From the Baltimore Ravens PR Staff:
For Immediate Release
NEW AUTOGRAPH POLICY AT ‘RAVENS
TRAINING CAMP, CONNECTED BY VERIZON’
The Ravens will institute a new
autograph policy at training camp, which begins at McDaniel College on July 27,
the first day practices are open to the public.
(Rookies and selected veterans
report to “Ravens Training Camp, Connected by Verizon” on Monday,
July 26, and this group practices twice each on July 27 and 28. Veterans report
on July 28, and the first full-team practices open to the public will take place
on July 30. There is an “Administrative Day” on July 29 that is not
open to the public or media.)
Players will sign autographs
for children only after all morning practices. Autographs will not be available
following afternoon practices.
Safety is the key factor for the
change. “We have considered changing the way we do autograph signings for
a few years,” team president Dick Cass said. “Our crowds for
the morning practices have become so large that we’ve had safety
situations with people pushing each other to try and get closer to the players.
Often times, children would be put in difficult positions with the rush for
autographs, especially from our most popular players.”
Many NFL teams select a few
players each day to sign a limited number of autographs in a designated area.
“We want to keep the spontaneity and closeness we have with our fans who
come to training camp,” Cass added. “The connectivity we have with
our fans at camp is important to us and a Ravens’ tradition. We know that
every person who comes to camp and wants an autograph cannot get one because of
the players’ schedules. Under our new system, more children will have the
opportunity, and that’s important to us.”
Children ages 6 through 15 will
be allowed on the field after each morning practice. Children must wear a
Ravens-issued wristband to enter the autograph area. There will be a tent
adjacent to the fields where wristbands will be issued. Children can bring one
item to be autographed, and adults will not be allowed to enter the autograph
area.
Please note that two-thirds of
the team has a post-practice football activity after every morning session.
One-third of the team is required to lift weights. Another third is required to
attend “Back School,” which is a core workout usually done outside.
The other third is available to sign autographs. Team schedules are subject to
change, and not every child is guaranteed an autograph.