The first sight welcoming fans as they exited the south entrance of LP Field said it all: The Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge that crosses the Cumberland River was illuminated –of all colors –a shade of purple.
The 100-year-old truss bridge, which is one of the city’s marquee landmarks, looked like it belonged in Charm City, not Music City, as Ravens fans crossed it as they left the stadium following their team’s 13-10 win over the Titans.
“We weren’t quiet from the time we pulled in the parking lot,” John Miller, a Dundalk resident, said. “[Titans fans] treated us real nice. The fans were real nice down here. We were treated well by all the fans, except for a small few.”
Miller, 47, and friend Jim Goins, 43, drove 12 hours from Dundalk to meet three friends in Tennessee. After the game, they were among the last fans standing outside LP Field, finishing the tailgating they began hours earlier in Lot E. The group discussed the game as hotdogs roasted on a tiny grill.
Ravens fans were everywhere this weekend. They were heard when they screamed in unison “O” during the national anthem, visible in the lower seating bowl as Titans fans flooded the exits in the final minute and prevalent throughout the entertainment district as they celebrated advancing to the AFC Championship Game.
“It was a great game,” said Rick Lewis, a native of Bel Air. “I was surprised how many Ravens fans were there. There were probably more Ravens fans there than you can get to go to an Orioles game anymore.”
And the Ravens, who took time to shake fans’ hands after the game, noticed.
“From when we left the hotel last night, we knew we had support,” safety Ed Reed said. “We know we have that support back home, too, with people watching at home.”
Lewis, 46, and his wife, Fran, 43, made the trek from their home in Delta, Pa., hoping a friend would have tickets to the game. After a 10-hour ride, they arrived at their seats — 10 rows from the top of the stadium. After the game, they made their way to Demos’ — a bar on Commerce Street — where the interior was vibrant purple because it was filled with fans wearing Ravens jerseys.
“This place is loaded with Ravens fans,” Fran Lewis said. “It was worth it.”
At McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon on Second Avenue, Ravens fans took over the hot spot in unprecedented fashion.
“It was wild. It was out of control — everywhere we went people were cheering for the Ravens,” said Umberto DiStefano, 21, of Parkville. “The DJ at the club told us that Baltimore fans took over the city of Nashville. He had never seen anything like it before.”
