In late March of 1984, a moving company secretly packed up the Baltimore Colts’ belongings and its fleet of vans sneaked off in the darkness of the early morning. Leaving a city of deeply devoted fans in shock and disbelief. What caused owner Robert Irsay to turn his back on a town that was as closely linked to its team as any in the NFL? Academy Award-winning filmmaker Barry Levinson, himself a long-standing Baltimore Colts fanatic, will probe that question in light of the changing relationship of sports to community. Through the eyes of members of the Colts Marching Band, Levinson will illustrate how a fan base copes with losing the team that it loves.
Directed by Barry Levinson
sports
american football
marching band
american football team
sports documentary
nfl (national football league)
indianapolis colts
baltimore, maryland
baltimore ravens
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.3 / 5
Cast
Barry Levinson
Self
Crew
Barry Levinson
Director
Marcelo Zarvos
Original Music Composer
Bill Simmons
Executive Producer
Chris Connelly
Consulting Producer
Michael Tollin
Consulting Producer
Popular Reviews
2 reviews
Ian Cooley
7.0★ · 02/28/26
30 for 30 #2: The Band That Wouldn’t Die
I love sports and the way it impacts its community and it’s a shame how teams and billionaire owners can blackmail or hijack their communities like what happened to Baltimore. And like what has happened so many times since even now happening with the Bears.
This is a very sweet look at the determination that comes with fandom even in the face of certain failure. There’s something about a band without a team that is so beautiful.
It makes a lot of sense that Barry levinson directed this. With so many of his movies taking place in Baltimore it’s clear that it’s a very special place to him.
30 for 30 #2: The Band That Wouldn’t Die
I love sports and the way it impacts its community and it’s a shame how teams and billionaire owners can blackmail or hijack their communities like what happened to Baltimore. And like what has happened so many times since even now happening with the Bears.
This is a very sweet look at the determination that comes with fandom even in the face of certain failure. There’s something about a band without a team that is so beautiful.
It makes a lot of sense that Barry levinson directed this. With so many of his movies taking place in Baltimore it’s clear that it’s a very special place to him.
Justin Segrest
5.0★ · 05/02/25
it is kind of insane that cities will often choose to build a stadium so that a billionaire doesn’t have to just to appease the people instead of using that billion dollars on schools and other public funding. Love it!!!
it is kind of insane that cities will often choose to build a stadium so that a billionaire doesn’t have to just to appease the people instead of using that billion dollars on schools and other public funding. Love it!!!
