The Ravens want to turn M&T Bank into more than just a football stadium

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The third and final phase of M&T Bank Stadium’s renovation is here, and if Ravens team president Sashi Brown could have made it the first, he would have.

This is the phase that will elevate the game day experience for every fan, no matter the price of their ticket, but it was also the heaviest lift.

“We needed to get the other structures in place to be able to do the Overlook, so we would have loved to sequence this in reverse,” Brown said, referring to a new patio on the upper deck concourse.

From the team store that was built in Phase 2 to the new stage across the way, the entire plaza that housed a statue of Ray Lewis will now be part of the secured game day area and will feature options for fans once they’re through security.

The entrance gate is now backed up almost to West Hamburg Street to create a patio space outside the original gates. When asked about concerns that lines that form before gates open will spill into traffic, senior vice president of stadium operations and guest experience Rich Tamayo said there is a new system for letting fans in that should be faster. He added that there will be more than double the number of places to scan tickets.

Once in, fans can turn left toward the fan store, which now features a rooftop bar known as the Landing. The bar has views of Camden Yards and the Baltimore skyline and can be used for other events.

Beyond the store, the temporary structure that housed hospitality events and games has been taken down. The FlockYard, a flexible-use hospitality area, is being built. There, companies that couldn’t get premium suites can buy space to host events on game days. It will surround a courtyard and feature a large LED board.

Closer to Russell Street, an event space is being erected. It features two areas, the Talon and Backstage. The Talon includes a two-story open-air space with a stage, and Backstage is its indoor counterpart. Together, they will hold 2,000-3,000 people.

All ticketed fans can access the area — including the bathrooms, which are spacious — throughout game days.

These areas will be open starting three hours before the game, and they’re an attempt to bring the tailgating culture within the gates.

What will entice fans to trade food and drink brought from home for stadium food at stadium prices? Brown said the organization is staying committed to providing affordable options.

“We have, along with maybe one or two other teams, invested very heavily into our flock-friendly, fan-friendly, family-friendly price menu,” Brown said.

The patio between the store and the stage will also see the return of the statues of Johnny Unitas and Lewis, which were moved outside Gate D on the south side of the stadium to allow for the North Plaza renovations. Senior vice president of marketing Brad Downs said they’re discussing how to make those statues accessible to the public outside of game days. Tamayo added that they’re keeping the old gates to the stadium so they can leave the other gates open for access to the patio and the statues on non-game days.

The Ravens are working on expanding the upper concourse and bathrooms after hearing fan feedback about how cramped the walkways get and how long the bathroom lines stretch.

All of these areas, including the expanded concourse, will increase the stadium’s capacity for events other than Ravens games. The stage area can host watch parties for away games, small concerts and networking events. The Landing, the Overlook, the Talon and Backstage can host social and networking events.

The Ravens hope these renovations will extend the life of the stadium, negating the need to erect a new building.

“We hope we turn this thing into Fenway [Park] or Wrigley [Field], but there’s no guarantee that will happen,” Brown said. “... We hope we’ll be here for a very long time. And, relative to some of our peers that have had to build new because they haven’t had the bones and structure that we have had, we think of ourselves [as] very fortunate. And this a really prudent, more economically feasible way for the state and the Ravens to move forward at M&T Bank Stadium.”