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The
Detroit Lions no longer play at the Pontiac
Silverdome. Ford Field in Detroit is the new home of
the Detroit Lions.
One
of the Silverdome's claims to fame is the unobstructed
view. There simply is not a bad seat in the house. The
Lions will play in a new state-of-the-art dome facility
next to the new Tiger Stadium at a location east of
Woodward Avenue. No exact date for a return to Detroit
was given, since the Lions will honor the terms of their
current lease with the Silverdome, located in suburban
Pontiac, approximately 30 miles north of Detroit.
Detroit Lions - Despite quarterback Jon Kitna's
guarantee of winning ten games or more in 2007, the
Lions most likely fulfill the promise. However,
Kitna company should be solid if the offensive line
can help. There isn't a Pro Bowl-level player in the
bunch, and tackles Jeff Backus and George Foster
both had disappointing 2006 season.
Stadium History: Along with three other NFL teams,
the Detroit Lions began playing in a new stadium in
2002. After more than two decades of playing at the
Silverdome in Pontiac, MI, the Lions and Detroit
Tigers (MLB) first proposed to have two new stadiums
built in downtown Detroit in the mid 1990’s.
Construction on the Tigers new stadium, Comerica
Park began in 1997 and was completed by 1999. Voters
approved a bond that paid for 51% percent of the
football stadium, while the team paid the remaining
49% of the $430 million stadium. Appropriate enough,
Ford Motor Company purchased the naming rights to
the stadium, thus it was named Ford Field.
Groundbreaking ceremonies for Ford Field began on
November 16, 1999.
The first game at Ford Field was on September 22,
2002 vs. the Green Bay Packers. Ford Field is one of
the NFL’s most unique stadiums. It has 65,000 seats
and has a fixed roof supported by two 18ft-wide
concrete columns. A structural-steel supported
permanent dome was chosen to cover the facility
because of Detroit’s cold and harsh winter weather.
One of the unique aspects of Ford Field is that the
entire south wall of the stadium is made up of two
shelled-out J.L. Hudson's warehouses. The
80-year-old buildings have been renovated to include
140 luxury suites on three levels facing the playing
field, along with other uses like retail,
restaurants and possibly a hotel. On the south
entrance of Ford Field is a six story glass atrium.
Fans receive tremendous views of the downtown
Detroit’s skyline through the atrium. This also
allows natural light inside the stadium. The
FieldTurf playing field is 45 feet below street
level, allowing fans easier access to their seats.
Amenities at Ford Field include 7,000 club seats,
140 luxury suites, a club lounge, banquet rooms,
conference and convention areas, and a Lions team
store. Prior to its opening, Ford Field was awarded
Super Bowl XL in 2006.
Some Detroit Lions history: The Detroit Lions
franchise traces its origin to the Portsmouth
Spartans, a team based in Ohio that entered the NFL
in 1930. In 1932 the Spartans played in the league's
first postseason game, losing 9-0 to the Chicago
Bears. In 1934 the club was sold to radio station
owner George Richards, who moved the team to Detroit
and renamed it the Lions. In 1935 the Lions earned
their first NFL title, shutting out 3 of 12
regular-season opponents and soundly defeating the
New York Giants in the championship game. |
