Baltimore, MD

• Soccer in Baltimore
• About M & T Bank Stadium
• About Baltimore, MD

The city of Baltimore has long loved the game of soccer.

It was home to NPSL charter team Baltimore Bays.  In 1973, a then-record crowd of 24,680 watched as the Bays were defeated 6-4 by the Brazilian National Team lead by a thirty-three year old named Edison Arantes do Nascimento, Pele.

According to a report in the Baltimore Evening Sun, "Pele was mobbed by fans at the end of the game and escaped to the locker room attired only in a pair of black bikini briefs."

Currently, Baltimore is home to the Baltimore Blast of the NISL, Maryland Tigers of the PASL, Charm City FC of the NPSL and Crystal Palace Baltimore.

In December 2008, Chelsea of the English Premier League began a four-year agreement to help finance the Baltimore Bays youth soccer program, which sponsors 35 teams for boys and girls. Earlier this summer, Chelsea played AC Milan in the first professional soccer match M&T Bank Stadium. Over 70,000 tickets were purchased to the sold out event.

USMNT member Freddy Adu lived and attended school in nearby Potomac, Maryland.

Completed in 1998, the M&T Bank Stadium is located in Baltimore, immediately adjacent to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the home of Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles.

With a seating capacity of 71,008, the stadium has played host to the Baltimore Ravens (NFL) since 1998, and also serves as an alternate venue for the Johns Hopkins University's men's lacrosse team.

In addition, the stadium was the site of the 2003, 2004, and 2007 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship and the first rematch in 40 years in the Maryland-Navy series known as the "Crab Bowl Classic."

During the summer of 2009, M&T Bank Stadium drew 71,203 spectators for a World Football Challenge match between Chelsea and AC Milan. The stadium is served by the Hamburg Street station of the Baltimore Light Rail. 

Baltimore, a bustling city built on tradition and civic pride, is an American success story.

The colorful, diverse city that is Maryland's largest city and economic hub, is known for its beautiful harbor; quirky, distinct neighborhoods; unique museums; the world-renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital to the east and the University of Maryland Medical Center to the west. Baltimore is a year-round vacation destination filled with experiences that appeal to travelers of all interests.

From free museums and unforgettable dining experiences to strolls along the Inner Harbor and afternoons at Camden Yards, Baltimore's attractions leave visitors wanting more. Baltimore is easy to get to, and easy to get around with all the attractions, hotels and restaurants within walking distance of Baltimore's spectacular waterfront.