Baltimore Ravens president Dick Cass said in a letter to season-ticket holders, suit holders and sponsors that the team’s protest in London was a factor in the higher number of no-shows this season.
According to ESPN, Cass said there have been more empty seats at M&T Bank Stadium this season, especially given the Ravens are fighting for a playoff berth. While Cass said there were “a number of reasons,” but the protest was one of them.
Cass wrote a 656-word letter this week, telling the three groups “we have responded to your concerns about the protest by re-doubling the efforts of both the organization and our players to make the Baltimore area a better community.”
In September, 12 Ravens players took a knee during the national anthem before Baltimore’s game in London in response to critical comments made from President Trump regarding the protests.
The Ravens haven’t protested since.
“We had the poor showing in London, complicated by the kneeling of a dozen players during the National Anthem,” Cass wrote. “That became an emotional and divisive issue. We know that hurt some of you. Others saw it differently and welcomed the dialogue that followed. Others bluntly told us to keep statements and protests out of the game. There are some of you who have stayed away from our games.”
Cass said he reached out to fans and made phone calls to ease concerns.
“In light of recent events, we are also reminded that winning alone is not always enough to make the Ravens the unifying force we want to be,” he said. “We don’t take your support for granted, and we know that we must continue to earn your respect and investment in us.”
Read the full letter here.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.