Baltimore Ravens will reduce stadium capacity to fewer than 14,000 fans

Speculation swirls daily surrounding the return of sports in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The latest development comes from the NFL and it casts an ominous cloud for fans who wish to be in the stands to watch their favorite football team this fall. In an address to season ticket holders, the Ravens announced that all 2020 season tickets will be deferred to 2021. If local officials do allow fans in the stands this fall, stadium capacity would be reduced to "fewer than 14,000" to abide by social distancing guidelines. That number is less than 20% of M&T Bank Stadium's normal 71,000-seat capacity. "To offer a proper level of safety for fans who want to attend games, a reduction in capacity is necessary," stated Ravens president Dick Cass. "We are disappointed that this will be a disruption for many ticket buyers, but we have an obligation to our fans and our community to keep M&T Bank Stadium as safe as possible." If they can open their gates to fans, the Ravens will restart the season ticket process for the 2020 season, making the process as equitable as possible. Earlier this week KSR reported that Mitch Barnhart has discussed with donors a plan to fill Kroger Field and Rupp Arena with fans at 50% capacity. If enacted, the plan would open the doors for about 30,000 UK football fans this fall, more than doubling the limits set by the Ravens.