Baltimore Ravens season ticket renewal rate nears 100%

Apparently when the Ravens aren’t imposing their defensive will on the New York Jets, they’re selling season tickets.

Last week I wrote about the NFL’s season ticket revenue decreasing for the third year in a row.  Of course, with every trend, there will be people on both sides of the average.

The Baltimore Ravens are on the upper end of that average.

The Ravens had a season ticket renewal rate of 99.5% according to Ravens VP of ticket sales, Baker Koppelman.

The team’s renewal rate had been 98% or higher for the past nine seasons.

In an economy where NFL team franchises are declining, ticket sales are declining, and the owners are arguing for more money due to rising costs, the Ravens have managed to continually retain their season ticket fan base.  The Ravens currently have 26,000 season ticket holders (equates to 65,000 tickets per game), and nearly 3,000 people on their waiting list.

They have sold out every game since moving into M&T Bank Stadium in 1998.  M&T Bank stadium seats 71,000.

According to Forbes, the Ravens brought in $57 million in gate receipts in 2009.  The team is currently worth $1.1 billion, the 11th highest in the NFL.

The Ravens open up M&T Bank Stadium in the regular season on September 26, against the Cleveland Browns.