The public will have its first opportunity on Saturday to buy single-game tickets for the Ravens' season when the team opens its ticket office at the new stadium.

Separately, the team is negotiating with Aretha Franklin to give a free concert outside the stadium on Sept. 5, the eve of its regular-season opener.

This Saturday, only tickets to the preseason games will be sold: Aug. 8 against the Chicago Bears and Aug. 24 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Single-game tickets for the regular season, which begins Sept. 6 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, go on sale Aug. 15.

The team will have at least 6,000 tickets to sell for each game, and most likely more than that, said Ravens spokesman Kevin Byrne. So far, the Ravens have sold 53,000 -- out of 59,000 available -- season tickets and permanent-seat licenses, a one-time expense required of most season-ticket holders. Stadium capacity will be about 69,000.

That means as many as 16,000 tickets could be available for any individual game.

Tickets remaining for the two preseason games cost $30 or $35, and are mostly end zone seats.

The sale will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, with free snacks, cheerleaders and some Ravens Marching Band members at the stadium. Tickets also will be available starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at Ticketmaster outlets and by phone at 410-481-SEAT.

The team has sold 14,000 tickets through group sales. These are offered in blocks of 25 or more and come in multi-game sets of three or four games.

The team also is completing plans for a stadium-opening celebration, culminating in a free concert and laser light show for Sept. 5 in front of the stadium.

Talks are under way to book Franklin and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for the event, Byrne said.

Ravens camp

Location: Western Maryland College, Westminster

Dates: Tuesday to Aug. 20

Practice session hours: 9 a.m. to 11: 15 a.m. and 2: 40 p.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information: Call Ravens at (410) 261-FANS

Pub Date: 7/15/98