The Ravens opened their new stadium with a 19-14
exhibition win over the Bears in front of 65,938 fans on
Saturday night (WASHINGTON POST, 8/9). In Baltimore, the
SUN's architecture critic Edward Gunts wrote that the "real
story" of the new stadium is "how different" it is from
Oriole Park "in size, scale and character." Gunts: "If
Oriole Park were a graceful stroll into the past, the Ravens
stadium is a rocket blast into the future. It's bigger,
bolder and brawnier than its intimate, old-fashioned
neighbor. ... The building has an honesty that befits
Baltimore, with its working-class heritage" (SUN, 8/9).
Also in Baltimore, Ken Rosenthal wrote that the stadium is
"better than Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, better than almost all
of them," but "isn't the best football stadium ever built"
(SUN, 8/9). USA TODAY's Larry King writes that the stadium
"can't match Oriole Park for charm. But it is arguably the
finest football-only stadium ever built" (USA TODAY, 8/10).
TALKING POINTS: In DC, Thomas Heath writes that the
100-foot wide video screens at the stadium "added movie-
theater clarity and high-quality sound to the replays,
highlights and videos that were part of Saturday night's
debut." The screens "had fans oohing and aahing"
(WASHINGTON POST, 8/10). Bears President Michael McCaskey
"spent most of a substantial halftime interview ...
complaining about Soldier Field and comparing it unfavorably
to the Ravens' new stadium." McCaskey: "We pay this huge
rent and we have no video board" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/10).
RUMORS: NEWSDAY's Bob Glauber wrote that the "rumor
mill" has Ravens Owner Art Modell with "serious financial
problems" where he might have to consider selling the team."
A source "close to Modell" denied the rumor, saying,
"Financially, Art's a happy guy" (NEWSDAY, 8/9).
