In Baltimore, Peter Schmuck noted the Ravens Saturday held training camp drills for three hours at M&T Bank Stadium and drew “nearly 25,000 fans.” Saturday's open house was “this year's only chance for fans to attend training camp, which pumped up attendance by about 7,000 over last year's public workout.” The Ravens “did everything they could to spice up an otherwise perfunctory practice session.” There was “some question before the workout whether it would be practical to hold a mass autograph session around the perimeter of the field.” The Ravens “held out the possibility of cancelling it if the crowd was too large to be manageable, but the long workout and muggy weather took care of that” (Baltimore SUN, 8/7).
REBUILDING: In Charlotte, Ron Green Jr. noted the Panthers held a Fan Fest Saturday at Bank of America Stadium and an “announced crowd of 15,389 attended.” At least “12,000 rosters were being used as fans to keep spectators cool on a hot, muggy day” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 8/7). A CHARLOTTE OBSERVER editorial stated a “successful” Panthers franchise is “sure better for the local economy.” The team after a 2-14 season last year, spent “more than $272 million on nine players in four dizzying days,” and Owner Jerry Richardson indicated that the acquisitions were “part of the rebuilding plan all along.” The editorial: “Perhaps he was nudged a bit by the vocal dissatisfaction of fans last season. But his team is getting raves locally and nationally for its foundation of young talent.” In a city “that's had its recent struggles, it's a reminder of the boldness we once boasted” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 8/7).
THE TASK AT HAND: In St. Petersburg, Holder & Stroud wrote filling Raymond James Stadium on game day “remains a chore despite a team that has” Buccaneers co-chair Bryan Glazer “thinking big.” Glazer said, "We're hoping (for sellouts) this year. Obviously, the economy here is still in bad shape in the Tampa Bay area. But we think as the team wins and we move forward and the plan continues, the fans will start coming back." Holder & Stroud noted “equally important is selling the fan base on the plan, which includes building through the draft and eschewing free agents who might be a quick fix.” Glazer: "I think there are some people waiting to see what happens this year, but the plan continues to roll along" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 8/7).
NOTES: In Denver, Mike Klis reported the Broncos had “3,000 season tickets that weren’t renewed” this offseason. While the NFL lockout was “still on, the Broncos went to their season-ticket waiting list and resold 2,500 of those tickets in two weeks.” The team “held back 500 to put on sale as general admission single-game tickets” (DENVER POST, 8/7).... In Jacksonville, Vito Stellino notes a “good crowd of 15,122 watched” the Jaguars scrimmage yesterday. Still, the team “didn’t get the bump in season-ticket sales they hoped for after the lockout ended and might need a surge in group sales and single-game tickets to avoid TV blackouts this fall” (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 8/8)....In St. Paul, Fowler & Murphy noted a “crowd of 9,145 -- a Vikings training camp record by almost 2,000” -- came out to watch the team Saturday at Minnesota State Univ.’s Blakeslee Stadium (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 8/7).
