The Baltimore Ravens are closing in on their first playoff spot since 2014, but there's not a lot of people watching them do so. According to ESPN, Ravens president Dick Cass sent out a letter to season ticket holders, suite holders, and sponsors earlier this week, addressing the "noticeable" decline of fans in the stands. Cass blamed the recent poor turnout on that one time more than a dozen players protested prior to their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.
"The numbers [of no-shows] are higher, and it is noticeable," Cass wrote in the letter. "There are a number of reasons for the no-shows, but surely the one-time protest in London has been a factor."
Ah yes, the protest which came after Donald Trump referred to any player protesting as a "son of a bitch" at a campaign rally in Alabama for "Big" Luther Strange. "Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when someone disrespects our flags to say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now," Trump said. "'Out. He’s fired! He’s fired!'"
Even though the Ravens knelt in prayer before standing for the anthem the following week, Cass believes that the players' protest has played an important part in their low attendance. Not the fact that the Ravens are a boring team to watch? Not the fact that the ticket and concession prices are too high? Not the issue with CTE which is making fans want to avoid watching football altogether?
Cass claims that he has reached to "a number of fans" who reached out to the team following the protest. "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. We don't take your support for granted, and we know that we must continue to earn your respect and investment in us."
