New Town, New NFL Identity. Browns...

March 29, 1996, marked the official naming ceremony for Baltimore's new NFL team, directly resulting from Art Modell's controversial decision to relocate his Cleveland Browns. Amidst a flurry of legal battles and heartbroken fans in Cleveland, Modell stood with Baltimore officials, unveiling the team's moniker: the Ravens.

This move announced months earlier, had sent shockwaves through the football world. Citing financial difficulties and Cleveland Stadium's inadequacy, Modell secured a lucrative deal to bring NFL football back to Baltimore, a city still smarting from the Colts' departure years earlier.

The naming ceremony was a symbolic step in this contentious transition. While Cleveland fought to retain the Browns' legacy – their name, colors, and history – Modell's organization was forging a new identity in Baltimore. The "Ravens," a nod to Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem and the city's literary history, represented a fresh start, albeit one steeped in the bitter circumstances of a beloved team's relocation. The day underscored the complex intersection of sports, business, and civic identity, leaving a lasting scar on Cleveland's passionate fanbase while ushering in a new era for Baltimore football.