Daily Record

For Baltimore Ravens fans who couldn’t get to Miami last weekend, one thing became clear after their team beat the Dolphins Sunday to earn a trip to the second round of the National Football League playoffs: It’s easier — and cheaper — to get to Nashville.

The Ravens will play the Tennessee Titans Saturday afternoon, and for many fans, that means road trip.

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Like thousands of other fans, Williams plans on driving the 11 to 12 hours with a group of family and friends to Nashville for Saturday’s match-up, and spending about $300 to $400 per person for tickets, transportation and lodging. Trip organizers say they expect more Ravens fans to travel to Nashville than were in Miami because many people in Baltimore either couldn’t afford or find a return flight, and the drive is much shorter.

Nestor Aparicio, owner of the WNST-AM radio station, is running a bus trip to Nashville that includes game tickets, a hotel room and tailgate parties. As of Monday evening, he had sold out nearly two bus loads, or 110 tickets.

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Tickets range from $550 to $700 for the bus package, whereas the cost of a weekend flight starts at approximately $400, Aparicio noted. The high cost of airfare kept Cole Rubin, founder of the fan travel company RavensTrips.com, from blocking off space on flights to Nashville as part of his travel package.

Rubin, who went through a broker to buy 80 tickets, is offering a similar hotel, ticket and party package for the weekend.

Aparicio noted that about 6,000 Ravens fans traveled to Nashville for a playoff game eight years ago, the season Baltimore eventually won the Super Bowl title. He and others expect more to make it this time.

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And while the team benefits from the emotional support — as exhibited by Coach John Harbaugh’s high-fiving about 200 fans after the Miami game — Nashville’s economy benefits from the influx of weekend visitors to the tune of an estimate $1.5 million in direct spending, according to the convention and visitors bureau.

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2. Ravens take out Phins 27-9; play at Titans Saturday
3. Ray Lewis injured; Dolphins tied with Ravens
4. New shuttle for Ravens games
5. Ravens lead Dolphins 13-3