The Baltimore Ravens are marking 30 years since pro football’s return to the city with a celebration set for their Week 2 home opener against the Cleveland Browns, and Cleveland fans are bracing for a reminder of history they’d rather forget.
According to the Ravens, in-stadium entertainment will include a pregame recognition of Baltimore’s 1996 football return, a halftime show featuring former Ravens stars, a marching Ravens performance, and a mixed-reality video presentation on the RavensVision boards. All attendees, including Browns fans, will receive a commemorative “Ravens Forevermore 30th Season” flag.
For Cleveland, the timing is eyebrow-raising. Many fans remain sensitive about the franchise’s move to Baltimore more than two decades ago and see the spectacle as ill-timed. Scheduling the Browns for the home opener only heightens the sting. The NFL could have chosen a later game for the celebration, allowing the Ravens to honor their milestone without directly confronting Cleveland supporters in their own stadium seats.
Despite lingering resentment, Browns fans are expected to show up in full force, likely bringing their own energy — and perhaps a reminder of the city’s enduring loyalty. The Ravens’ celebration promises to be elaborate, but for visiting fans from Cleveland, it will also be a stark reflection of a historic rivalry that has never quite cooled.
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