXXV and maintained competitive teams throughout his tenure.

The Ravens' Place in Baltimore Sports Culture

Baltimore is home to two professional sports franchises: the Ravens (NFL) and the Orioles (MLB). The Ravens have won two Super Bowls (XXXV in the 2000 season and XLVII in the 2012 season), giving them a higher championship count than the Orioles' recent history. The team draws strong support in Maryland and the surrounding mid-Atlantic region, with weekend home games typically drawing crowds exceeding 65,000.