Season Tickets

As yesterday's deadline for priority Ravens seating came and went, football fans across the region wrestled with conflicting emotions and financial means.Some were just happy to be back in the game and plunked down hundreds, even thousands of dollars for tickets and the required seat license deposits -- a controversial fee new to Baltimore sports.Others were troubled by the manner Baltimore got a team, and the pain inflicted on Cleveland. And for many the stiff prices brought into conflict the modern realities of the NFL and their own fond memories of $10 Colts games.

Way up in Section 372 of Oriole Park, in that no-man's land beyond the left-field foul pole, sat a man with truly split loyalties. On the outside, to brace against the brisk wind of yesterday's Opening Day, federal worker Bill Spencer wore a dark blue hooded sweat shirt emblazoned with the logo of his new crush: the Washington Nationals, the newest baseball team and the one closest to his Clifton, Va., home. But underneath, closest to his heart, he had the trusty bright orange he has worn for so many summers in the stands at game after Orioles game.

Tacoma coach Keith Weller's situation is much like that of the Major Soccer League today -- up in the air.Weller is perched 40 feet above the parking lot at the Tacoma Mall. He is camping out on a five-foot by eight-foot platform for five days, encouraging indoor soccer fans to buy season tickets."I'm up here trying to sell a thousand season tickets by Sunday night," said Weller, who was reached above the city on his cellular telephone last night. "We don't know how it will go, but I'm game to try this.

TAMPA, Fla. - New York Giants coach Jim Fassel said no more guarantees will be necessary this season. After a 31-21 home loss to Detroit in Week 11, Fassel made the bold statement that the Giants would make the playoffs this season. His team has since responded with seven straight wins, including a 41-0 rout over Minnesota in the NFC championship. Now, there's no need for prodding. "As a coach, you have to know when you're coming around the final turn and how to push your team to the next level.

The Ravens, facing a sharp drop in season-ticket sales from last season, have eliminated thousands of undesirable seats at Memorial Stadium and dropped a controversial requirement that fans wanting tickets at the old ballpark first buy a seat license for the stadium under construction downtown.The club says it has just under 46,000 season tickets sold for the coming season, down 8,000 -- or 15 percent -- from last year, but is hopeful the numbers will grow before play resumes in August.As part of a revved-up marketing campaign, the club has invited fans to Memorial Stadium tonight to meet players and to try out available seats, which will be marked with orange tags.

Stocks? Forget 'em. Bonds? Returns too low. Permanent seat licenses? Now you're talking. The licenses that the Ravens and some other National Football League teams require fans to purchase to buy season tickets - often to help pay for stadium construction or renovation - have gone from being what many regarded as an extortionary annoyance to what some now consider a dandy investment. For instance, when the Ravens' stadium opened in 1998, a permanent seat license ranged from $250 to $3,000, depending on the location of the seat covered by the license.

Fans started lining up at the Memorial Stadium Box Office as early as Wednesday night to buy Ravens tickets, but others will have virtually the same chance of getting them by using TicketMaster when individual game tickets for the regular season go on sale at 9 a.m. today.Fans buying at the stadium do avoid TicketMaster's service charges. Orders through TicketMaster PhoneCharge (410-481-SEAT) have a $3 per ticket charge and a $1.25 per order handling fee. Orders at area TicketMaster outlets have a $2.50 per ticket charge.

Tom Ebright says he isn't going to hold any grudges.Asked by the Baltimore Hockey Advocates last week to step aside in the bid to bring an East Coast Hockey League team here next season, the Skipjacks owner said he still will try to promote the cause."

The Spirit is to play its first National Professional SoccerLeague game here this afternoon.The 5 p.m. preseason game against the Harrisburg Heat at the Arena is free to the public."

Canadian Football League owners hope to find a home for the displaced Las Vegas Posse during a two-day board of governors meeting in Baltimore starting today.That's not the only relocation item on the agenda, though. The governors also will address potential moves by franchises in Sacramento, Hamilton and Calgary.While Las Vegas appears the most pressing item here -- the Posse's final home game was moved because of fan apathy -- Calgary might be the most vexing.Owner Larry Ryckman has threatened to move what perhaps is the league's marquee franchise out of Calgary if he does not receive major concessions on the Stampeders' lease at McMahon Stadium.