NFL side Baltimore Ravens are having a watch party in Manchester and a meeting with Marcus Rashford helped one star to embrace the city
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 30: Ronnie Stanley #79 of the Baltimore Ravens and AFC plays dodgeball during the 2025 NFL Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on January 30, 2025 at the UCF Campus in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 30: Ronnie Stanley #79 of the Baltimore Ravens and AFC plays dodgeball during the 2025 NFL Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on January 30, 2025 at the UCF Campus in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
Ronnie Stanley of the Baltimore Ravens
Ronnie Stanley grew up loving soccer, but after becoming an NFL star he got an inside perspective on the beautiful game. Together with fellow Baltimore Ravens teammate DeAndre Hopkins, they ran into Marcus Rashford at a Super Bowl in Miami and swapped stories about what it is like being an athlete at the top of your game.
Things fell flat for Rashford at Manchester United and Ruben Amorim made clear he was better off elsewhere, but the 27-year-old has moved to another iconic club in Barcelona as he looked to revitalise his career; a recall to the England squad for the September internationals indicate it has been a promising start.
Stanley took a lot from the chat with Rashford but has also been taken by the rivalry between United and Manchester City, with the Blues dominating the last decade in terms of trophies but still ending up on the wrong end of the score in some important derbies.
Tottenham is the current UK home of the NFL with matches staged at their stadium, although NFL UK general manager Henry Hodgson this week sounded open to the idea that the new United stadium could also host games. In the meantime, as the Ravens look to extend their fanbase their Offensive Tackle is hoping to feel some of the intensity from fans in Manchester.
“I’ve had some friends on the team that I am a fan of, but overall, I have a lot of respect for the team," Stanley said. "I am definitely a Rashford fan, that’s my guy. I wouldn’t say I am just a United fan though, I don’t get to follow them enough to call myself that, but whenever I get the chance, I’ll get them on the TV. It will be an interesting season for the club for sure.
“Manchester has a rich history with sports. They have great, passionate and dedicated fans. The city is known for having an all-around great culture around their sports teams. Their fans are also known for creating hostile environments for their opponents, making it a very tough city to play in, but they’re also very classy people.
“I think it’s great to be able to expand the Ravens flock all the way to Europe and the United Kingdom. It will be great to be able to connect our fans here in Baltimore with the fans over there. I am excited to bring those experiences to them and help them become part of our amazing community.”
Ravens vs Buffalo Bills Watch Party will take place on Sunday September 7, 15:00 – 23:00 @ Manchester’s Courts Club.
Free registration to watch party open through NFL OnePass (NFL.com/OnePass) or through NFL OnePass app. Those who register will have access to special giveaways incl game tickets, and other exclusive market-specific experiences.
The Watch Party in Manchester will feature live game screening, interactive games, local entertainment, gameday-themed hospitality, exclusive merchandise, and, one of Baltimore Raven’s iconic mascots, Edgar.