Because we are so scary...

[Buzz05]

Ravens fans brave Steelers Country
Hundreds of Baltimore supporters making the trip to Pittsburgh for AFC title game
By Stephen Kiehl | stephen.kiehl@baltsun.com
January 14, 2009

Andrew Levine of Lutherville (center), his wife, Julie, and cousin Jonathan Levine will be in Pittsburgh for the game. "Tell the fans: Wear your purple. It's OK. That's why you're going," Andrew Levine said. (Baltimore Sun photo by Gene Sweeney Jr. / January 13, 2009)



It will be cold, dark and overrun with brutish Steelers fans.
Still, hundreds of Ravens fans plan on making the trip to Pittsburgh for the AFC championship game Sunday night. Fans who paid top dollar for flights to Miami or drove 12 hours to Nashville, Tenn., to see the previous two playoff games are at least grateful that this one takes place in a neighboring state.

But tickets are more expensive than the past playoff games - anywhere from $200 to $2,500. Ravens fans also worry that wearing purple will make them easy targets for aggressive Steelers boosters. Not that it's stopping them from going.

"You get one or two morons who will throw stuff at you. But the key is to just mind your own business," said Andrew Levine, 44, who is going to the game with his wife. He suggests fans remove their Ravens flags from their cars when they park in Pittsburgh, but sporting Ravens colors at the game is mandatory, he said.

"Tell the fans: Wear your purple. It's OK. That's why you're going," said Levine, who lives in Lutherville and is self-employed.

The intensity of the Ravens-Steelers rivalry is a big factor drawing fans to the game. The teams have already met twice this year, with the Steelers taking both contests. Some fans say the game will feature the two best teams in football, and they don't want to miss that, at any cost.

"It's one of those unique opportunities to go to an AFC championship game and see the biggest rivals play each other," said Brad Layman, 23, a teacher in New York City. Layman, who grew up in Ellicott City and graduated from the University of Maryland, will drive from Baltimore to Pittsburgh with two college friends. They found tickets online for $260 apiece.

Layman said he'll wear his Ray Lewis jersey to the game - and, in fact, he's been wearing it while teaching his middle school classes this week - and take his chances with the Steelers fans. He predicts the Ravens will win by a field goal.

On TicketsNow.com yesterday, about 1,700 tickets to the game were available, for an average price of $455. Other ticket sites reported similar prices and high demand. Baltimore-based Superior Tours Motor Coach sold 80 playoff packages, priced at $500 each, which included a game ticket and transportation on a charter bus.

Tickets to the Ravens-Steelers game are selling for more than tickets to the NFC championship game that sends the Philadelphia Eagles to meet the Arizona Cardinals. One reason is the loyal Baltimore fan base.

"Ravens fans are definitely some of the more committed fans in the NFL," said Scott Roback, vice president of business development for RazorGator, a ticket site. "When you looked out [in the stands] in Tennessee, you saw an impressive contingent of Ravens fans. I think you can expect to see that again because this is a pretty epic game."

He said two factors could mitigate demand: the economy and the weather. The forecast for Sunday in Pittsburgh calls for temperatures in the 20s and possible snow showers. The weather and ticket prices, combined with hostile Steelers fans, have persuaded a few Ravens fans to stay home and watch the game from bars or private parties.
But Pittsburgh is the closest and easiest to reach of the Ravens' playoff games this month. And the matchup is a lure.

"It's smash-mouth East Coast AFC football and just the nature of the run that the Ravens are on and obviously the Steelers being one of America's teams, if you will," Roback said. "So demand is holding."

Jarrod Sharp and a friend purchased lower-deck tickets for $298 each Sunday night when it became clear the Steelers would win and be the Ravens' opponent in the AFC championship. Sharp, 31, a network security engineer in Bethesda and Ravens season-ticket holder, said it was too difficult to get to the Miami and Nashville games. But he didn't hesitate about traveling to Pittsburgh.

"It's worth it to me to actually see us ruin Pittsburgh's hopes at Heinz Field," he said. "I'm a bit nervous because I know the Steelers' fans' reputation. But I just have such a good feeling about our team that I really think we're going to repeat the success we had in 2000-2001."

Sharp and his friend, who both intend to wear Joe Flacco jerseys, are driving up Saturday to meet up with Steelers fans they met in Baltimore when the Steelers played here earlier in the season. They'll go out with those fans Saturday night and attend their tailgate Sunday. But once the game starts, it's a different story.

"My real concern is aggressive, drunk Steelers fans starting trouble," Sharp said. "Hopefully, they'll be respectful because I've got a girl with me, but I might be thinking too highly of them."

This article is such a load of crap I had to post it...they make us sound like we are a barbarian horde who just rape and pillage...terrible journalism

[memphissteelergirl]

'Nuff said.

[Hammer67]

Just columnists playing to their base....who cares?

[XxKnightxX]

What a bunch of Vajs, stay the F home then the terrible victims, whats next? a Frickin RatShit Fan saying he got mugged then got an S carved on his face because he was a RAven supporter? Jesus Christ wat a bunch of crap, I have been to three games this season and the most amount of opposing fans I have seen were Cowgirls fans and not even them were having trouble with our fans.

[Edman]

Look forward to send them home crying.

They're acting like it's hard to take over Tennesee and LP Field. It's not. Steeler Nation did that back in week 16, which is why their players were so angry amd classless. The Titans fanbase is among the worst in the NFL.

[RoethlisBURGHer]

I dont see a Ravens takeover at Heinz Field. it just doesn't happen.

[Steel4eva]

"they" may be there but "they" won't be heard...its a steeler nation baby

[Luigi]

I haven't had the pleasure, but I know Ravens fans who have gone to Pitts. To a man, they have been treated right. I'd rather go to Heinz in my Ravens jersey than walk around parts of Baltimore at night in it.

Something tells me the guy who said, "I'm a bit nervous..." is what Arnold would call a girly man.

[BleedBlacknGold0]

"Ravens fans are definitely some of the more committed fans in the NFL," said Scott Roback, vice president of business development for RazorGator, a ticket site. "When you looked out [in the stands] in Tennessee, you saw an impressive contingent of Ravens fans. I think you can expect to see that again because this is a pretty epic game."

WHAT?!

I had a friend that loved the Cowboys. He was die-hard. Everything in his room was Cowboys as were all his clothes. When they Ravens came to town he dumped all the Cowboy stuff for Ravens Gear. I still remember him talking crap about the Super Bowl and then suddenly forgetting his Cowboys.

I know if an NFL team moved to my city I wouldnt be switching anytime soon. I may support that team in certain circumstances but I would never be in full blown rooting mode no matter what.

[VTsteel]

Yeah?

Any stadium you go to there are gonna be some assholes. You get 60 + thousand people in one place and someones gonna drink too much and be an ass guaranteed!

Here's a link where the rats fans trash-talk their own fans . . .

http://www.profootball24x7.com/forum...ad.php?t=31881