BALTIMORE — There was lots of speculation but we now know that the Ravens New Year's Eve game against the Miami Dolphins will not be flexed to primetime.
The Baltimore Ravens confirmed that the game will stay in the 1 p.m. time slot on December 31.
Our home game vs. the Dolphins on 12/31 is officially at 1 p.m.
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 21, 2023
🎟: https://t.co/DQ0li6fPdR pic.twitter.com/YM2CFjCAx6
Earlier in the week, Mayor Brandon Scott says the Ravens New Year's Eve game against the Dolphins belongs in primetime.
The Mayor was responding to a comment on X, formerly Twitter, that he and Commissioner Richard Worley asked the NFL not to flex the game due to security concerns with the Inner Harbor New Year's Eve celebration.
The Mayor didn't waste his words, tweeting, "Wrong." He went on to say the game belongs on Sunday Night Football.
Wrong. I've told any and everybody that we want it on @SNFonNBC because that's where it belongs! While they're at it, they can go ahead flex the final game against _____burgh too. We want the smoke! https://t.co/LEedXRfGnr pic.twitter.com/4ERQRmy90O
— Brandon M. Scott (@MayorBMScott) December 19, 2023
He addressed the tweet at a press availability Wednesday morning and doubled down on wanting the game moved.
"....when they tell us that this game will be flexed to Sunday night they might as well go ahead and and flex the one with that team that we don't say their name from Pennsylvania and put that on Sunday night as well. We know that there is no place in the NFL like M&T Bank Stadium and a night game."
When asked about concerns with the crowds for the game and the New Year's Ever festivities the mayor said, "We've been through this before recently, right? We made it through multiple concerts and a playoff baseball game at the same time. We've made it through things in the past..."
The Mayor is referring to October 7 when the Orioles faced the Texas Rangers for game one of the ALDS at 1 p.m. and later in the evening Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks took the stage at M&T Bank stadium.
The NFL has been implementing flexible scheduling since 2006. The NFL must decide to flex a game 6 days before the game is scheduled. Fans will know the schedule by Christmas.
The Ravens are entering Week 16 atop the AFC North at 11-3 and clinched a playoff spot, with a victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Dolphins are 10- 4, and lead the AFC East.
Before they play the Dolphins, the Ravens are taking on the San Francisco 49ers on Christmas at 8:15 p.m. You can watch that game right here on WMAR.
