For nearly a decade since 2001, the Ravens raised their ticket prices every other season.



They broke that pattern last season, in part due to the lockout. And they won’t get back into it just because there is labor peace.

Team President Dick Cass announced Friday that the Ravens will not be increasing their ticket prices for 2012. It will mark the third straight season of not raising prices.

There were two major factors that played into the decision, Cass said. First was empathy for the fans and the second was the ability to remain competitive with other NFL teams.

“We know that our fans are continuing to be stretched financially to pay for season tickets,” Cass said. “While the economy is improving, it’s still not strong.”

Being a small-market team, the Ravens must keep their ticket prices in the top tier of those around the NFL in order to pay for player salaries, and thus remain a competitive team.

As Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti said in Wednesday’s press conference, he always spends as much money as is allowed under the salary cap.

While some teams will be raising their ticket prices for next season, Cass felt the Ravens didn’t have to and could still remain in the top tier.

“While we’re going to fall in terms of average ticket prices compared to other teams, we think we’ll still be OK this year,” Cass said.

Baltimore raised ticket prices in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009.

Cass said the team is in good shape financially, despite going through a four-and-a-half month lockout this past summer.

The Ravens sold out M&T Bank Stadium, including suites, for every game once again. They’ve sold out every season since moving there in 1998. It’s not that way everywhere around the NFL.

“We really did not see a negative financial impact from the lockout on our business,” Cass said.

Fans will be treated to a strong home regular-season schedule in 2012.

Of the eight teams that will come to M&T Bank Stadium, five were in the playoffs, including both Super Bowl contenders (New England, New York Giants, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Denver). The other three are historically-established teams (Dallas, Oakland and Cleveland).