A Decade of Football at Ford Field

Official Review by Paul Swaney, Stadium Journey Co-Founder

It has been more than a decade since Ford Field opened its doors, replacing the Pontiac Silverdome as the home of the Detroit Lions. The Lions are one of the few teams in the Super Bowl era to never appear in the Super Bowl (along with Browns, Texans, and Jaguars).

Unfortunately mediocrity in good years, and the worst season in NFL history in 2008 (0 wins and 16 losses), have done little to turn the page on the lackluster history of the Detroit Lions.

The stadium itself has a great downtown location, but lacks that certain amount of magic to really make the stadium a special place.

Food & Beverage    4

It is important for anyone with an upper level seat to get your food on the first level before heading to find your seat. The selection on the first level is far better than what you will find in the upper concourse.

There are a couple of options that draw on significant ethnicities in the city. You may want to try a gyro ($8) from Greek Town Taverna (2 small carts on the first level). Another excellent choice (and my recommendation) is the kielbasa ($8) from Poletown Sausage.

Other highlights include the hot dog emporium known as Extreme Dogs, which offers up several variations of loaded hot dogs for $7.50 each. Big Boy restaurants are located in a few separate locations offering the classic Big Boy Original, a double decker burger ($6). Pizza comes from Hungry Howie's for $9 a slice.

Gluten-free options can be found (although I only saw those on the first level), most notably at the Street Eats of Detroit concession or the entirely gluten free stand near section 119.

Draft beers will cost you $8.75, or $11 if you want it in a souvenir cup- they're the same size so you are purely paying for the cup in this case, not any extra beverage. Twenty-ounce bottles of Budweiser, Bud Light, or LaBatt's can be found for $8. If you stop at any of the Turf Taverns throughout the stadium you can buy the typical "specialty" beers including New Castle, Dos Equis, Stella Artois, Guinness, and Magic Hat for $8.

A bottomless soda in a souvenir cup goes for $7, which I suppose may be considered a deal if you polish off 3 or more, but then you'll spend most of the game making trips to the bathroom I would imagine.

Taste Revolution, which bills itself as "Global Street Food" has some unique selections including Thai chile burger ($10), Singapore chicken skewers ($9), and lamb gyro ($8). They also offer up "Detroit Street Food" including coney dog, coney burger, and "Colossol Double Stuffed Spud" ($6), which is a large cheddar-stuffed potato.

Overall, the selection is pretty good, but the prices are a bit on the high side. Also, there are no monitors in the concourse so you can't see the game while you are standing in line for concessions, so only leave your seat if you really have to.

Atmosphere    3

I love that the Lions decided to move their stadium into downtown Detroit. It really makes a difference in the atmosphere even before you enter the building. Like all NFL games, there is quite a bit of security to enter the building, so expect to get a pat down, and you may need to allow extra time to get in, especially as you creep closer to kickoff. During my most recent visit the lines were very long to get in the entrance, so if you are someone who does not want to miss kickoff, then give yourself at least 30 minutes to get in the building, and 60 minutes if you want to walk around the inside of the stadium a bit.

There's a bit of a mall feel inside Ford Field as you walk the concourse. The mall shops are replaced by concession stands, and there's also a very large team store for your shopping pleasure.

Ford Field offers above average leg room in its seats, all of which are blue plastic with cup holders. You should be fairly comfortable throughout the game.

There is almost no sense of history within Ford Field. New in 2012, the team has hung banners to commemorate the fact that they won the NFL Championship in 1935, 1952, 1953, and 1957. There are also divisional championship banners hanging (1957, 1983, 1991, and 1993).

In 2009, the Lions organization honored former greats by adding a Pride of the Lions display. There are twelve names and their former numbers are up on the wall near the south luxury suites. The players are Lem Barney, Yale Lary, Charlie Sanders, Joe Schmidt, Dutch Clark, Alex Wojciechowicz, Jack Christiansen, Lou Creekmur, Dick Lane, Bobby Layne, Doak Walker, and Barry Sanders.

Lions fans seem to have a special affinity for Ndamukong Suh, and in many ways Ford Field has become a defensive haven. In the tradition of other great Detroit players like Lou Whitaker and Joe Dumars, Suh is greeted with loud chants of "SUUUUUUUHHH!" when he is introduced and any time he makes a tackle or sack.

Fans also take pleasure in singing the Detroit Lions fight song after a touchdown, a joyous tune known as Gridiron Heroes.

Neighborhood    4

This is a neighborhood which has certainly seen a resurgence with the additions of Ford Field and its next door neighbor, Comerica Park, the home of the Detroit Tigers. There are very rare occasions where you may be able to do a Tigers/Lions doubleheader, most likely if the Tigers are able to make a deep playoff push, like the 2012 World Series. Later in the season you may be able to find a doubleheader with the Detroit Red Wings, who play just a couple of miles away at Joe Louis Arena.

My favorite spot before or after a Lions or Tigers game is R.U.B. BBQ Pub. As you might expect, they have amazing BBQ and a wide selection of Michigan beers. They are just about a block away from Comerica Park on Adams. Get a side of mac and cheese with your ribs and local beer and you'll be glad you waited until after the game to eat. This is definitely the spot you want to be when you go to a Lions game.

Elwood Bar & Grill is directly across the street from Ford Field, and is packed several hours before Lions games. Old Shillelagh is also a good option, and they offer a shuttle bus from their establishment to Lions games, so it is a good way to simplify your life. They also have a decent menu.

Cheli's Chili Bar, owned by former Red Wing Chris Chelios, is a good place to get some inexpensive food amongst some hockey memorabilia. Chelios himself can often be found there and he is pretty good about interacting with sports fans. Hockeytown Cafe is also a very popular choice, and has received many accolades as being the best sports bar in Detroit.

Fans    3

It is human nature for a fan base that has endured what Lions fans have endured to be down on their team. There is no doubt though, that a new aura of hope is almost tangible as you walk through Ford Field, and sit in the stands amongst the loyal supporters. Despite a very disappointing season in 2012, Lions fans still feel like they have a team that has the potential to wipe away years of frustration.

Fans don Lions jerseys more often than not, and they can get very, very loud when they want to. Still, this is a group that seems to respond to the noise meter on the scoreboard than any instinctual reaction to the play on the field. The Lions still have trouble selling out many games. Again, this is understandable given the lack of success year after year.

It will be interesting to see if the Lions can begin to produce consistent winners with the young core of talent they have assembled. You can certainly feel the optimism in the air, but for now, this fan base seems so-so compared to many others.

Access    3

Parking definitely can get expensive when you attend a Lions game at Ford Field. For the most part, you can expect to pay $20 for any parking within a 1/2 mile or so from the stadium. The garage directly next door will cost you $40. It can get a bit congested before, and especially after the game, but for a downtown location, the traffic moves pretty well. It helps that there is access to freeways in many different directions, and overall, this really is a smart place for these stadiums to have been built. Still, plan to leave yourself at least an hour before kickoff so you can navigate the traffic. I usually park on Woodward Avenue, so that I can have an easy exit on to the freeway after the game, although the cost is $20.

Concourses feel a bit narrow in parts, even walking around an hour before kickoff I found it a little cramped, but it's certainly manageable and doesn't really detract from the overall experience. During halftime it can be absolute gridlock, with lines for concessions and to a lesser extent restrooms spilling into the concourse.

There are over 100 restrooms inside Ford Field, so you shouldn't have to wait in line or walk very far. If you do encounter a line, my suggestion would be to keep walking to the next bathroom. Some are quite a bit smaller than others.

Return on Investment    3

Upper level seats cost $50 for a game, or you can upgrade to all-you-can-eat seats for $65 per game, which is a pretty good value if you plan on sticking to the more basic staples of stadium food. There is also one section (section 315) which is reserved as the family section, and there is no alcohol or profanity allowed, a nice option for families. With ticketmaster fees, the cheapest ticket you'll get on the team site is over $57, although you should be able to find less expensive seats from many ticket resellers like ScoreBig.

Plan on spending $20 for parking, and $20 for something to eat and drink, and you're looking at a minimum of $100 for one person's experience. By NFL standards, this is fairly reasonable, but still sort of a tough pill to swallow for many fans.

Extras    2

One extra point for the signs along the concourse for each section, which also tell you what street you are on if you were outside. This really helps people who can easily get disoriented in a large stadium. Although, the sections could use better signage once in the seats, as I saw a lot of confused fans who sat in the wrong section, and then there's the long discussion and ticket comparison when the rightful ticket holder arrives.

I also liked that the fans have come to appreciate their defense. Cheering their loudest for defensive stars and stops.

Final Thoughts

Detroit offers above average sports experiences for fans, and Ford Field is certainly a major upgrade over their previous home. Some fans will complain that the indoor facility takes away those outdoor elements that can make football tough and interesting, but from a comfort perspective, I would much rather see the Lions in December indoors than outdoors.

Time will tell if the Lions can become contenders, and if they do, then this could easily become a raucous stadium to watch the NFL. Do yourself a favor and visit Ford Field in the near future. Better yet, spend your Thanksgiving at Ford Field, an NFL tradition going back to 1934 when the Lions moved from Portsmouth, Ohio to the Motor City.