Ravens Insider: Maryland Stadium Authority deploying drones for Ravens game traffic

[ExtremeRavens]

Maryland Stadium Authority board member Joseph Bryce raised concerns Tuesday about heavy traffic getting into M&T Bank Stadium on Ravens’ game days.

Bryce said it took him and other fans more than an hour to reach Lot B before the Ravens’ Aug. 7 preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts.

In response, Vernon J. Conaway Jr., the MSA’s vice president for public safety and security, said the agency is turning to technology to help ease congestion. A licensed drone operator will be hired this season to survey post-game traffic patterns and make real-time adjustments in coordination with city transportation officials and police.

“We’ve been working with DOT and the police to figure out improvements to the overall traffic plan around the stadium,” Conaway said at the agency’s monthly meeting. “One of the things we will be doing this season is operating a drone to survey and monitor traffic around the stadium, mainly to fill in some of the gaps where we don’t have camera coverage from CitiWatch cameras to get a better perspective of the intersections.”

On the security front, Conaway assured MSA Chairman Craig A. Thompson that his team is better prepared to handle unauthorized drones flying over the stadium during games. Last year, the Ravens dealt with several incidents involving drones in restricted airspace.

MSA data shows that eight temporary flight restriction violations and unauthorized drone flights occurred during the Ravens’ five regular-season home games in 2024. No incidents were reported during the final two months of the season.

Federal law prohibits unmanned aircraft from flying within a three-mile radius of stadiums with a seating capacity of 30,000 or more during NFL, MLB, NCAA Division I football, and major motor speedway events, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

“I feel good after the last couple of years, the kind of trial by fire,” Conaway said. “Each one of those incidents gave us an opportunity to reevaluate our response plans. We have dedicated law enforcement officers who are trained in the drone laws, who will respond to the location of any drone operator. Software will track and monitor the airspace for drones that fly in violation of the FAA’s TFR. So I feel very good about our response plan.”

In addition, the MSA is keeping tighter restrictions on unlicensed merchandisers around the stadium. Under Maryland law, selling illegal merchandise is a misdemeanor that carries a penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $500 upon conviction.

“Like last year, for this season we are bringing in the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office, who will work on vending enforcement around the stadium to target unlicensed vendors selling merchandise in prohibited areas,” Conaway said.

Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich.

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