Ravens president Sashi Brown discusses stadium upgrades, Maxx Crosby trade

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PHOENIX — As Ravens team president Sashi Brown sat down Monday to meet with the local media at the annual league meeting, he quipped, “Quiet offseason?”

From hiring new head coach Jesse Minter to dealing with the failed trade for Maxx Crosby, the Ravens have had the least quiet offseason of Brown’s four-year tenure.

There are a few changes coming on the business side, as well. Here are the updates Brown said you can expect to see.

Uniforms stay uniform with those of the past

Every year, the comments flood in asking reporters to question Brown about uniform updates.

While Brown hinted at change two seasons ago, which resulted in the Purple Rising helmet release, he gave no updates Monday.

“We will always update you when the time is right on the uniforms,” Brown said. “And you guys know we’re going to be last in line for the rivalry uniforms, which I think we start designing those a year-and-a-half out.”

The Rivalries program was announced last offseason with eight teams debuting new uniforms. The uniforms join the teams’ three-year rotation after their debut. More teams will be released each year through 2028.

No new Maxx Crosby tidbits

When asked about how he and owner Steve Bisciotti felt about the failed trade for the Raiders’ Pro Bowl defensive end, Brown reiterated what general manager Eric DeCosta said in the aftermath of the deal coming apart.

“We were incredibly excited and just as equally, if not more, disappointed that we weren’t able to pull off that transaction and bring Maxx to Baltimore,” Brown said. “I’m not going to go too much deeper into that.”

He, too, said the Ravens have strong relationships across the league when asked about the perceptions of the franchise after the failed trade.

“We have emphasized the importance of doing things the right way,” he said. “We’ll continue to do that. We understand that it’s a headline story because of its profile and significance.”

While he called the nixed deal “unfortunate,” Brown said he does not think any changes need to be made to the trade process.

“I think this is how it should be handled,” Brown said. “ We’re not aiming for that result. But when you have a high-stakes transaction like that, everyone needs to understand what conditions you’re moving forward on. I won’t say much more than that.”

M&T Bank Stadium has good bones

The Ravens are moving into the third and final stage of their stadium renovations, and Brown said this will be the most important and the most interesting for fans.

Brown sees the comments on social media posts and articles, he said with a grin, so he knows fans have been asking about updates to the bathrooms.

Well, they’re here. In addition to updates, Brown said the construction crews will increase restroom capacity by 33%.

The biggest project in this phase will be noticeable as soon as fans approach the stadium. The Ravens are building out the North Plaza and adding a stage where there will be live entertainment.

The team has already completed the addition of luxury spaces and a rooftop bar, as well as updates to signage. The renovations will help M&T Bank Stadium keep up with new buildings, Brown said.

The Ravens have played at M&T Bank Stadium for 28 seasons. Teams often move on from their stadium around the 30-year mark.

“The nice thing is that we have a stadium that has the bones to be able to continue to invest, so we don’t have to go to the state and contemplate a $2 [billion], $3 billion teardown, a new build,” Brown said.

Round up

Brown also did not have updates on a bid for the NFL draft, the debate about adding an 18th game and if the Ravens will play an international game.

As Brown has said previously, the Ravens are in conversations with the league about hosting the draft. He described it as a “rolling process.” They’re also continuing to talk with local authorities about what it would take to make it happen.

“I think there’s a lot of assets in and around Baltimore that make it tremendously unique,” Brown said.

He did not say whether the stadium would be utilized, but he mentioned the Inner Harbor, Camden Yards and the parks.

Brown said the Ravens don’t have a stance on an 18th game and are leaving it to the league.

“We have a ton of respect for where we think the players’ interests are,” Brown said. “I think, collectively, both sides see an opportunity, but we’ve got to work through what that’s going to mean and how do we make it work.”

Two of the Ravens’ opponents — the Atlanta Falcons and the Dallas Cowboys — are set to play international games, meaning the Ravens could still find out they’re traveling overseas. Brown said nothing’s been announced yet. The league typically releases the full schedule in May.

Brown also did not have updates on quarterback Lamar Jackson’s contract extension or defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike’s status recovering from a season-ending neck injury. DeCosta will not speak at the league meetings, but Minter will meet with reporters Tuesday.