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Ravens Fans Excited For New Football Season

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Football season is just around the corner. The Ravens are getting back on the field Monday night for a special practice, one that you can see! Players will be taking the field at M&T Bank Stadium at 7 p.m.

Marcus Washington spoke with excited fans.

When a Ravens season is hot, so are the fans. After an 8-8 season last year, Fans are ready for a turnaround and for the championship to title to return home.

Monday, thousands of fans are expected to sit in on the first open practice for the upcoming season.

But the Ravens is more than just a football team; it's big business for the city. The yearly economic impact of the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium for Baltimore is more than $200 million. It also helps generate 3,000 jobs.

"Economic impact for every game is substantial, even pre-season," said Kirby Fowler, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore.

And those jobs and money are pouring out of M&T Bank Stadium into the communities surrounding the area from living to entertainment---it all brings big bucks to downtown Baltimore.

"They buy food before going to the parking lots for the tailgating. They go to the restaurants, bars---they stay in hotels overnight, too. All this generates a positive economic impact for the downtown area and the greater city," Fowler said.

"It's amazing for us. It's some of our biggest days of the year," said Stephen Walsh, Pratt Street Ale House.

Walsh says every year they prepare for each home game because they know it's going to be a busy night.

"Really passionate fans here in Baltimore and they love their team and hopefully they love to grab a drink and a bite to eat before and after the game," Walsh said.

WJZ is your home for 13 Ravens, games, including the opening game against the Bengals and the first-ever CBS Thursday Night game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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