The charcoal smoke hits you before you can see the stadium. It’s a September Sunday in the stadium lots, the air is thick enough to feel on your arms, somebody’s speaker is playing the same playlist as last week, and every third person is wearing purple. Three months later the same lot feels like a different city: wind cutting across from the harbor, hands wrapped around a coffee, everyone stamping their feet to stay warm.
That swing is the whole challenge with Ravens game day outfits. A Baltimore season runs from sticky, humid afternoons to raw December nights, and an outfit that works in one will fail you in the other. Purple is also a harder color to wear than it looks: the wrong shade goes costume fast, and black head to toe can feel like you forgot which team you came for.
Below are seven looks for M&T Bank Stadium with exactly what to wear, why each works, and what it costs you, plus the bag rules that catch a lot of fans at the gate.
Ravens colors and how to wear them
The Ravens palette is purple, black and metallic gold. Purple is the star, black is the anchor, and gold is a detail color. Use it in jewelry, a belt buckle, hardware on a bag strap or a thin stripe, not a full gold top.
- Pick a deep purple: look for a rich, slightly blue purple. Lavender and lilac read as a different team or a spring brunch.
- Let black do the heavy lifting: black jeans, leggings, boots and outerwear make any purple piece look intentional.
- Keep gold small: hoops, a chain, gold-tone buttons or metallic nail polish.
Baltimore also has a built-in excuse to start early. Purple Friday is a long-running local habit of wearing purple to work and school before a big game, and the team has backed it for years. In January 2024, Maryland’s governor even proclaimed Purple Fridays for as long as the Ravens stayed in the playoffs. If you want one outfit to cover Friday at the office and Sunday in the lot, look four is built for that.
7 Ravens looks for M&T Bank Stadium
1. The September humidity look
What to wear: a purple moisture-wicking tee or lightweight jersey, black athletic shorts or a black skort, low-profile sneakers, a black cap and sunglasses.
Why it works: early season games in Baltimore can be hot and muggy, and cotton turns heavy and clingy after an hour of tailgating. Performance fabric dries while you stand there. The tradeoff: polyester tees hold odor more than cotton, and you’ll be sitting in it for six hours or more. Wash it as soon as you get home and don’t skip deodorant.
2. The men’s tailgate flannel look
What to wear: a purple and black buffalo check flannel open over a black tee, dark jeans or canvas work pants, boots or leather sneakers, and a black beanie once the sun drops.
Why it works: it’s the easiest men’s outfit for October, when a noon kickoff starts mild and ends breezy. The flannel works as a jacket in the lot and ties around your waist if the afternoon warms up. Our game day outfits for men guide has more combinations like this. The tradeoff: flannel stops almost no wind. After Halloween you’ll want a vest or shell over it.
3. The women’s jersey and leggings look
What to wear: a purple or black jersey (women’s cut, or a men’s size knotted at the hip), black high-rise leggings, white or black chunky sneakers, small gold hoops and a black crossbody clutch.
Why it works: it’s comfortable for hours of standing, it reads instantly as Ravens, and the gold hoops add the third team color without effort. For more women’s ideas across the league, see our NFL game outfits for women. The tradeoff: jerseys are mesh. They’re cool in September and nearly useless in November unless you layer a thermal underneath.
4. The Purple Friday office-to-lot look
What to wear: a deep purple crewneck sweater or quarter-zip, black trousers or dark jeans, black loafers or clean sneakers, and a gold watch or chain.
Why it works: it’s polished enough for a Friday meeting and still team colored on Sunday if you swap the trousers for jeans and add a cap. A solid purple knit is also the best way to wear the color if you don’t love logos. The tradeoff: merino and wool blends cost more than a team hoodie, and some itch. Look for a fine-gauge knit with a cotton or synthetic blend.
5. The cold harbor wind look
What to wear: a thermal base layer, a purple hoodie, a black windproof puffer or soft shell, insulated joggers or lined pants, waterproof boots, wool socks, a purple scarf and gloves.
Why it works: the danger in December isn’t the temperature on your phone, it’s the wind combined with sitting still for three hours. A windproof outer layer matters more than a thicker sweater. For a full temperature-by-layers breakdown, our cold-weather game day outfits guide walks through it. The tradeoff: a puffer hides your jersey. Wear the jersey over the hoodie and under the open coat, or pick a black puffer and let a purple scarf and beanie carry the color.
6. The women’s winter layered look
What to wear: fleece-lined black leggings, a fitted thermal top, a purple fleece or sherpa half-zip, a long black quilted coat, waterproof lug sole boots, a purple knit beanie with a pom and gold earrings.
Why it works: this is the women’s winter outfit that looks good in photos at a night game and still keeps you warm in the fourth quarter. A coat that reaches mid-thigh keeps a cold seat from chilling you through your leggings. The tradeoff: you can’t bring a large bag to stash layers you shed, so whatever you wear in, you carry or wear all night. Choose layers that unzip rather than ones you have to pull off.
7. The all-black with purple accents look
What to wear: black hoodie or black jersey, black cargo pants or jeans, black boots, then purple in exactly two places: a beanie or cap, and sneakers, a scarf or nails. Add one gold detail.
Why it works: black is a real team color, it’s flattering, it hides tailgate spills, and you likely already own every piece. It’s the cheapest way to look put together. The tradeoff: with too little purple you look like you came from work. Two purple accents is the minimum, and the brighter they are the better.
Tailgating in the lots
Tailgating is a big part of a Baltimore game day, and it shapes what you wear. According to the Ravens’ official gameday fan guide, stadium lots open 4.5 hours before kickoff and tailgating has to wrap up 30 minutes after the game starts. That’s a long stretch on your feet on asphalt, so comfortable shoes matter more than you think, and a layer you can add at the car saves you from carrying it all day. Our tailgate outfit ideas cover more lot-ready combinations.
M&T Bank Stadium bag and weather rules
M&T Bank Stadium follows the NFL clear bag policy. As of the latest posted policy on the Ravens’ NFL bag policy page, you can carry one clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or a one-gallon clear freezer bag, plus one small clutch or belt bag up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches. Blankets are allowed if carried over a shoulder or arm. About half the entries at each main gate are express lanes for fans with no bag at all.
Here’s the rule that trips people up: the fan guide lists umbrellas as a prohibited item. If rain is in the forecast, your rain plan has to be a hooded jacket or a poncho, not an umbrella. Camera bags and binocular cases are also out, though the camera or binoculars themselves can come in. Rules change, so check both pages before you leave home.
Quick game day checklist
- Clear bag up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or a gallon freezer bag
- Small clutch or belt bag up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches
- Hooded jacket or poncho instead of an umbrella
- Comfortable shoes for four-plus hours on asphalt
- A windproof layer left in the car for after dark
- Blanket carried over your arm for December games
- One gold accent to finish the purple and black
Keep building the look: browse our game day outfit ideas hub for every team and season, pack the car with our tailgate essentials list, get more jersey styling from our sports jersey outfit ideas, and if you’re heading to a rivalry road trip, see our Steelers game day outfits for what you’ll be up against.
Questions people ask
What should I wear to a Ravens game in Baltimore?
Build around a deep purple top with black bottoms and one gold accent. In September, choose breathable performance fabrics for the humidity. From November on, add a thermal base layer and a windproof jacket, because the wind across the stadium is what makes late season games feel cold.
What do women wear to a Ravens game in winter?
Fleece-lined leggings, a thermal top, a purple fleece half-zip and a long black quilted coat cover most winter games. Finish with waterproof boots, a purple beanie and gold earrings. Choose zip layers so you can adjust without a big bag to stash them.
What should men wear to a Ravens game?
A purple and black flannel over a black tee with dark jeans and boots works for most of the fall. For cold games, add a hoodie and a windproof puffer, and let a purple beanie and scarf carry the color if your coat is black.
How do I stay warm at a cold Ravens game?
Layer a thermal base, an insulating middle layer and a windproof shell, and don’t forget wool socks and waterproof boots, since cold feet end most fans’ night first. Blankets are allowed if you carry them over your arm, which makes a big difference on cold seats.
Can I bring an umbrella to M&T Bank Stadium?
No. The Ravens’ official fan guide lists umbrellas as prohibited. Wear a hooded rain jacket or bring a poncho instead, and check the fan guide before each game in case the policy changes.
What is Purple Friday in Baltimore?
Purple Friday is the local tradition of wearing purple on the Friday before a Ravens game to show support at work, school and around town. It’s a good reason to own one polished purple piece, like a fine-knit sweater, that works for both the office and the football weekend.
Images in this article are AI-generated illustrations and original graphics created by SportsFable. They show outfit ideas, not real people, teams or events.
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