King of The DMV

Growing up, I hated the Washington Redskins (now the Commanders). When the Colts weren’t on TV, Redskins’ games were jammed down our throats, even the torturous ones against cellar-dwellers like the Cardinals, Falcons and Lions. Making things even worse, nationally featured games were blacked out here in Baltimore because we were within the viewing radius of DC and therefore subjected to the painful visuals of George Allen and his tribe.

Back then we didn’t have options. If you wanted to watch the NFL, you had to take what they fed to your TV market. And that only fueled my disdain for the colors of burgundy and gold.

When the Colts left town, it got worse. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue (who was also a Washington fan) considered Baltimore to be part of the Redskins fan base. The thought alone is repulsive, nearly as disturbing as Tagliabue’s later comment during Baltimore’s expansion team efforts that our town should spend taxpayer dollars on a museum instead of a then state-of-the-art stadium. I wish that I had a dollar for every “FU” directed at Tagliabue.

A lot has changed since the Ravens arrived in 1996. Baltimore has celebrated two Super Bowl Championships, and the Ravens are a regular playoff participant. Meanwhile the Washington football team has won just 3 playoff games since the 1991 season, none since 2005 and they’ve failed to advance beyond the divisional round.

But all of that seems like a distant memory now for Washingtonians who are stoked about their (4-1) team and their highly touted, shiny brand-new toy named Jayden Daniels. Isn’t it about time? Only now, we don’t care about DC’s team. They’ve been insignificant for so long, changed their name and uniforms, brought in a new owner and they play in that rickety stadium that features a broken septic system which offers plumes of toxic aroma for all the paying customers and suite owners.

The animosity is gone and in some sectors of the Baltimore fan base, there’s empathy for DC fans that parallels the feeling you might have for the only kid on the block who doesn’t have a bike.

On Sunday the Commanders head to Baltimore – the first-place Commanders. And for the first time in a long, long time, practically the span of a complete generation, DC has a team to get excited about.

Washington was once a proud franchise and their fans were rabid, loyal, dyed-in-the-wool. Today there’s a reawakening happening in The District! And not since RGIII was a thing in DC, have Commanders fans had a reason to travel with their team in mass. Why spend the money in some other team’s stadium only to be embarrassed? But for now, things have changed, and you can expect a huge contingent of Washington fans tainting the purple chairs at The Bank.

Don’t believe me?

I’ve had dozens of requests to promote tickets for sale from Ravens fans on our Facebook group page, which by the way, I decline regularly. (By you CAN sell tix in our forums HERE). There’s pent up ambition for DC fans to travel with their team. And Baltimore is the perfect venue for them to dip their toes in road game waters, being just 50 miles up the road.

As an aside, I’ve been told by Washington fans that given the horrible infrastructure around Northwest Stadium (which ironically is southwest of M&T), that it takes less time to travel to Baltimore and get in, out and back home than it does for a field trip to lackluster Landover. Add it all up, and ticket prices for tomorrow’s game are soaring.

BREAKING: The #Commanders–#Ravens game is the HOTTEST REGULAR SEASON GAME TICKET on @TICKPICK IN BALTIMORE HISTORY.

The average purchase price of all tickets sold in the last seven days is $379.

Last season’s AFC Championship was the only more expansive home game. pic.twitter.com/zBJejFbXW2

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) October 11, 2024

So, if you’re tempted to cash in and give up on attending this game, sell to a Ravens fan. If you can’t, keep the ticket and go. It’s going to be an exciting and beautiful day at The Bank. And I think you’re going to love the outcome.

It’s time to protect our turf Baltimore.

It’s time to show our DC neighbors who’s king of the NFL in the DMV.

The improbable is never impossible… pic.twitter.com/KfYvpjzeux

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 10, 2024

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Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2024/10/12/lombardis-way/commanders-visit-baltimore/