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NFL Lockout Jeopardizes Ravens Training Camp In Westminster

WESTMINSTER, Md. (WJZ)—One of the oldest traditions in Baltimore sports is in jeopardy. The NFL lockout means there probably won't be a training camp held this summer in Westminster.

Mike Schuh reports some say they'll hardly miss it.

The Colts started it and the Ravens continued it. Training camp in Westminster has become a late summer tradition.

But there may not be any burgers or balloons this year, much to the dismay of Westminster super fan Sara McIlvaine, who hasn't missed a camp.

"It's an event for Westminster; it's something to look forward to every year," McIlvaine said.

She wore purple shoes when married. She's thinking about naming her kid Haloti.

"It is like Christmas," McIlvaine said.

Fans aren't sure who is playing Scrooge, but that local holiday will bypass Westminster fields this year.

"Impact on the college is we get an awful lot of visitors," said Ethan Seidel, VP McDaniel College. "We had over 100,000 visitors to campus last summer."

Some of those are people who would've never known about the small college.

"It's not so much the financial impact," Seidel continued. "It's the public relations."

While the city may show its pride, money from the fans doesn't travel very far from the highway going into town or a couple of blocks from campus.

Bill Schroder's deli lies just outside of that imaginary line. He says camp doesn't bring in any extra bread.

"I'm busier during the season than I am during training camp," he said. "They get up at McDaniel College and those fans just don't really come down to downtown Westminster."

The college hasn't booked any replacement for the facilities. They say they're flexible. It's now up the NFL and the Ravens.

The Ravens have said that even if the labor situation is settled soon, they are looking to having more pre-season camp days at the stadium downtown.

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