Are You Ready For Some Football? NFL Sets Up For Kickoff Week In Baltimore
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Getting ready for football. The Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens are starting their 2013 season on the road because of a scheduling conflict but there will be no shortage of football-themed events in Baltimore leading up to the game.
Jessica Kartalija has details on all the action.
From the moment the Ravens became world champions, the NFL has been hard at work.
"We are tugging our stage into the Inner Harbor in anticipation for our kickoff concert, which celebrates both the Super Bowl champion Ravens and the return of the season," said NFL Director of Events Christine Mills.
Fans look on as a stage was moved through the Inner Harbor on a giant barge where country music fans can see Keith Urban in a pre-game concert live form the middle of the harbor.
"Anyone can just walk up and watch the concert and I think it will be really cool," said one fan.
"I think it's really cool, just being from Maryland and it's exciting to see it in the news," said another fan.
At Patterson Park, football pride is alive as crews paint Utz Field in preparation for the NFL's Play 60 youth football festival.
"They're going to play a bunch of little flag football games out here so we are setting up four small fields for them to have a tournament out here," said an official.
The NFL kickoff comes as the Indy cars move out.
"We are literally turning the page from the Grand Prix to the start of the NFL season," Mills said.
It starts off with a bang with a kickoff Wednesday in McKelden Square followed by Thursday's concert and the Ravens taking the field for the start of the season in Denver.
"I love it. I think it's wonderful for the city. Baltimore has changed a lot in the last 40 years and it's really nice to see," said a fan.
The Ravens' official season begins Thursday against the Broncos.
