PSINet home to beer, fans and all the best seats

Picture beer. Picture a lot of beer. Picture the volume of domestic beer purchased in the United States for the entire year 2000. Now triple that. That's how much beer you can fit in PSINet Stadium.

That's right, the stadium used by the Baltimore Ravens can fit 69,000 screaming fans and a whole lot of beer. I don't know why the fact that a football stadium can hold 600 million gallons of whatever is pertinent information, nor do I know who measures this. It's like believing Santa Claus. You just don't question it because it must be true.

Located at 1101 Russell St. in Downtown Baltimore, PSINet Stadium (pronounced P-S-I-net) is where the defending Super Bowl champions call home.

This monstrous facility was built on a $229 million budget and is run by the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA). The MSA is an organization that was created in 1986 and has been involved in such ventures as the Baltimore Convention Center expansion (1996), Oriole Park (1992) and, most recently, PSINet Stadium, which opened its doors on Sept. 6, 1998.

But in 1998, the stadium didn't have a name. The Ravens purchased the rights to deal with this problem for $10 million. After the first season, they found a willing buyer in PSINet, an Internet service provider, whose offer consisted of approximately $100 million to be paid over a 20 year period.

What's so special about the complex that brought football back to Baltimore? PSINet Stadium encompasses 1.6 million square feet and has a seating capacity of 69,084, including 108 suites. In an apparent attempt to promote carpooling, there are 4,200 on-site parking spaces. To save you from doing the math, that's an estimated 16 people per car. There are also two 25 by 100 feet SmartVision boards located above each end zone to provide an alternate view of the game and instant replays.

The stadium spends approximately $200 million in total expenditures and brings in over $10 million per year in taxes alone. It maintains just under 3,000 full-time employees.

There are three plaza areas around PSINet Stadium. Each is unique, but there is one that commemorates the former inhabitants of the land now occupied by the Ravens. On the south west side of the stadium there is a tribute to the Knaable Piano Factory, which was demolished in order to accommodate the new stadium. It is actually shaped like a piano and is advertised as coming complete with piano keys.

They also advocate designated driving, only in a more sensible way. Any fan, age 21 or over, may go to one of four Guest Services Centers and sign a pledge not to drink throughout the game and to assume the responsibility of bringing his probably-intoxicated companions home from the stadium. In exchange for this oath, the sober fan will receive free soft drinks at any concession stand throughout the course of the game.

In addition, a Guest Services Center may help parents gain peace of mind should they lose a child. All that needs to be done is a simple sign in, where the child will receive a numbered bracelet and the child's name and seat location will be logged. Should the child become separated from a parent, he or she will be brought to the Guest Services Center and brought back to the assigned seat. Bear in mind that, depending on the individual needs of the fan, there is no age limitation for this service, so you can have them keep an eye on Grandpa as well.

One of the not-so-free services to take note of at PSINet Stadium is the ability to host your own functions on the Club Level itself. They can accommodate up to 7,000 guests for a reception, banquet, corporate meeting, etc. You are given the option of having them provide food and beverage services, tours of the stadium and even appearances by mascots, Marching Ravens or the Ravens Cheerleaders.

Since the owners of PSINet Stadium are so willing to aid fans in their safety and give them a superior game-time experience, they make clear mention of what not to do at the complex. It is actually quite brilliant in its simplicity. The rule to follow, as stated on their Web site at www.ravenszone.net. Oh, and one more policy: umbrellas are strictly prohibited, because the people behind you need to see the game too.

Okay, so beer didn't actually have anything to do with this article, but at least you read it. You probably learned a little something, too. What should you do now? Be a good person, buy a Ravens ticket (prices range from $31 to $302.50 per game), believe in Santa Claus and leave the umbrella at home.